Create CommCare Lookup Tables from Outlook Reference Updates
When a catalog or configuration arrives by email, make it usable in CommCare without rebuilding the table by hand.
Trigger
New Outlook Message
Triggered when a new message is received in the Outlook mailbox.
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 updates sit in inboxes while field forms continue using old values.
- Reduce stale reference values
- Speed up configuration updates
- Keep a clear creation report
Setup
Build it in a few focused steps.
- 1Connect Outlook and CommCare in the Notis portal.
- 2Create an automation describing how an approved reference update becomes a lookup table.
- 3Select New Outlook Message as the trigger.
- 4Choose a report channel and test with one real reference update email.
Questions about this workflow
Can it create a table from an attachment?
Only when the attachment content is available to the automation and your instruction explains how to use it.
What permission is needed?
CommCare requires Edit Apps permission to create a lookup table.
When this happens · Trigger
Do this · Action
Supported Triggers and Actions
Notis builds workflows that link Outlook to CommCare. A trigger fires from one place; an action lands in another.
Outlook 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 Contact Added
Triggered when a new contact is added in the Outlook contacts.
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.
Calendar Event Changes
Triggered when a new calendar event occurs (created, updated, or deleted) in the Outlook calendar.
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.
New Calendar Event
Triggered when a new calendar event is created in the Outlook calendar.
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).
New Outlook Message
Triggered when a new message is received in the Outlook mailbox.
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.
New Sent Message
Triggered when a new message is sent from the Outlook mailbox.
Connect any two apps with Notis in the middle.
Outlook and CommCare, or any other combination from 1,000+ integrations.
When this happens · Trigger
Do this · Action
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