In Quickbase, use pipelines to automate workflows by connecting different apps and services. Pipelines are part of a Quickbase realm, but they're not part of an app. Pipelines are connections between apps, tables, and their data. They also connect Quickbase to other services.
What you can do with pipelines
Pipelines are the tool to automate tasks without writing code. This includes things like moving data, sending notifications, or triggering actions.
Automate repetitive tasks
Send a Slack message to your team whenever a new Quickbase record is created
Connect multiple apps
Create a Jira ticket with feedback from a customer
Use Google Calendar to send a Slack message when a specific event has been created
Move data
Automatically update information from a Formstack Form, into records in a Quickbase application
Export a CSV from Quickbase to Box
When a row in a Google Sheet is created, update a specific Quickbase table
Pipeline basics
In a pipeline, you select a channel, and then add a step.
Channel—service or platform, such as Quickbase or an email app
Step—an event in a channel or task that a channel can perform
Depending on the channel, the steps are a little different, but they are all organized into different types of steps. The types are:
Trigger—an event that the channel waits for that starts the pipeline.
Action—something the channel does.
Query—a search for objects in the channel’s platform. Depending on where you are, the object can change based on your channel.
Learn more about channels in Quickbase.
Tip
While pipelines are part of Quickbase, you don't have to have a Quickbase app as part of your workflow. You can create pipelines between any two supported channels
Build pipelines
All pipelines are created in the pipeline designer. In the designer you add steps, select channels, and configure what the pipeline does. The drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to build and visualize workflows and add logic to do exactly what you need. How or when a pipeline runs is related to the pipeline type. The types are:
Triggered—started by a specific event in real-time. For example creating or deleting a record
Scheduled—runs on a set schedule
Manual—runs when someone clicks a button. This is like a scheduled pipeline with no schedule.
After you create a pipeline, it is available on the My pipelines page. This is where you can find information about your pipeline like type, name, tags, channels, last run date, error alerts, and if it is on or off.
Quickbase channel
One of the most commonly used channels is, of course, the Quickbase channel. Use this channel to do things in Quickbase.
The actions available for the Quickbase channel include:
Records
Everything at QB works off of records and fields. Use this action to:Triggers for changes to records
Create, update, delete records
Find records
Bulk records sets
This action creates a a temporary table with all your records, and then you can commit it and import it to QuickBase to do a bulk change. This is more efficient than records one at a time.Use to perform record actions on many records at once
Attachments
Manage file attachments in Quickbase and other cloud file locations like Sharepoint, Box, or an API. Use this action to:Upload file attachments from other cloud file locations to Quickbase.
Add files to Quickbase from other cloud file locations.
Quickbase APIs
Interact with Quickbase APIs or webhooks. Learn more about Quickbase APIs at https://developer.quickbase.com/.Use to make API requests
Automation admins
Find and get information on legacy automations
Pipelines require authentication because pipelines are part of a Quickbase realm, but they're not part of an app. For example, someone can make a pipeline that creates records, but they need to have access to create records in a specific app. By default, Quickbase uses your username and password for verification.
Start building
Most people build pipelines after they build a few apps, to connect their workflows. Whether they're simple or complex, we recommend designing before you start building. Learn more in Plan your pipeline.
You can build complex pipelines that:
Span many tools
Have many steps in them
Include conditions
Schedule pipelines to run at selected intervals
Explore examples in our channels articles or get inspired by some pipelines use cases.
Learn more about the steps and options when you create your first pipeline in Create pipelines.