Create a CommCare lookup table from a large Google Doc
When reference content is ready, turn it into a usable CommCare lookup table.
Trigger
Document Word Count Threshold
Triggers when a Google Doc's word/character count crosses a user-defined threshold. This trigger monitors a specific Google Doc and fires when its word or character count becomes greater than or equal to the configured threshold value.
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 lists grow inside documents until someone manually restructures them for CommCare.
- Convert mature reference content quickly
- Standardize lookup data setup
- Avoid copy and paste cleanup
Setup
Build it in a few focused steps.
- 1Connect Google Docs and CommCare in Notis.
- 2Create an automation for reference documents reaching readiness.
- 3Tell Notis how to identify rows, validate required columns, and create the lookup table.
- 4Pick Document Word Count Threshold as the trigger and choose a report channel.
- 5Test with one reference document.
Questions about this workflow
Does crossing the threshold guarantee usable data?
No. Tell Notis to validate the document and report missing or ambiguous columns before creating the table.
What permission is needed?
CommCare requires Edit Apps permission for this action.
When this happens · Trigger
Do this · Action
Supported Triggers and Actions
Notis builds workflows that link Google Docs to CommCare. A trigger fires from one place; an action lands in another.
Google Docs 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.
New Document Created
Triggers when a new Google Doc is created. This trigger monitors Google Docs and fires when new documents are detected. Uses timestamp filtering to efficiently poll for new documents.
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.
Document Deleted
Triggers when an existing Google Doc is deleted (moved to trash). This trigger monitors Google Docs and fires when documents are trashed.
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.
Document Placeholder Filled
Triggers when a Google Doc's plain text changes such that a configured placeholder token/pattern is no longer present (i.e., the document has been filled in). This trigger monitors a specific Google Doc and fires when a placeholder pattern that was previously present is no longer found in the document's plain text.
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).
Document Search Update
Triggers when a Google Doc matching a user-defined search query is newly created or updated since the last poll. This trigger uses timestamp filtering to efficiently monitor documents.
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.
Document Structure Changed
Triggers when a Google Doc's structure changes (headers/footers added/removed, tables/images count changes). This trigger monitors a specific document for structural changes like: - Headers added or removed - Footers added or removed - Tables added or removed - Images (inline objects) added or removed - Positioned objects added or removed - Footnotes added or removed
Document Updated
Triggers when an existing Google Doc is updated or modified. This trigger monitors Google Docs and fires when documents are updated.
Connect any two apps with Notis in the middle.
Google Docs and CommCare, or any other combination from 1,000+ integrations.
When this happens · Trigger
Do this · Action
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