The Set Fields Block is a versatile component in our platform, allowing you to dynamically update or assign values to fields within your workflows. A common use case involves setting time values, such as current, past, or future dates and times, which can be crucial for scheduling, reminders, follow-ups, and more. This guide will walk you through the process of setting these time values, ensuring your workflows operate seamlessly and on schedule.
To begin, navigate to the Automation flow where you wish to set a time value and locate the Set Fields Block. If you haven't already added this block to your workflow, you can do so by selecting it from the list of available action blocks and dragging it into your workflow canvas.
Configuring the Set Fields Block
- Open the Set Fields Block: Click on the block to open its configuration options.
- Select the Field: Choose the field you wish to set with the date/time. This could be a custom field you've created for tracking time-specific actions.
- Set the Operation Function: You will select the dropdown for ‘Operation’ and choose ‘Set To’, this is typically the default setting.
- Specify Time Offset: In the value setting, you'll find two options one for ‘Absolute Date/Time’ and the other for ‘Relative Date/Time’.
- Absolute is for a specific date and time like if someone did x action on January 1st, 2023.
- Relative is for when you want to say x amount of time in the past, the current date/time someone took an action, or a certain amount of time in the future.
- For ‘Relative Date/Time’ you can set the # of days, and # of hours and then choose from ‘In Future’ or ‘In Past’, and then each option has the setting for ‘midnight’.
- If you leave the numerical value blank this will act as the time stamp for when the action occurs like storing a customer’s check-in date/time of when it occurred or the date/time in which someone filled out a form.
- Adding a value for days/hours in the past for the future is used if you want to insert a date of 7 days after something occurred like check-in day/time plus 7 days past that.
- There is also an edit feature where you can customize the schema for this date/time stamp. If you are not familiar with this please reach out to our Customer Success team.
Use Cases
- Scheduling Follow-Up Emails: Set a field to a future date to trigger a follow-up email exactly one week after a customer interaction.
- Reminder Notifications: Set a reminder for an upcoming event by assigning a future time value to trigger an alert an hour before the event starts.
- Record Keeping: Update a field with the current time to log when a specific action occurred within your workflow, such as a form submission or order completion.
Tips for Success
- Time Zone Awareness: Be mindful of time zones when setting future or past times, especially if your workflows impact users or customers in different geographical locations. All events and messaging in your Patch account are based on your account timezone setting within Account Settings. Example: If you send an email at noon and you are located in the Eastern time zone, then this will go out this time for everyone regardless of their timezone.
- Testing: Always test your workflows to ensure that time values are set correctly and that subsequent actions are triggered as expected.
- Field Type Compatibility: Ensure that the field you're updating is compatible with date and time values. Some fields may only accept text or numerical values.
Setting current, past, or future time values in the Set Fields Block is straightforward and can significantly enhance the functionality of your workflows. Whether you're scheduling tasks, triggering timely actions, or logging events, the ability to manipulate time values ensures your workflows remain relevant and responsive to your needs.
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