A Search Action is a way to search your Airtable base and return single or multiple records for use in Airtable Automations, Airtable Scripting, Other Apps in Zapier, or a Custom App.
🔴 On2Air Actions has been shutdown to focus on our On2Air Backups Airtable app Learn more about automated Airtable backups - on2air.com
In this article
- Before Creating a Search
- How To Create a Search
- Search Types
- Search Configurations
- Enable Search
- Installation
- Create an API Key
- Connect your Action to Zapier
- Connect your Action using Scripts
- Connect your Action to Airtable Automations
- Connect your Action using Node.js
- History Log
- Configure Your Search in Zapier
Before Creating a Search
Before using Search, first
Connect to Your Airtable Account
How To Create a Search
There are two ways to create a Search
From the All Actions page
- Click New Action in the top right-hand side of the screen
- Select a Search type
- Click Add Configuration
OR
- Click Searches in the side menu
- Click New Search
- Select Your Search Type
- Click Add Configuration
Search Types
Search Single Record - Search and lookup a single record based on search criteria
Search Multiple Records - Search and lookup multiple records based on search criteria
Search Configurations
Airtable Connection
- Select your Airtable Connection - This is the Airtable account where your Base resides
Airtable Source
- Select Your Base - Choose your desired base
- Select Your Table - Choose your table
- Select Your View - Choose your view (Optional) Default is all views
- Selected Fields \- The fields you want returned to your table or to another sequence after search process is complete - (Default is All Fields)Add one or multiple fieldsIf none selected, all fields will be retrieved
- Sort Fields - Sort how the results are ordered
- Ascending (ASC) or Descending (DESC)You can add one or multiple optionsYou can reorder fields by clicking the bars icon next to the field
Lookup Mode - The mode type for the field in your base being searched _ Options_ * Field * Formula
Mode Types
- Field - The field you want to search
Mode Configuration
- Field to Lookup - The field being searched This can be any Airtable field type
- Default Lookup Value - A default value used as the search term
Formula (Advanced) - Create your own custom formula to initiate a search
Mode Configuration
- Formula - Add your own custom formula _ Will trigger every time the formula is TRUE - You need to change the state back to FALSE to ensure it only runs when needed_
Advanced Options
Backfill Fields - Use any other Airtable field from your table in another step in your sequence workflow - (Default and Recommended is On/Green) * This setting is available due to the Airtable API not returning the field data
Flatten Output - Remove extraneous data from certain Airtable fields - (Default and Recommended is On/Green) * When returning data, the Airtable API attaches additional, unnecessary information to some fields, such as attachments and collaborator
Lock Fields on Name - Uses the actual text Name of the field you chose in Mode Configuration instead of the Unique field ID to watch for changes to trigger on (Default is Off -Default watches for the Unique field ID) * Name is useful if you want to create a duplicate field and watch the name instead of the ID
Enable Search
Once all configurations are set
- Toggle Enable (green) to enable your Search
Delete Search
- Click Delete Search
- Click Yes, I want to delete this action _ WARNING: This action cannot be undone_
Installation
Installation allows you to quickly start using your On2Air Triggers, Updates, or Searches.
You can connect to On2Air using Airtable Automations, Airtable Scripting, Zapier, or a Custom App.
Create an API Key
If you haven’t created an API Key to connect On2Air to other apps, create one now
- In the Installation tab, choose your Installation Source
Zapier - Use in Zapier Script - Use in the Scripting App in Airtable Automation - Use in Automations in Airtable Node.js - Use in your program or application
- Select the corresponding API Key
Connect your Action to Zapier
To connect to Zapier, you have 2 options
- Connect by creating a new Zap
- Connect by choosing a pre-made template
Connect by creating a new Zap
- Choose Zapier as your Installation Source
- Choose your API Key
- Begin the process of creating a new Zap in Zapier
- Choose On2Air as your app
- Enter the API Key when prompted
- Finish configuring your Zap
Connect by choosing a pre-made template
Choose one of the On2Air pre-made templates for Zapier
Connect your Action using Scripts
Once you create your Trigger, On2Air automatically generates a Script for you to add to the Scripting App in Airtable. The Script contains almost everything you need to use your action immediately.
- Once you’ve chosen Scripts as your Installation Source and your API Key, click Copy to Clipboard
- Paste the script into the Scripting App in Airtable or into On2Air: Scripts
In the generated script, you will see an output of what the data will look like. There are several areas in the script marked as ‘TODO Item(s)’. You will need to review each TODO, add your logic to the script, add values, or other relevant instructions.
