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Automation to Update a Linked/Lookup Field: Can we prevent a new record from being created?

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Lauren_Rodger
4 - Data Explorer
4 - Data Explorer

I have 3 tables:

Table 1 = Customer Service
Table 2 = BackOrders & Dropshipments
Table 3 = On Hold Orders

Tables 2 and 3 are pulling data from an external system - any order flagged for one of these statuses in the external system is populated in this Table. The Primary field is the Order Number for these tables.

Table 1 is attempting to pull data from Tables 2 and 3 based on Order Number. The idea is that when a record is created in Table 1 with an Order Number, it will search Tables 2 and 3 to see if there is an existing record. Another automation pulls the Order Number “Name” to Lookup Fields for Tables 2 and 3 so the Order Number only needs to be entered once.

If a record exists, its name should be entered, if a record does not exist, it should remain blank. Part 1 works but we are facing the issue of a new record being created in Table 2 and 3 when the Order Number is not found.

I can’t seem to find a way to prevent the creation - we only want this field populated IF there is an existing record already existing in Table 2 or 3. Changing permissions on the tables to prevent creation through Automation results in an Automation error.

Is this possible within Automations or am I looking at a more custom solution? Hoping I’m missing something obvious here or overthinking the configuration needed for this.

1 Reply 1

Welcome to the community, @Lauren_Rodger!

Unfortunately, Automations don’t support conditional logic at this time.

You would either need to:

  1. Write a custom JavaScript to handle this logic for you (and there are JavaScript experts on this forum who might be able to help you with that).
    or
  2. You can use a no-code automation platform like Integromat, which doesn’t require any coding knowledge at all.

p.s. I am an expert Airtable consultant and an Integromat Partner. If you have a budget for your project and you need help with your Integromat automation, please feel free to contact me through my website at ScottWorld.com.