Re: How to add multiple values in one cell from an automation

AUTORRARI_MAIN · ‎May 16, 2022

Hello all,

So I have base with 2 tables, table1 = Customers & table2 = Vehicles.

1 Customer can have MANY Vehicles, but 1 Vehicle can belong to only 1 Customer.

When a Vehicle is added to the base, it adds the VIN (unique id) of the vehicle to the Customers table.

The problem is that the automation is overwriting the previous VIN when a new one is added for the same Customer.

Please help me make it WORK!

Thanks,

dg

Kamille_Parks · ‎May 19, 2022

Looking at your whole Automation, its way more complicated than it needs to be. You can do this all in one step.

You don’t need the Find Records step at all. You’re trying to look for Customers where the primary field ({Customer ID}) equals some field in the Vehicles table ({S-W Customer ID}). Since the value you’re matching against is the primary field, all you need the Automation to do is have a single Update Record step that updates the Vehicle record which triggered the automation to copy the {S-W Customer ID} field into the {Link to Customer} field (or whatever its called).

Your first Update Record step is copying and pasting values from a Customer into the Vehicle record, but that is bad database design if you’re linking records together anyway. Convert {Cust. Name} and {Cust. Email} into Lookup fields and this information will be filled in as soon as the Vehicle is linked to the Customer.

If you really want to save yourself time, just convert your {S-W Customer ID} field into a Link field and call it a day. Unless you have a particular need to keep that field separate, just link Vehicles to Customers in the first place and you won’t need an Automation at all.

AUTORRARI_MAIN · ‎May 19, 2022

I know you are just helping out here, and your really good at it! But I’ve only been learning how to use Airtable for a few months.

I lost my job and was trying to help a friend out. But now I’m in over my head and could really use a set of eyes. The base began as a small little customer capture thing. But has morphed into something much larger… MUCH better!

As I said, when I 1st built the base it was pretty much all manual. But then I learned to link the tables… (sorta lol), and then I learned automations.

Now I’m all messed up! lol

I couldn’t pay you much, but would sure be willing to repay the effort in the future.

Anyway, thanks for your help!

dg

AUTORRARI_MAIN · ‎May 19, 2022

FOR EXAMPLE -

…please :slightly_smiling_face:

Kamille_Parks · ‎May 19, 2022

Ask yourself “when exactly do I want to create these records/send this email” and “when don’t I want to do it”. Check if your trigger matches both of those conditions.

A word of advice: do not try and automate a system before ironing out how to do it manually.

I would explore the basics of Airtable more fully before doing any automating. @ScottWorld has an excellent free course on Airtable that will cover the basics

There are also several youtube channels that have how-to videos for simple tasks and common use cases. Some top ones include GAP Consulting, All About That Base, and Ben Green. When you run into a specific problem you’re trying to solve. browse through either of those three’s catalogues to see if they have a video on the topic.

AUTORRARI_MAIN · ‎May 19, 2022

You got it! Thanks for the advice! I have a feeling we’ll talk again!

dg

ScottWorld · ‎May 19, 2022

Thanks so much, Kamille! :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

AUTORRARI_MAIN · ‎May 20, 2022

Not quite free… FOURTY BUCKS A MONTH! And the ‘free’ part is “Scott” telling me how good he is!?!

I’m just trying to get some help for a project that I’m not even charging for!

NEXT!

dg

ScottWorld · ‎May 20, 2022

Um, did you miss the part about “one month free” and you can cancel anytime? Did you also miss the part where 2 of the training videos are offered for free without even signing up for an account?

Try to be more appreciative of people who are trying to help you for your budget of $0.