Submit CommCare forms from matching Google Docs updates
Keep a focused document search connected to the CommCare submissions it drives.
Trigger
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.
Action
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).
Why this helps
Teams maintain a working set of documents but manually review the same list for submission tasks.
- Review only relevant documents
- Reduce repetitive monitoring
- Keep submissions tied to current source content
Setup
Build it in a few focused steps.
- 1Connect Google Docs and CommCare once.
- 2Create an automation for the document search workflow.
- 3Tell Notis how to identify submission-ready records and build each required XForm.
- 4Pick Document Search Update as the trigger and choose a report channel.
- 5Test with one matching document.
Questions about this workflow
Can one update create multiple submissions?
Yes, if each record has complete required metadata and your instruction allows multiple valid forms.
What happens when data is missing?
Instruct Notis to list the missing values and skip that submission.
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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