Automation Help: Regarding Proofs

Summer S

I want to record a date, when certain people approve a proof.

When I set up a proof I am inviting several people, however, I need to record a date when a specific person (technically it could be 1 of 3 people) actually approves the proof.

I have the {Proof Approved By} column (and as everyone approves their names appear in this column. When 1 of the 3 people approves the proof and their name gets added to the {Proof Approved By} column I want it to record a date in another column (currently set up as: {testing automation: Dont delete})

Paul Newcome

@Summer S Try adding in another condition to say where the date field is blank. This way if the date has already been recorded, the condition of it being blank won't be met, and it won' try to record another date.

Paul Newcome

You would set up a Record A Date automation and use multiple triggers. Would you want it to record a new date if another one of the three approves, or just lock in that first date?

Summer S

Yeah, I've tried a couple variations, but I'm newish to automations and none of them have worked so far. No, I don't need to record a new date if another one approves, just the first one.

Paul Newcome

Of course you will need to select the appropriate fields and options, but the basic idea is that you will have multiple triggers and a condition of the date field being blank. Field names / options aside, it should look like this:

Summer S

I am still struggling with this, Ive got the automation mostly working but I think it just needs a bit of refining.

The Proof Approved By column is automatically generated by the Proofing features, I need to record a date when person(s) MR, FP, or NB approve the proof for the first time (there are other people invited to the proof, but I do not need to record a date for them)

This is the current automation im working with, and it does return a date in the "testing automation: Dont delete" column"

My problem is, the way that the proofing column works every time and invited person approves the proof, it changes the date of when "NB" (in this case) first approved it.

So you can see that NB originally approved the proof on 10/8, but when the person highlighted in green approved the proof it re-adds all the previous approvers, and then collects the date of 10/10 for NB.

All of this is so I can collect the amount of time passed between when we set the Proof up and invited people to review and when NB approves the proof for the initial first time. (I have this formula worked out and the duration is collecting great, but I just need to stop the date from changing every time other people approve the proof)

Ill take any advice here.

Paul Newcome

@Summer S Try adding in another condition to say where the date field is blank. This way if the date has already been recorded, the condition of it being blank won't be met, and it won' try to record another date.

Summer S

I think that fixes my problem! Thank you.

Paul Newcome

Happy to help. 👍️