[✅ Solution] Create a web link for the current record

[Sandra]

Hi, I am trying to create an automation where in my application A I will have a link in calculation field, and when I click it the system will create a new item in application B and the user will be redirected to this newly created item.

1. In my application A I have “Link” and “Calculation” field
2. In App A I created an automation to create web link.
3. “On create” I want to run this automation to create web link, update “Link” field and use it in my calculation - but not sure why, it is not working.
   Please advise what I am doing wrong.

[Jason]

Hi @Sandra

Which part is not working for you?

If I rebuild it works for me:

The only part you don’t show in your screenshots is the record update with the created link?

[CarsonRedCliffLabs]

Hi @Sandra
Depending on your ultimate use case here, another suggestion might be to utilize an automation that simply posts a comment in App A with the link to the newly created item in App B. See this previous thread with notes on how to achieve that: [✅ Solution] How to shortcut link to redirect to any item?

My preference is to use single select drop down fields as ‘triggers’ which run automations and then post these breadcrumb comments sending users to the newly created items. Maybe that would work for you here and save the steps of having to create a link via automation, return that link to the original record’s hidden link field, and then have a calc update to access that newly created link.

[Sandra]

So when I am trying to add @Link to Link field - I can’t find this variable.
So my field is still empty and my automation is not working.

[Jason]

Sandra if you change the option that says Add values on your link to Add value (see my example) then it will work for you

[Sandra]

Ooooooooh! ok, so simply!! thanks!!

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Do you think I can create this automation/process without adding “Link” field and only add the ID of automation ( “when a web link is clicked”) in my Calculation field and maybe some extra code to create this unique link?

Similar like in Podio, where I have calculation field, I added some JavaScript utility for encoding and decoding strings in Base64 format and flow ID and just use it?

here is part of the code in Podio, where I am adding the flow ID and has a part of the link to flow
var task_id = ‘ID’;
var task_url = Base64.encode(task_id + “|” + item_id);
[CREATE TASK](https://secure.globiflow.com/external.php?l=" + task_url + ")

[Sandra]

Yes, I saw this thread, but it is an extra click for the user.
And we want to minimize them as much it is possible.
So only the user clicks only ones “Create Member” and the system will open the newly created item automatically.

But thank You!! appreciate idea.

[Jason]

Interesting idea I don’t think so (although I am happy to be proved wrong) as the link ID 1849744a-4ee7-4e21-8bad-8394d4989525 is I believe a UUIDv4 but the workflow ID is just a number 179532 and I don’t believe is generated via a combination of record ID 104151371 and Workflow ID.

The link address can also be regenerated for any given record effectively meaning multiple record → workflow links at anytime. presumably on the backend, there is some relation between the UUID and the workflow ID but I don’t think it is possible to get.