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You're reading from  Automate It with Zapier and Generative AI - Second Edition

Product typeBook
Published inAug 2023
PublisherPackt
ISBN-139781803239842
Edition2nd Edition
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Author (1)
Kelly Goss
Kelly Goss
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Kelly Goss

Kelly Goss is a process automation specialist and company director for Solvaa, a cloud-based automation consultancy. She has worked across multiple industry verticals for providing Zapier consultancy, digital process improvement, process mapping and process automation solutions. Kelly is a Zapier Certified Expert and a speaker at multiple events related to automation.
Read more about Kelly Goss

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Troubleshooting and Handling Zap Errors

As you get more familiar with Zapier and start to build complex workflows, you are likely to run into problems occasionally with your workflows. In general, when errors occur, they might originate from the way the Zap was set up, from issues with one of the apps in the workflow, or from general performance problems of the Zapier app itself. The best way to learn how to address these problems is to do some initial investigation work yourself before reaching out for additional help.

In this chapter, we will discuss the critical information that you will need to deal with unexpected errors when using Zapier. We will begin by discussing how to manage Zap error notifications by adjusting your account settings, and by setting up a Zap with the Zapier Manager built-in app. Then, we will cover how to manage app status alerts by monitoring the Zapier Status page, and by setting up a Zap with the App Status by Zapier built-in app. After, we will show...

Technical requirements

To work through the content in this chapter, you will need access to a Zapier account. The Zapier Free plan will be adequate for most of the content in this chapter. To work through the Managing Zap history data section, you will need access to a Starter plan or higher for some parts and access to a Professional plan or higher for the content on the Autoreplay function. You can get access to the Zap templates used in this chapter here: https://bit.ly/zapier-book.

Managing Zap error alerts

One of the benefits of using a workflow automation tool such as Zapier is that your processes can run on autopilot while you focus on other things. You will, however, want to know when your workflows run into errors so that you can address any problems promptly, to ensure continuity. Zapier monitors all Zaps for performance when they are running. Whenever a fault is detected with the way any of your Zaps are expected to work, Zapier will highlight that a problem has occurred. The best way to monitor any problems with your workflows and deal with them quickly is to ensure you receive notifications when any issues arise.

You can manage the way you receive your alerts by doing the following:

  • Adjusting your email notification settings
  • Setting up an error alert workflow with the Zapier Manager built-in app

You will then be able to manage your alerts and take action in a more timely manner.

Tip

Using alerts with the Zapier Manager built...

Managing app status alerts

In the previous section, we described how to manage Zap status alerts for issues arising with your Zap triggers, actions, and connected apps. When troubleshooting, you will also find it useful to understand how to find information on the overall performance of the Zapier app itself and see updates on any known issues with the connected apps in your workflow. This will help you to exclude these external issues when you begin to investigate problems with specific Zaps.

You can find information on Zapier app performance and manage app status alerts by doing the following:

  • Monitoring the Zapier Status page
  • Setting up an app status alert workflow with the App Status by Zapier built-in app

Let’s take a look at each method.

Monitoring the Zapier Status page

When trying to investigate unexpected issues with your workflows, you will find it useful to check for incidents relating to how the Zapier app itself is functioning or any...

Utilizing Zap history information for troubleshooting

So far in this chapter, we have helped you to understand how to manage Zap error and app status alerts so that you can act promptly on any issues that arise. In addition, we’ve discussed how to assess the information that Zapier provides on the Zapier Status page, as having this information to hand will help you to exclude the impact of external issues when investigating problems with individual Zaps. Next, we will discuss how to troubleshoot errors with your individual Zaps by using the information available on the Zap history page.

Let’s get started with understanding what Zap history is and how you can use it when troubleshooting problems with your workflows.

Understanding the Zap history page

The Zap history page provides you with a detailed log of the activities of all of your Zaps. This log shows a list of all Zaps that have triggered successfully when new data has been found in the trigger app. It also...

Finding help – help center, customer support, communities, experts, and workshops

Once you have done some initial investigations to troubleshoot errors in your Zaps and workflow events, you will find it useful to know where to look for additional help on the Zapier platform. Zapier provides you with several ways to get assistance, ranging from do-it-yourself information finding to hands-on support. There are a few ways in which you can get help on the Zapier platform, such as the following:

  • Finding app-specific help in app profiles
  • Utilizing the Zapier help center
  • Engaging with the Zapier community
  • Reaching out to Zapier customer support
  • Hiring a Zapier certified expert
  • Courses, workshops, and privately hosted communities

These options are available to all users of Zapier regardless of which pricing plan subscription you use.

Let’s explore each of these.

Finding app-specific help in app profiles

As we discussed in Chapter 2...

Summary

In this chapter, we covered essential information required to troubleshoot errors when using Zapier. We started by covering how to manage error alerts using email notifications and by using the Zapier Manager built-in app. Next, we covered how to manage app status alerts by monitoring the Zapier Status page and by using the App Status by Zapier built-in app. We then looked at using Zap history information in detail to help you to troubleshoot problems with Zaps, apps, and individual data issues. Lastly, we reviewed the channels available to get extra support on the Zapier platform.

You now know how to manage your alerts by updating your email notification preferences and how to understand information on the Zapier Status page. You also now know how to create alert workflows using the Zapier Manager and App Status by Zapier built-in apps and how to understand Zap history information to help with troubleshooting errors. Lastly, you now know how to find help on the Zapier platform...

Questions

  1. Name two Zapier built-in apps that can help you to manage error and maintenance alerts in your Zapier account.
  2. Which three native features of Zapier will help you with troubleshooting errors?
  3. What are six ways you can find additional help when troubleshooting?
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Author (1)

author image
Kelly Goss

Kelly Goss is a process automation specialist and company director for Solvaa, a cloud-based automation consultancy. She has worked across multiple industry verticals for providing Zapier consultancy, digital process improvement, process mapping and process automation solutions. Kelly is a Zapier Certified Expert and a speaker at multiple events related to automation.
Read more about Kelly Goss