Trigger

The trigger is the entry point of a workflow, determining when the workflow starts. Each workflow has exactly one trigger node, located at the beginning of the canvas.

Trigger Types

SmartTable supports the following trigger types:

Trigger Type	Description
Record Created	Triggered when a new record is created
Record Updated	Triggered when a record is updated; can listen to specified fields
Specified Time	Triggered according to a set schedule; supports repetition
Record Time Reached	Triggered when a date/datetime field value in a record is reached

Record Created Trigger

The workflow starts automatically when a new record is created in the associated table.

Configuration

• Trigger Table: Select the table to listen to.
• Filter Conditions: Only trigger when conditions are met; global trigger if not configured.
• Condition Combination: Supports AND (all conditions met) or OR (any condition met).

Use Cases

• Automatically send a notification after a new order is created
• Automatically assign an owner after a new task is created
• Automatically send a welcome email after a new customer is added

Record Updated Trigger

Triggered when an existing record in the associated table is updated.

Configuration

• Monitored Fields: Select fields to listen to. If none are selected, any field update will trigger.
• Filter Conditions: Only trigger when conditions are met; global trigger if not configured.

Use Cases

• Notify the project manager when a task status becomes "Completed"
• Log changes when an order amount is modified
• Trigger an expedited process when priority is raised

Specified Time Trigger

Triggers the workflow according to a scheduled time plan, independent of record changes.

Configuration

• Start Date: The date of the first trigger.
• Start Time: The time of the first trigger.
• Repeat Type:
  • No repeat: Trigger only once
  • Daily: Trigger at the same time every day
  • Weekly: Trigger on specified days each week
  • Monthly: Trigger on a specified date each month
  • Yearly: Trigger on a specified date each year
  • Weekdays: Trigger Monday through Friday
  • Custom: Trigger at custom intervals (e.g., every 3 days, every 2 weeks)
• End Date: After this date, the trigger will no longer repeat.
• Timezone: Trigger times are interpreted in the local timezone.

Use Cases

• Generate data reports daily
• Send weekly report reminders
• Automatically create monthly tasks at the beginning of each month

Record Time Reached

Triggered when the value of a date/datetime field in a record is reached.

Configuration

• Time Field: Select a date or datetime field in the record.
• Filter Conditions: Only trigger when conditions are met.

Use Cases

• Remind one day before a task is due
• Notify 7 days before a contract expires
• Remind 30 minutes before a meeting starts

Filter Conditions

Except for the Specified Time trigger, all other triggers support filter conditions:

• Select field and operator (equals, not equals, contains, is empty, etc.).
• Support multiple condition combinations.
• Support AND / OR logic.

Performance Suggestion

Try to use indexed fields (such as primary keys, single select, dates) as filter conditions, and avoid using full-text matching fields on large tables.

Trigger Record Variables

After triggering, the current trigger record information is injected into the workflow context, and subsequent nodes can reference it through variables:

{{trigger.record.<field_id>}}

Next Steps

• Create Record Node
• Update Record Node