Quick start: Build your first automation using an AppSheet database

To create your first automation using an AppSheet databases, perform the following steps:

1. Sign in to AppSheet.
2. Open the Tasks App app in the app editor.
   You created the Tasks App app when completing the Quick start: Build your first app using an AppSheet database.
3. In the navigation pane of the app editor, click Automation .
   
   
   
   The Bots pane is displayed.
4. Click + in the top header of the Bots pane.
   
   
5. In the Add a new bot dialog, click Create a new bot.
   
   
   
   A new empty bot is created and displayed in the center pane of the app editor.
6. Edit the name of the bot.
   1. Position your cursor over the New Bot in the left navigation pane.
   2. Select More  > Rename.
      
      
       
   3. Rename the bot to Task complete and press Enter.
7.  In the new bot flow in the center pane, click Configure event.
   
   
8. For Event name, enter Task complete and click Create a custom event.

   
   
   The Settings pane opens in the right side of the app editor.

   You could also select the Tasks column Task is changed suggestion to automatically configure a portion of the event. But for the purposes of this tutorial you'll learn how to configure the event manually. For more information, see Suggestions in the app editor.

9. In the right pane, configure the event settings as follows:

   Field	Setting
   Event source	Select AppSheet database in the drop-down.
   Table	Select Tasks in the drop-down.
   Data change type	Do the following: Select Updates. Deselect Adds and Deletes.
   Columns to watch for update	Open the drop-down menu and do the following: Select Status. Deselect Task. Click Select 1 column(s).
   Condition	Enter a condition value using the Expression Assistant:  Click in the Condition field. The Expression Assistant is displayed. Enter [Status] = "Complete" in the expression text box.  Click Save.

   
   The Settings pane appear as follows:
   
   
10. In the bot flow in the center pane, click + Add a step.
    
    
11. For Step name, enter Email approver and click Create a custom step.
    
    
    
    The Email approver step is added, it is set to Run a task by default, and the configuration settings are displayed in the right pane.
12. In the right pane, configure the task, as follows:
    1. Leave the task type set to Send an email.
    2. For Email Type, click Custom template.
       Additional fields are displayed.
    3. In the Table name drop-down, select Tasks (if it is not already selected).
    4. In the To field, click Add and in the field that is displayed enter your email address (for testing).
    5. In the Email Subject field, enter: Task complete
    6. Leave the Email Body set to the default.

    The Settings pane appears as follows:
    
    

13. Click Save to save the app.
    
    

14.  The following warning message is displayed:

    

    You can ignore this message for now. All test messages will be sent to you as the app owner, so you don't need to deploy the app in order to test the automation.

    Next, you'll test your automation.

15. To test your automation:

    1. In the navigation pane of the app editor, click Data .
       
       
       
       The Data pane is displayed.

    2. Click Tasks in the Data pane.
       
       

    3. In the table navigation bar, click View data source.
       
       
       
       The My Project Tracker is opened in the AppSheet database editor in a new browser tab. The Tasks table is selected by default.

    4. In the Write script row, set the Status column to Complete.
       
       

    5. Check your email for a message titled Task complete. 

Congratulations! You have created your first AppSheet automation by using an AppSheet database. 

What's next? You can access more quick starts to learn about other AppSheet features.