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How To Build Quickbase Webhooks

Written By: Eric Mohlman
August 7, 2017
4 min read

Released in September of 2016, the Quickbase Webhooks feature is a powerful building block for workflow automation.

Looking for ways to streamline tasks and automate workflows across Quickbase and other cloud-based apps without putting in hours of coding time? Our Webhooks native integration feature can help. With it you can quickly build “trigger-based” integrations to share data and automate processes and workflows between Quickbase and other online systems.

How do Webhooks work?

When a record in a Quickbase app is changed, added or deleted, Webhooks notifies other Quickbase or cloud apps, like Salesforce, to initiate an action or response.

Say you want a less time-intensive and more proactive shipping and tracking system for a fast and seamless customer ordering experience. Webhooks works like a team of automated assistants ready to track and react. When something ships, an email is immediately generated and sent to the customer to let them know. When the package arrives, your fulfillment team is notified. And if your customer has a problem, your service representatives are instantly alerted for faster response and resolution.

Who can build Webhooks?

Quickbase Webhooks functionality is designed with advanced builders in mind such as: low-code developers, system integrators, Quickbase Solution Providers (QSPs), and others who are:

  • Comfortable using web service APIs like the Quickbase API and API documentation.
  • Familiar with HTTP message structure and return codes.

However, that doesn’t mean that low-code and pro developers are the only ones who can take advantage of Webhooks. Quickbase app builders with no coding skills can tap into the benefits of Webhooks in several ways:

  • They can leverage Webhooks indirectly through a third-party integration service like Workato or Zapier, which act as behind-the-scenes Webhook facilitators. No coding is required.
  • They can collaborate with one of their own developers with API skills, perhaps from Business Unit IT, to incorporate Webhooks functionality.
  • They can hire a Channel Partner to help them build Webhooks where needed to automate workflows.

So, if you are a builder with no coding skills, follow the options listed above, otherwise keep reading for hands-on how-to directions.

Unleashing the power of Webhooks

So, are you ready to make time-consuming, repetitive tasks; dropped processes; missed steps and lost opportunities a thing of the past? Then read on to get detailed, step-by-step directions for how to build your own Webhooks.

Example 1: Eliminate orphaned child records

In a Project Management application, deleting a project would leave the child records orphaned. You could create a report and manually delete these, but with Webhooks you can automate this instead.

If you would like to build this workflow yourself, please install a copy of ABC Project Manager 3 from the Exchange Library.

Step 1: Create a new Webhook on the Projects table.

Step 2: Select “When a project is deleted.”

Step 3: Copy the URL from Tasks (e.g. https://companyURL.quickbase.c...). Paste into the Endpoint URL entry of your Webhook.

Step 4: Enter the Message header values as “Quickbase-Action” and “API_PurgeRecords.”

Step 5: From the API_PurgeRecords documentation, note or copy the POST example body.

Step 6: Create a usertoken or apptoken for use in this app. See the usertoken or apptoken help article for further details.

Step 7: Type or paste into the Message body area of your Webhook the payload details.

Step 8: Switch to a query according to the API_DoQuery documentation and target the reference field from the appropriate relationship.

Example 2: A simpler solution to the Copy Master/Detail process

Quickbase currently has a Copy Master/Detail process available. As an alternative to this method, we can replace it with a Template field and Webhook process.

If you would like to build this workflow yourself, please install a copy of ABC Project Manager 3 from the Exchange Library.

Step 1: Create two fields on the Projects table. The first label Template and select text multiple-choice as the data type. The second label Payload and select formula – text as the data type.

Step 2: Enter appropriate choices.

Enter choices for the template field - Quickbase tutorial

Step 3: Access the Payload field settings to build the CSV data to import.

Payload field settings - Quickbase tutorial

Step 4: Create a new Webhook on the Projects table.

Step 5: Select “When a project is added.”

Step 6: Copy the URL for the Tasks table. Paste into the Endpoint URL entry of your Webhook.

Step 7: Enter the Message header values as “Quickbase-Action” and “API_ImportFromCSV.”

Step 8: Type or paste into the Message body area the payload details from the API_ImportFromCSV documentation.

How are you using Webhooks? Do you have any tips that we didn’t share in this article? Tell us in the comments!

Written By: Eric Mohlman
Eric is passionate about helping customers achieve their goals from his time in Care and now as a Customer Solutions Engineer.

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