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Scheduled Automation no option to select value after copy value from another record

  • July 31, 2019
  • 0 replies
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I have a rich text formula field (Field A) that returns the status of a project based on a number of variables.
I have a multi choice text field (Field B) that is intended to replicate the value result in Field A.
Both Field A and Field B are on the same record.
I presently have an automation (that works well) that updates Field B with the value of Field A on each occasion a user updates the record.
I was looking (hoping) to schedule an automation that updates Field B with the value in Field A daily noting users may not go into each record daily thus not triggering the automation manually.

I select New Automation, populate my App name, and populate my Table name.
I filter records such that the scheduled automation will only update records when Field A is not equal to the value in Field B.
I select Field B as my field to update and specify the source as copy value from another record.
When I go to populate the value option there is nothing, no options, nothing...

Please, what am I doing wrong? How can I solve the above? Much appreciated.
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    No problem. Set up a saved table to table import and set it to merge records so that new records are not created, and merge on record ID. So you�re copying the same records into them selves.


    If your table has less than about 100 fields I would take the time to set the field mapping to do not import for all the fields that are just mapping into themselves. It�s just something I do to make it more obvious with the safe table to table import is doing.


    But then for the status field you map your formula Field into the Status data entry field.


    Then just have an automation to run that same table to table import every day.
    • QuentinFleischf
    • Author
    • Quickbase Alumni
    • July 31, 2019
    Thanks Mark,
    Appreciate the quick response.
    Am I in essence importing the table over the top of itself?

    I have had a quick look and I am assuming the following is the case:

    1. Go to required table (Table A), select import/export, select import from another table.
    2. On the create new import set the source table as Table A.
    3. Set import type to merge in Table A and set the key field for Table A as both the merge key field and source field.
    4. Could I at this point under matching only import tasks where Field A is not equal to Field B (or would you recommend against this?)
    5. Under field mapping under default mapping it only says 36 fields will be copied. I assume only fields of a certain type (?) can be imported as I definitely have more fields... I will, per your suggestion, only update Field A / Field B by invoking custom mapping on that field.

    Again, thank you for the assistance.
    Yes, you got it.  I would agree that it will save some micro seconds to only update records which need to be updated so I agree with the filter (it also helps with sort of self documenting what the saved table to table import is doing, as it will be less obvious 2-5 years into the future when you or someone else is trying to remember what that saved table to table import is doing).

    Yes, since it's only 36 fields, then I would set like 35 to Do Not Update so just update that one field, just to make it even more obvious what the import is doing.

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