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Automation failing due to blank values

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tna
4 - Data Explorer
4 - Data Explorer

I have a pretty basic automation that when a record is updated, a separate record in another table is updated with information from the first record.

My problem is, a lot of the fields (which are populated through a public form) are optional and so many are blank, and this causes the automation to fail. It seems really strange to me, as I assume this would be a very common occurrence and that Airtable automations have no way to deal with it?

I would like my automation to run and for the populated fields to update, and for the fields that have no value in them to either be ignored or to update with a blank value (it really doesn't matter which). I have trawled the internet looking for this solution but can't find anything.

Any ideas?

4 Replies 4
Dan_Montoya
Community Manager
Community Manager

do you want to share your update automation?  I use blank values regularly in automation to erase the value in a field.

TheTimeSavingCo
18 - Pluto
18 - Pluto

For what it's worth, I'm able to run an automation that updates a field with a blank value just fine, so I think your issue might be elsewhere

Screenshot 2024-02-16 at 11.04.16 AM.png

Screenshot 2024-02-16 at 11.04.23 AM.png

Here's a base where I've set that up

Screenshots below. First one shows the error. Clicking on "Learn how to fix common issues" pops up the second screenshot telling me that blank values could be the cause. Third screenshot is the full input. Website is a link, email is an email, any multiple select or linked record fields match the parameters of their destination ... so I can't see what could be the problem other than the face that a number of the URLs (optional in the form) don't have any data in them.

I did just try a version where every field was populated and it still errored, so I think you might both be right. This is such a simple automation, but I can't see where the problem would be! 

Screenshot 2024-02-16 at 2.15.47 pm.png

Screenshot 2024-02-16 at 2.16.05 pm.png

Screenshot 2024-02-16 at 2.16.22 pm.png

If you could DM me an invite to a duplicate base with example data I could take a look at this for you if you'd like; bit hard to troubleshoot like this I'm afraid