Anybody else having issues with automation?

Sarah Thompson

I have an automation set up where if a checkbox is checked, people shouldn't get an email. But they are getting it regardless. I can send along a screenshot if needed, just wondering if anyone else is suddenly having issues with automation.

i don't see anything on here: https://status.smartsheet.com/

Andrée Starå

Hi Sarah,

I haven't noticed anything, and I haven't heard anything from my clients either.

A screenshot would help.

I hope that helps!

Have a fantastic day!

Best,

Andrée Starå

Workflow Consultant / CEO @ WORK BOLD

 

Sarah Thompson

Attached! 

The row has had the cancel box checked for weeks. The dot changed to yellow and the notification went out. Can't figure out why. 

I could change the Utilization warning column to incorporate the conditions, but it has always worked before with no issues and I don't want to go through the effort of changing my formulas if it's a temporary issue.Plus I have multiple redlight columns that are incorporated into multiple automations, so I'd have to change all of that as well.

Thanks!

Andrée Starå

Happy to help!

Could it be the other conditions that made it pass through?

Sarah Thompson

The conditions are "or"s so it shouldn't make a difference, right? If one of them is met, the notification shouldn't go out.

These automations have been in use for well over a year, so if this has been happening right along, I would assume one of our clients would have spoken up about getting notifications that they shouldn't be. But you know what happens when you assume.

I guess my thought is if you can't use one automation for multiple conditions with an "or", then what's the point of adding "or" as an option at all?

Mike Wilday

I think what Andree is saying is OR allows any one of those three options. If the first option fails, it checks the second, then it checks the third. If the email went out, one of those three options must have been true.

 

Mike Wilday

In your case, if the cancelled space with Airline was blank the email would have sent. OR if utilization date was not checked, it would have sent. 

Andrée Starå

Yes, they make a difference. It checks one and then goes to the next so in your scenario it might be better with an AND instead.

Sarah Thompson

I questioned that at the time but no one ever complained so I thought it was functioning the way I want it to haha. Thanks for your help!

Sarah Thompson

I am still questioning why there would be allowed to be an or option in the conditions then. What purpose would that serve?

Mike Wilday

In cases where you would want to send a particular announcement if one field was a certain thing OR another field was a certain thing. For instance, if the cost is more than the budget, or if the cost is blank, email an individual. 

Andrée Starå

Haha! 

Happy to help!

Sarah Thompson

But that's what I want it to do. I want it to send an email if cancel is not checked OR if cancelled space with airline is not a date. Isn't that the same thing?

Sarah Thompson

Hi again!

It's still happening, and I changed my automations so that there was only one condition affecting whether or not it would send. The cancel box has been checked for a month, and the notification went out today.

Any thoughts on this?

Thanks-

Sarah

Sarah Thompson

Never mind. I just realized I just exacerbated the issue instead of fixing it. This is the problem with trying to function as a human being while also having an infant and not sleeping haha

Andrée Starå

Haha!