So, when we received an email from Zapier inviting us to take part in a beta test for Zap editor DRAFTS feature, we were really excited and couldn’t wait to find out more!
Read on for a sneak peek into the world of being able to edit Zaps without worrying about losing anything!
What is the Zap editor Drafts feature?
Zapier’s new Drafts feature means you can edit Zaps without turning them off, so your critical workflows will keep running in the background. It means you can edit Zaps and relax that your automations will carry on working and nothing will be interrupted.
For clarity, the new feature is different from draft Zaps, which are when you create a new Zap but don’t finish it or turn it on. They may have a missing trigger or action step, or both. These Zaps stay as ‘drafts’ in your list of Zaps, allowing you to edit or publish them at a later date.
How does the Zap editor Drafts feature work?
What usually happens when you click on one of your Zaps from your dashboard to edit it is that it stops running. When you have finished your amendments, you are invited to turn the Zap back on and then it will start running with the edits you made.
If you have signed up for Zap editor Drafts feature then when you click on the Zap, it only allows you to view it in read-only mode. You can check your trigger step, look at the actions, but you won’t be able to change anything.
In order to update your Zap you should click on one of the new blue ‘Edit’ buttons. There’s one in the top right-hand corner of the screen and one in the middle at the bottom.
When you click on one of the Edit buttons you create a draft of the Zap while it keeps running in the background. You are then free to make any changes at your leisure and once you’re finished you can click the new ‘Save & exit draft’ button in the top right-hand corner of the screen.
When you have clicked ‘Save & exit draft’ the draft is saved but will not be live. When you click on ‘publish’ your Zap is republished with the new version and you return to a read-only view of the Zap. If you need to change anything again, simply click the blue ‘Edit’ button as you did before.
When can I use Zap editor Drafts feature myself?
We’re not sure whether everyone can use the new zap editor drafts feature but here is a link to the Zapier announcement which includes a link where you can take part. It says that ‘selected existing users’ have been invited to participate but it could be that anyone can give it a go. If you follow the link then you simply need to log into your Zapier account and, hey presto, you can use Zap editor Drafts feature!
We’d love to hear what you think of the feature and whether you’ve found it useful. Tell us in the comments or on social media!
Find out more
If you’d like to find out more about no-code workflow automation, then we have plenty of free resources:
- Our free e-book is the perfect introduction to business automation.
- Our YouTube channel features Kelly showing you how easy it is to automate various business processes.
- Our Zapier functions cheat sheet delves into the powerful inbuilt helper apps which can supercharge your automations
- Our founder, Kelly Goss, has a new book called Automate It with Zapier. It’s out now and is the most comprehensive Zapier guide on the market. It will get you up and running and to the stage where you can build and debug advanced automations. Buy your own copy today direct from publisher Packt using this link. Or here are links to Amazon (.co.uk) and Amazon (.com) if you prefer.
Other helpful articles
These articles will help you understand more about how automation can benefit your business:
Solvaa: Strategy, Solutions, Support, Education
UK-based Solvaa® is a systems, process and automation consultancy specialising in improving business workflows. Solvaa® works with SMEs worldwide to implement digital tools, better processes, use business process automation and generative AI to boost productivity, enhance lead management, and remove unnecessary time, costs and hassles from stretched business owners’ days.
We help you simplify and streamline existing processes, integrate your business tools to make data transfer more efficient, and automate manual tasks. Our business process automation specialists have extensive experience using multiple cloud-based business tools, including Zapier, Pipedrive CRM, SmartSuite, Xero, Google Suite, ClickUp, Asana, Airtable, Hubspot, Active Campaign, Salesforce, Mailchimp, Quickbooks and many more. We are Zapier Certified Experts, SmartSuite Certified Partners, Pipedrive Certified Partners and Xero Certified Advisors. We also educate teams about using AI in their daily roles, mindset, governance and strategy in our Solvaa AI Academy.
Solvaa® was founded in 2016 by Kelly Goss, a no-code solutions architect, business process automation specialist and author of Automate It with Zapier (first edition) and Automate It with Zapier and Generative AI (second edition).
A thought leader on business process automation and digital adoption, Kelly attended an invite-only Roundtable on Artificial Intelligence (AI) with the UK government at No.10 Downing Street, providing insights and recommendations on how SMEs can benefit from productivity gains by using digital technologies, automation and AI. She has also been invited to speak at the House of Lords and at many other events.
Contact us today to find out how Solvaa can help your business make big savings on operational costs and time, and significantly increase productivity.
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