Add a file and folder trigger

Starts a bot when a predefined action such as create, delete, rename, or modify is performed on a file or a folder.

This procedure is for a scenario where you want to trigger a bot when a user modifies a document called Product info.docx.
Note: This scenario is for a user with Bot Creator role.

For information about how a user with a Bot Runner role can link event triggers, see Linking event triggers to a Bot Runner.

Procedure

  1. On the left pane, click Automation.
    A list of available bots and forms is displayed.
  2. Click Create new > Bot.
  3. Enter a name for the bot.
    All the bots are stored under the \Bots folder. (Optiona0 Click Browse to change the folder.
  4. Click Create & edit.
  5. In the bot builder page, click Triggers > Files & folders.
  6. Drag File trigger into Drag a trigger here.
  7. Click Browse and select the Product info.docx file.
  8. From the Start the bot when the file is drop-down menu, select modified.
    This sets the trigger for the bot.
  9. Optional: Use the Assigned to drop-down menu to assign a variable.
    If you want use the Variables tab to create a variable, ensure you select the Use as input check box for it to appear in the Assigned to (optional) drop-down menu.
    Note: If you use the Select variable icon in the Assigned to (optional) drop-down menu to create a variable, ensure that you do not select the Constant (read only) check box.
    The following set of data can be retrieved by defining a variable as the input type, which you can assign to get output from the trigger:
    • triggerType: File or folder trigger
    • eventType: The type of trigger event

    The following set of data cannot be used if the Set Schema check box is selected as it returns a non-string variable type:

    • timeStamp: The time when the trigger occurred

      Ensure you link the timeStamp value to a string variable to obtain the trigger data. For example, consider you want to extract the date and time for the trigger event when a user modifies the Sales update.xls file. Use the Message action within the task logic, and enter Date Time- $recordVar[2]$ in the Enter the message to display field.

    • fromFolder: Details of the parent folder path
    • folder: Details of the file or folder path on which the event occurred
  10. Click Save.
  11. Click Run > Run with triggers.
    Whenever a user modifies the Product info.docx, the bot is triggered.