Create CommCare lookup tables from reference data emails
When a trusted catalog or configuration arrives by email, ask Notis to prepare a CommCare lookup table using the table structure you specify.
Trigger
New Gmail Message Received Trigger
Triggers when a new message is received in Gmail.
Action
Create Lookup Table
Tool to create a new lookup table in a CommCare domain. Use when you need to set up reference data structures like product catalogs, price lists, or configuration tables. Requires 'Edit Apps' permission.
Why this helps
Reference data shared in email can be slow to re-enter into CommCare, leaving teams working from inconsistent copies.
- Reduce copying reference data from email into CommCare.
- Use a consistent table structure supplied in your instruction.
- Keep approved catalog updates close to their source message.
Setup
Build it in a few focused steps.
- 1Connect Gmail and CommCare once in the Notis portal.
- 2Create an automation in the portal or tell Notis in plain language from any channel.
- 3Describe the outcome in one instruction, providing the approved table structure and source criteria.
- 4Pick New Gmail Message Received as the trigger and choose where run reports should go.
- 5Test with one approved catalog email and review the created table.
Questions about this workflow
Can it create a lookup table from any email attachment?
Only use source content the connected trigger and action can access. Specify the approved structure and source criteria; do not assume unsupported attachment handling.
What CommCare permission is needed?
Creating a lookup table requires Edit Apps permission in the CommCare domain.
Will it modify an existing table?
The allowed action creates a new lookup table. It does not describe updating an existing table, so use this workflow for new tables only.
When this happens · Trigger
Do this · Action
Supported Triggers and Actions
Notis builds workflows that link Gmail to CommCare. A trigger fires from one place; an action lands in another.
Gmail triggers
CommCare actions
Recurring trigger
Notis starts this workflow on a schedule, such as daily, weekly, or during business hours.
Create Lookup Table
Tool to create a new lookup table in a CommCare domain. Use when you need to set up reference data structures like product catalogs, price lists, or configuration tables. Requires 'Edit Apps' permission.
Webhook trigger
Notis starts this workflow when an external tool or custom backend sends an HTTP request.
Create Web User Invitation
Tool to create an invitation for a new web user in CommCare. Use when you need to invite a user with specific role and permissions. Requires 'Edit Web Users & Edit Access API' permissions.
Email Sent
Triggers when a Gmail message is sent by the authenticated user. It polls the 'SENT' label and emits metadata including sender, recipients, subject, timestamp, and thread ID.
List Reports
Tool to retrieve available reports configured in a CommCare project. Use when you need to discover what reports exist before downloading report data via the Download Report Data API.
New Gmail Message Received Trigger
Triggers when a new message is received in Gmail.
Single Sign On
Tool to validate login credentials and retrieve user profile for a mobile worker or web user. Use when you need to authenticate a user and obtain their profile information including roles, permissions, locations, and configuration details.
Submit Form to CommCare
Tool to submit an XForm to CommCare following the OpenRosa standard. Use when you need to submit form data with complete XML including required metadata fields (deviceID, timeStart, timeEnd, username, userID, instanceID).
Submit Form ODK Compatible
Tool to submit form data using ODK-compatible endpoint for Android client compatibility. Use when submitting XForm data to CommCare. Requires properly formatted XML with metadata including unique instanceID.
Connect any two apps with Notis in the middle.
Gmail and CommCare, or any other combination from 1,000+ integrations.
When this happens · Trigger
Do this · Action
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