Book Image

Automate It with Zapier

By : Kelly Goss
Book Image

Automate It with Zapier

By: Kelly Goss

Overview of this book

Zapier is an emerging no-code workflow automation technology that enables organizations to connect their cloud-based and web applications and automate data transfer between them. Zapier's built-in features and flexibility allow users to integrate thousands of business applications and create simple to complex automation to reduce time spent on repetitive tasks, thereby increasing productivity. This book is a must-have for business owners, their employees, and independent freelancers and contractors looking to use Zapier for business process automation. The book takes a hands-on approach to implementation and associated problem-solving methodologies that will have you up-and-running and productive in no time while leveling up your automation skills. You'll discover how to plan your automation building for optimal results, what are the native features available in Zapier, and the applications that connect with it, as well as how to optimally configure your workflows to automate your processes in as few steps as possible. Finally, you'll find out how to create advanced workflow automation from scratch and learn how to troubleshoot issues. By the end of this Zapier book, you'll be able to build your own advanced workflow automation using Zapier, addressing the key pain points encountered in businesses with manual and repetitive tasks.
Table of Contents (29 chapters)
1
Section 1: Getting Started with Zapier
7
Section 2: Customizing Your Zaps with Built-in Apps by Zapier – Functionality and Practical Uses
15
Section 3: Using the Features of the Formatter by Zapier Built-In App
21
Section 4: Getting the Most Out of Zapier – Business Automation Examples

Replacing characters, words, or phrases

You've probably used the find and replace function many times before when editing a document in Microsoft Word or Google Docs, a spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets, or a database such as Smartsheet or Airtable. It does what the name says – finds something and then replaces it with something else. Zapier uses similar functionality, allowing you to find and replace words and phrases in text strings. You can use the Formatter by Zapier Text action event with the Replace transform function to achieve this. Microsoft Excel users will recognize the similarity of this Zapier functionality to the REPLACE or SUBSTITUTE formulas in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet to find and replace text.

The Replace transform function also allows you to find special characters using special character syntax as follows:

  • Space characters: The [:space:] syntax is used to match space (\s) characters.
  • Tab characters: The [:tab:] syntax...