Automation Workflow Not Running without Manual Trigger

Amanda.McCabe1

I believe my workflow is set up correctly but it doesn't run automatically when triggered (change in status). It does run as expected when I manually run it.

Please advise.

Nomland

I have struggled with Moving automations in the past as well. I have found if the function of moving the row to another sheet is not imperative the minute the triggering condition happens, the alternative I've found to work is to set up on a schedule instead. Set up the Trigger to "When a date is Reached, select Every day defining a start date and time. Set your Status condition to "Not Started" and define your destination sheet. Here's a sample of one of mine. I set most of my move rows up this way and everyday my logs are cleaned up.

You could set it up hourly if you need to move them quicker than daily, same logic applies.

Dan Beres

Hi @Amanda.McCabe1

There are several things I would check:
1) The trigger is when a new row is added OR changed - so just be aware that if you add a row that starts with "Not Started" it should immediately trigger.
2) It sounds silly, but do you save the file before manually running the automation? When you manually run it will automatically save the file and it not being clear when the status has been saved has been a paint point in the past for my users.
3) Usually, it is only for automated emails that it may take an extended amount of time but allow up to 15 minutes for certain automations to trigger. Are you saving the file, refreshing, and then immediately attempting the manual automation once it hasn't updated?

It looks like it is set up correctly, so I would also be curious if saving the file and waiting still doesn't work.

Amanda.McCabe1

Thank you Dan. What do you mean by 'run the automation'? Isn't the expected behavior that it runs automatically as soon as the status changes to "done"? The file saves automatically each time the sheet is closed so to your point, after several days the server should have picked up the save and the automation run. It's not running at all unless manually triggered. Then it runs successfully.

So the issue is that the automation does not run automatically. It must be manually triggered.

PM_Reeves

Hi @Amanda.McCabe1,

I might be barking up the wrong tree here, but is your Trigger the same as the Condition? Wonder if that might be confusing the trigger.

If you're waiting several days without the trigger forcing the move, yet manually running it again forcing the change, the automation is obviously working but the issue seems to lie with the trigger.

Good luck

jaimedelro

Hey @Amanda.McCabe1,

I did have similar issues before same as yours.

Have you tried removing the condition? It seems like your automation trigger and condition are both the same. Smartsheet might be confused which one to follow. I'm not sure if it would make an impact but for me, I removed mine previously then the automation worked.

You can give that a try!

Amanda.McCabe1

@PM_Reeves and @jaimedelro Thank you for the suggestions!

I removed the condition and still no luck. I deleted and re-entered the automation and still no movement unless manually triggered.

Nomland

I have struggled with Moving automations in the past as well. I have found if the function of moving the row to another sheet is not imperative the minute the triggering condition happens, the alternative I've found to work is to set up on a schedule instead. Set up the Trigger to "When a date is Reached, select Every day defining a start date and time. Set your Status condition to "Not Started" and define your destination sheet. Here's a sample of one of mine. I set most of my move rows up this way and everyday my logs are cleaned up.

You could set it up hourly if you need to move them quicker than daily, same logic applies.

Amanda.McCabe1

Hello,

Just wanted to report back that scheduling the trigger for a specific time each day worked! Thank you. This was the only way I could get the trigger to activate automatically.