Tables: Update a Row

Use this action to identify rows in a data table based on column values and update data in matching rows.

Use case

This action acts like a “find & replace”: search a data table for rows that meet certain criteria, then update things in those matched rows. This action is frequently used because of the usefulness of automating updating a row.

Some common examples are:

1. In a CRM Workflow: search a contact table by company name, then update the Sales stage column of the company from Initial Contact to Qualification
2. In an email campaign Workflow: if a user unsubscribes from an email, search a table for their email address, then update their Opt-out status column from Subscribed to Unsubscribed
3. In an inventory management Workflow: search an inventory table for all SKUs with a quantity of 0, then update each SKUs Reorder Soon column to Yes

How to configure this action

This action can find and update things in a table by row. Here are two examples of using this action, and the fields that are used to configure it.

The two examples demonstrate how to search a table with 3 columns, Fruit, Price, and Quantity. The Look up column names and Look up column criteria find and identify matching columns. For each matched row, the columns and values identify the value to update those columns with.

Each example shows the steps needed to answer a question or inquiry, such as “I want to search X and update Y”

“I want to search the table for any row where the Price is 10, then update the quantity of any matched rows to 20”

1. Set the Look up column names field to Price, to search the price column.
2. Set the Look up column criteria field to 10 to search the price column for rows that equal 10.

3. Then, set the Columns field to Quantity and the Values field to 20 to update any matched rows quantity to 20.

   

“I want to search the table for any row where the Price is 40 and quantity is 10, then update the Fruit of any matched rows to Grape, and the Price to 20”

1. Set the Look up column names field to Price,Quantity, to search the price and quantity column.
2. Set the Look up column criteria field to 40,10 to search for rows where the price is 40 and the quantity is 10.

3. Then, set the Columns field to Fruit,Price and the Values field to Grape,20 to update any matched rows Fruit to Grape, and Price to 20.

   

Fields for this action

• Data table

  • Select a table from a list of all tables available on your team. The list only includes tables you have permission to view.
    • You can also reference a table stored in a field. Change the left hand drop-down to Use table via field then select from any field that is part of the process. Learn more.
    • If necessary, you can enter the Table ID directly. Change the left hand drop-down to Use table by ID then enter the ID manually. Learn more.

• Look up column names

  • Enter a comma separated list of the column header names for the columns to search.
    • This field and the Look up column criteria field work together to determine matching rows. For example, set this field to Quantity,Fruit and the look up column criteria to 20,Apple to search for rows where Quantity is 20 and the Fruit is Apple.
  • Input column names as a comma-delimited list in any order. Not all columns for the table need to be included. Enclose the value in quotation marks if it contains special characters such as commas, leading and/or trailing whitespace, and newlines. If the value contains double quotation marks, they must be escaped with quotation marks.

• Look up column criteria

  • Enter the text or {{field-names}} to search the column by, this will search for exact matches.
    • This field and the Look up column names field work together to determine matching rows. For example, set this field to 20,Apple and the Look up column names field to Quantity,Fruit to search for rows where Quantity is 20 and Fruit is Apple.
  • Input column names as a comma-delimited list in any order. Not all columns for the table need to be included. Enclose the value in quotation marks if it contains special characters such as commas, leading and/or trailing whitespace, and newlines. If the value contains double quotation marks, they must be escaped with quotation marks.

• Output field name

  • Name of the output field in which results should be saved.

• Columns

  • In a comma separated list, enter the column headers for the columns that will be updated.
    • This field and the Values field work together to determine which values to update in any matched rows. For example, set this field to Fruit,Price and the Values field to Grape,40 to update the Fruit to Grape and Price to 40 for any rows that match the look up criteria.
  • Input comma-delimited list of values to match the columns entered above. Enclose the value in quotation marks if it contains special characters such as commas, leading and/or trailing whitespace, and newlines. If the value contains double quotation marks, they must be escaped with quotation marks.

• Values

  • Values in comma-delimited list that matches the order of Columns as defined above. {{field-names}} are acceptable as well for values dynamically generated by the Workflow.
    • This field and the Columns field work together to determine which values to update in any matched rows. For example, set this field to Grape,40 and the Values field to Fruit,Price to update the Fruit to Grape and Price to 40 for any rows that match the look up criteria.
  • Input comma-delimited list of values to match the columns entered above. Enclose the value in quotation marks if it contains special characters such as commas, leading and/or trailing whitespace, and newlines. If the value contains double quotation marks, they must be escaped with quotation marks.

• Update all

  • Select True or False from the drop down to set which matching rows should be updated.
    • Select True and every matching row will be updated.
    • Select False or leave blank and only the first matched row will be updated.

What will this output?

The expected output for this action is that the row, or rows, matching the Search Term is updated with the corresponding Values defined.

This action may generate multiple fields. To help keep output fields organized, the Output field name defined above will be added to the beginning of each of the output field names, separated by two dashes. Each field will result as:{{output-field-name--output-field}}.

Output fields for this action

• Rows updated

  • The number of rows that were updated by the action.

• Table updated

  • will return true or false depending on whether a row was updated.

Get help with a problem or question

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