What is Zapier?
Zapier is a no-code solution to connect your Invision Community with other apps, such as Mailchimp, Google Docs, Facebook, Twitter and more. It allows you to trigger actions when new content is added to your Invision Community, and allows Invision Community to trigger actions when other apps receive data.
For example, you may choose to add a newly registered member to a Mailchimp list, or send an alert to Slack when a topic is added in a specific forum.
This guide will take you through the simple steps of setting up Zapier and your Invision Community and look at creating your first action.
Setting up your first Zap
The first thing you will need to do is register an account with Zapier. Once you are logged in, you can either search for "Invision Community" or head there directly with this link to view which triggers and actions are available.
Searching for Invision Community
Invision Community at Zapier
Let's set up a test Zap.
For this test Zap, we're just going to populate a Google Sheets spreadsheed with new post information.
The first step is to search for Google Sheets in the "Do more with Invision Community" section. Scroll down until you see the section where you can select the trigger for Invision Community and action for Google Sheets.
Finding Google Sheets
Once you have chosen your two apps (Invision Community and Google Sheets) your can choose which action to take.
Each time a post is added, add a new Google Sheets row
You'll get a little preview of what the Zap will do. Click through the "Get Started" button.
The first step is to connect your Invision Community.
It's time to connect your Invision Community
Clicking "Connect" will load a new window asking for your community URL and API key.
The connection window
Enter the URL as requested. The API key is located in your AdminCP > System > Community Enhancements > Zapier.
Zapier in the Community Enhancements section.
Locating Zapier in your Admin CP
Clicking Enable shows the URL and key.
The Zapier URL and API key
Paste these details into the connection window.
Entering the details, then hit "Yes Continue"
Success! Now ensure you click the radio button to select this community.
Select this newly connected community
On the next screen, you can choose the criteria for allowing this post content to be shared with Google Sheets.
I've chosen to only allow visible posts to be shared
The next step is to go through the set up flow with Google Sheets. This flow is very similar to the the flow when setting up Invision Community.
Authenticating with Google
Once you have both apps connected, you can choose which spreadsheet to use.
Selecting a spreadsheet
Then, you can select which data to send across. I'm choosing to send the author's display name, the date and time of the post, the post URL and the post HTML content.
Select the data you want to share
You get a chance to name the Google Sheet columns differently from what's suggested.
The final preview
To test the Zap, Zapier pulls a post so you can see if the integration is successful.
The Zap test
Hitting "Send test" should result in success! You'll get a chance to look at the new spreadsheet.
The magic of Zapier
If it all looks good, proceed and ensure the workflow is enabled.
And there we have it! Each time a post is made on the community, Zapier will send that across to the Google Sheet.
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