Exploring Built-In Apps for Extracting and Compiling Data

As we discussed in Chapter 6, Creating Multi-Step Zaps and Using Built-In Apps, the power of Zapier lies in the functionality that you can take advantage of by using Zapier’s built-in apps. In this chapter, we will introduce you to built-in apps that extract data from emails, use RSS feeds, and create data digests. We will describe their functionality and provide practical tips on how to use them.

In Chapter 8, Built-In Communication Apps, we covered built-in communication apps. So, in this chapter, we start with a similar theme by discussing how to extract data from emails using Email Parser by Zapier. Then, we will explore how to use RSS feed readers in automations using RSS by Zapier. After that, we will dive into how to compile data digests with Digest by Zapier. Finally, we will work through an exercise to build a Zap using RSS by Zapier and Digest by Zapier.

We will cover the following key topics in this chapter...

Technical requirements

To make the most of the content and exercises in this chapter, you will need access to a Zapier account. The Zapier Starter plan will be adequate. You can get access to the Zap templates used in this chapter here: https://bit.ly/zapier-book. Using these templates will help you visualize how the process works.

Email Parser by Zapier – extracting data from emails

The Email Parser by Zapier built-in app allows you to extract data from emails that have been forwarded to a unique @robot.zapier.com email address. By teaching Email Parser by Zapier to understand patterns in emails that you send to it, it can consistently extract that information for you to use in other steps in your workflow.

Email Parser by Zapier can only be used as a trigger step at the start of your workflow. It is available as the following trigger events:

• New Email
• New Mailbox

Let’s look at each.

The New Email trigger event

This trigger event can be used to start a workflow when a new email has been received. This works by using a unique @robot.zapier.com email address, which you would forward emails to. It is best practice that you set up multiple mailboxes to deal with separate workflows.

Here are a few examples of when to use the Email Parser by Zapier New Email trigger event...

RSS by Zapier – using RSS feed readers

It can be overwhelming trying to keep on top of all the content that gets pushed our way, and we risk missing out on crucial new content. Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds update whenever the website publishes new content in a blog or podcast. This is useful as you can use this information to sift through what you want to see and be updated on new content. Most websites have RSS feeds in the format of site.com/feed or site.com/rss. Often, they will display in a _Feeds link in the footer bar. Private feeds often require you to use login credentials to access them. For more information on how to find the RSS feed for almost any website, check out this article: https://zapier.com/blog/how-to-find-rss-feed-url/.

The RSS by Zapier built-in app allows you to use RSS feed updates as a trigger, which, by then adding a notification action step such as an email, SMS, or Slack message, will give you an update on new content. You can also create...

Digest by Zapier – compiling data in digests

The Digest by Zapier built-in app allows you to capture data from multiple workflow trigger events and compile the data into single summaries that can be used in other action events. This is useful if you have several notifications that you want to receive a summary of at one time rather than as they happen. If you don’t want to be disturbed on certain days with regular notifications, turn them off and just receive a summary at times you specify. Conversely, some of your apps may not send you notifications of certain events, and in this case, you might want reports of certain occurrences at a regular time. You can also search for existing digest data to use in your workflows.

Here are a few examples of how you can use this built-in app:

• Send a weekly email to management with a summary of all sales invoices created over that week
• Send an email with a periodic summary of all Slack notifications you have received...

Exercise – creating a multi-step Zap with an RSS feed digest

You can use one of the processes that you defined in Chapter 2, Preparing to Automate Your Processes, to work through the content in this section, if appropriate. Try to incorporate multiple apps in your workflow.

You might want to create a monthly digest of your three favorite blogs. You want to receive the summary on the first of the month at 9 A.M. in a Slack message and add a task to MeisterTask so that you don’t forget to read them. If you don’t mark your task as complete after 7 days, you want to receive another reminder in Slack.

Here is an example of a simple workflow you could build to automate this process:

1. Trigger: Add the RSS by Zapier New Items in Multiple Feeds event trigger and specify the blogs that you want to receive feed updates for.
2. Action: Add a Digest by Zapier Append Entry and Schedule Digest action event and specify Frequency as Monthly, Day Of The Month as 1...

Summary

In this chapter, we introduced you to a few more of Zapier’s range of built-in apps. We covered how to extract data from emails using Email Parser by Zapier, and then we explored how to use RSS feed readers in automations using RSS by Zapier. Then, we discussed how to compile data digests with Digest by Zapier. Lastly, we covered an exercise to create a digest of an RSS feed.

You now know how to extract or parse data from emails, use RSS feeds in your automations, and collate data into digests.

In the next chapter, you will learn about a variety of Zapier’s other built-in apps. We will cover how to initiate one-off automation from any page on the internet, how to shorten URLs, and how to translate and detect text in different languages. We will also discuss how to retrieve and score a lead’s company information, how to use data on weather conditions, and how to use astrological predictions in your automations.

Questions

1. Once you have mapped the variables that you want Email Parser by Zapier to parse, will it reliably extract the correct data every time?
2. Can I create my own bespoke RSS feed with RSS by Zapier?
3. What does that Manual (pair with separate “Release Digest” Zap) frequency option in Digest by Zapier work with?