I’m working on a time-based automation that generates a document with various details, such as wind speed, weather conditions, and more. Most of the data works perfectly, but I’m having trouble with one specific piece:
I need to include a list of operatives’ names, companies, signatures, and dates in the document. This data is stored in an array column in another database (not the User Profile table).
When the automation runs, I get the error: “The user profile row can only be referenced by workflows triggered by user interactions.”
I understand that Glide restricts User Profile data in time-based triggers, but the problem here isn’t the User Profile table—it’s accessing the array column from my Operatives table. How can I restructure my automation or data to include this information in the generated document?
Can you create a relation and lookup in the same table as the rest of your data…or however you get that array.
I think you can’t use the value from the user profile because the automation won’t be running as a specific user, so it won’t have access to a specific user’s profile row.
the array is made in order to use it for Docs Automator to add them values in a pdf. that array is in another database and i’ve used single value to retrieve it from there.
I’ve identified the problem, why it gave me that error. I have some variables, Site, Name, Role, Signature and Date&Time. I have multiple Sites(Locations). In order to filter the variables based on Site I created a Query with a Site filter inside, the filter matches the Site column with the User Site column. From that query I retrieve again the variables based on site. These values I add them in an Array that is used for Docs Automator to add the values into a PDF based on the Manager Site.
When I remove the Query filter the error in the Workflow for the Schedule trigger it’s gone.
I’ve added a print screen with my method of filtering variables based on user site. (I’m almost sure it can be done in a better way without the need of accessing the Users table) - I’m a self learner without experience in data or anything. Thanks all for your help
for a better understanding, I’ve used chatgpt to formulate this better, I’m not a native english speaker.
I need to generate PDFs that include site-specific data. I have a Variables table with columns like Site, Name, Role, Company, Signature, and Date. Each row corresponds to a specific site (e.g., Site X or Site Y).
The goal is to set up an automation using Glide’s new Workflows feature, where:
At a specific hour each day (e.g., 5:00 PM), a PDF is automatically generated for each site.
Each PDF should only include the variables relevant to that specific site (e.g., Site X gets only its own data, Site Y gets only its own data, etc.).
How can I structure my tables and filters to ensure that:
Each site gets a PDF generated with only its relevant variables?
The automation runs on a daily schedule without relying on User Profile data?
I’d appreciate any advice, best practices, or examples for setting this up. Thanks in advance for your help!
Still a little confused, but I would be curious to learn more about your query. I can’t see a problem with using the user table, but I wonder if you are confusing the user table with the user profile.
Hi Jeff, I’m explaining the whole thing. Thank you for your reply
I have a database with columns for Site, Name, Role, Company, Signature, and Date, which contains entries from multiple sites. Each site manager currently has a button they can press to generate a PDF with all the operatives’ details and signatures. However, without filtering, the PDF would include operatives from all sites, not just their own.
To solve this, I added a query column that filters the database based on the manager’s site. This filter works by matching the Site column in the database to the manager’s site stored in the Users database. Once filtered, I use lookup columns to retrieve only the relevant values (like Name, Role, etc.) for the operatives from the manager’s site. This ensures the PDF only includes operatives from their site when the manager presses the button.
Now I’m trying to automate this process so that PDFs are generated automatically at the end of each day for each site. However, because the query relies on filtering data based on the manager’s site in the Users database, whenever I set up the automation in workflows, I receive an error saying that the “user profile row can only be referenced by workflows triggered by user interactions.” This makes the automation fail.
I’m looking for a way to adjust my setup so that I can still filter the data by site but also allow the automation to work properly without needing user interaction. Any suggestions?
Yeah, that’s because scheduled workflows run as a “system” user, rather than any specific user.
I think what you are trying to do is certainly achievable, but you probably need to change your approach. What you will most likely need to do is setup the workflow to iterate through your users table, filtering by those users that need to receive the reports, and then work from there.
Just keep in mind that your workflow cannot access any User Specific data or any User Profile row data. It can access the Users table, but not any specific users User Profile row data. There is a subtle but important difference between the Users table, and the User Profile row.
I just wanted to thank you all for your suggestions and help—your guidance was invaluable! I managed to restructure my approach using relations and joined lists to filter the data by site, and now the automation works perfectly to generate site-specific PDFs.
I’m so grateful for this community and all the support you’ve provided. Thanks again!
