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Workflow Triggers: Relative vs Fixed Dates
Workflow Triggers: Relative vs Fixed Dates

How to choose the correct type of trigger for your workflow actions.

Sam Gioia avatar
Written by Sam Gioia
Updated over a week ago

Each workflow action you create will also have a trigger. The trigger is what tells the action when you want it to run.

In the Workflow Action modal under the When header, click on Relative or Fixed to select the type of trigger you'd like to set.

In order to understand the various triggers that are available, let's start with the differences between relative triggers and fixed dates!
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Relative Triggers

Relative triggers are the most common triggers you will use. The relative option allows you to choose specific conditions to watch for, such as when a client signs their contract, completes a form or pays an invoice.

When the condition is met, the action will run. This allows the workflow to tailor itself to each project you apply it to.

Note that you can also build in a "delay" with relative triggers in increments of hours, days, weeks, or years. Entering the number "0" will translate to "immediately" and add no delay at all. You can also use decimals! The relative trigger "0.25 hours after contract signed by client" will run the action 15 minutes after the client signs the contract.

 

Fixed Date Triggers

Setting a fixed date trigger gives the workflow action a specific date and time when it will run. Fixed date triggers can be used when setting up a workflow template for a specific event, such as a holiday special. 

If you're choosing to use a fixed date trigger, keep in mind that the date and time will be the same for every single project the workflow is applied to. For example, you wouldn’t want your welcome email to go out at 9:57 AM on August 9, 2019 for every single client that inquires.

Fixed dates can also be used when editing on actions on a project-by-project basis. By going to the Workflows tab within a project, you can click Edit next to any action and change its trigger to a fixed date if needed.

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