Spreadsheet.com's various automation trigger types let you specify when an automation occurs based on changes to data in your worksheet.

Automations are triggered by changes to the data in your worksheets. For instance, automation can be set up to trigger based on changes to columns with certain data types, when columns are updated, new rows are created via form, or as recurring automations.

Select the right trigger conditions for the data or situation you want to track. For instance, if a customer support request is resolved, if a potential new customer fills out your form requesting more information, or trigger a report to run weekly reminding you of all tasks in the project plan.

Defining a trigger is the first step of creating a new automation. From the Trigger block, click the When button to open the dropdown from where you can select the trigger type.

Let's take a closer look at each of the trigger types.

When a Select column changes to something

With this trigger, you can track when changes are made to a Select data type column. Click on the Select button to pick the Select column to track, and the something button (shown below) to choose from the existing options in that Select column.

When a Select column changes from something to something

Like the trigger condition activated when a Select column changes to something, this trigger condition can track when changes are made to a Select data type column. However, it specifically sets conditions based on what the initial "something" select field was. Click on the Select button to pick the Select column to track, and the two something buttons to choose the initial and new Select options, respectively.

In the example above, the automation will only trigger when the "Status" column is changed from "Not Started" to the option selected from the second something dropdown.

When a Date arrives

Date columns and Date & time columns can also be used in trigger conditions. Using the On button (shown below), you can specify whether the trigger will occur on a date and/or time in a column, or some amount of time before a date and/or time in a column. Click the Date button to select the Date or Date & time column for the automation to reference.

When a Column is updated

With this trigger, you can configure an automation to run when any data in a specific column is updated. Click the Column button to select the column that will be used to trigger the automation. Data added above the table header row will not activate this trigger, nor will formatting changes.

When a User column is assigned to a User

This trigger condition sets off an automation whenever a user is assigned in a User data type column. It will trigger both when a new user is added to the column and when the existing user value is changed to a different user.

When a new row is created from a Form submission

This trigger works with Forms and Form views, allowing you to set up automations for new form submissions. This trigger only activates when a user submits data through a form, not when you manually add or update the form data in a work worksheet.

Every time period (recurrent)

Recurring triggers allow you to automate tasks and reminders at some regular interval, configured via the Recurrence settings dialog. Set recurring triggers to run daily, weekly, or monthly at certain dates and times.

Learn more about configuring recurring automations.

When a Button is clicked

This trigger causes an automation to run when a Button is clicked in your workbook. Buttons are created via the Button data type, a column-level data type. Click the Button button to select a Button column from the dropdown list. Learn more about the Button data type.

Changing an Automation's Trigger

To delete an automation's trigger condition, mouse over the trigger condition, click the x icon in the top right corner, and confirm that you want to delete it.

With the original trigger deleted, you can then define a new trigger in its place.

After determining what trigger conditions to give your automation, you may want to customize conditions and apply standard action types and integration action types that work with third-party apps and services.