When you update the TODOs, it’s automatically added in the Output to be available for future steps if needed
- Review and complete each TODO Item
Number of TODO Items in each On2Air Action Type
TRIGGERS Single Record Update - 1 TODO Item Multiple Records Updated - 1 TODO Item Single Record to Be Deleted - 1 TODO Item Multiple Records to Be Deleted - 1 TODO Item
UPDATES Update(Insert) Multiple Records - 3 TODO Items Create New Single Record - 3 TODO Items Delete Single Record - 2 TODO Items Update (Insert) Multiple Records - 3 TODO Items Delete Multiple Records - 2 TODO Items Create New Multiple Records - 3 TODO Items
SEARCHES
Search Multiple Records - 2 TODO Items Search Single Record - 2 TODO Items
Connect your Action to Airtable Automations
You can use Actions directly inside of Automations in your base. Using On2Air: Actions in parallel with Automations is essential to perform a variety of functions not available within Airtable.
With Actions, you can update to other bases.
You can also search records. With Actions, you can search via formula without having to loop through all the records.
With our Update type, you have the ability to update a record, then create a record if one does not exist.
- Once you’ve selected your Installation Source and API Key, click Copy to Clipboard
- Open your base in Airtable and open the Automations tab
- Create a Trigger in Airtable
- Next, add an Action (Airtable version)
- Click Run script
- Paste the code into the text editor
In the generated script, you will see an output of what the data will look like. There are several areas in the script marked as ‘TODO Item(s)’. You will need to review each TODO, add your logic to the script, add values, or other relevant instructions.
When you update the TODOs, it’s automatically added in the Output to be available for future steps if needed
- Review and complete the TODO Item(s) in the script
Number of TODO Items in each On2Air Action Type
TRIGGERS Single Record Update - 1 TODO Item Multiple Records Updated - 1 TODO Item Single Record to Be Deleted - 1 TODO Item Multiple Records to Be Deleted - 1 TODO Item
UPDATES Update(Insert) Multiple Records - 3 TODO Items Create New Single Record - 3 TODO Items Delete Single Record - 2 TODO Items Update (Insert) Multiple Records - 3 TODO Items Delete Multiple Records - 2 TODO Items Create New Multiple Records - 3 TODO Items
SEARCHES
Search Multiple Records - 2 TODO Items Search Single Record - 2 TODO Items
Connect your Action using Node.js
You can use Actions in your program or application
- Once you’ve selected your Installation Source and API Key, click Copy to Clipboard
- Paste into your program
History Log
History Log Coming Soon!
Configure Your Search in Zapier
Accept App Invitation
Once you sign up for On2Air: Actions, you will receive a link from the Openside team to add the On2Air app to your Zapier account
- Click the link
- An invitation screen will be displayed
- Select Accept Invite and Build a Zap
Create A Zap
Before using Searches, you must have a previous step in your Zap. In this example, we have a Trigger from On2Air as the first step.
- Click the + icon below the first step in your Zap
Choose App & Event
Choose App
- Search for the On2Air app (In our example, it’s already chosen due to our first step)
- Click Create Zap
Choose App & Event
Choose App
- Search for the On2Air app
- Select the On2Air app
Choose Action Event
- Select Perform On2Air Search
- Click Continue
Choose Account (Not Connected to On2Air)
If you have not connected your On2Air account to Zapier, follow the next steps. If you have already connected to On2Air, skip to the Customize Update step.
- Click Sign in to On2Air
- Another window will open displaying Allow Zapier to access your On2Air Account
- You will need to enter the Zapier API Key you created earlier in the field
- To view your API Key or to create a Zapier API Key, click Create/Select an API Key to your On2Air account here
- Copy your API Key
- Paste your API Key in the field
- Click Yes, continue
- Your On2Air account is now connected to Zapier
- Click Continue
Choose Account (Already Connected to On2Air)
- Choose your On2Air account
- Click Continue
Customize Search
App
- Choose Actions
Actions Search - Displays a list of the Searches you have Enabled in On2Air: Actions * Select the Search you want to use * You can also click Configure to configure your Search in On2Air
- Lookup Value - Add your Search term
Advanced Settings
- Response As JSON String - Set to Yes if you want the response as a JSON string instead of an object
- Click Continue
Find Data
- Click Test & Review to ensure it’s set up
- Click Continue
- Click Done Editing
Here’s the table in Airtable
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