A template is a workflow built and tested already. Starting from one lays out its trigger and steps on an empty workflow, so you only fill in what is yours — which sheet, which table, who gets the email. This article shows how to start a workflow from one of the templates in the designer.

Who can do this

Workspace Admins and Editors. Viewers see the empty workflow's page but not the templates. Templates are on every plan, Free included.

Steps

  1. Open Workflows and select + New workflow. The new workflow opens in the designer as Untitled workflow, with an empty canvas.
  2. The canvas asks How should this workflow start? — "Every workflow begins with one thing that sets it off. Pick a trigger, or start from a template that is built and tested already."
  3. Under 2 Start from a template — "already built" — choose a template. Each shows its name and the steps it chains together:
    • Daily summary by email from a sheet — Schedule → Sheets → Email
    • Webhook to SQL — Webhook → Microsoft SQL ◇
    • Weekly report from SQL — Schedule → SQL → Sheets ◇
  4. The steps appear on the canvas, the workflow takes the template's name, and a toast says, for example, Started from “Daily summary by email from a sheet” — "Set up the steps marked Needs setup — your sheet, table or address — then test and publish."
  5. Open each step marked Needs setup and fill in what it asks for.
  6. Where a step needs a connection you do not have yet, add it from the step, or from Connections.
  7. Select Test run to try it, then publish it.

What happens next

  • The workflow is a draft. Nothing runs until you publish it and it is switched on.
  • Connections are chosen for you only when there is exactly one. If the workspace has one working connection for a step's service, the step uses it; with none or several, the step waits for you to choose.
  • Everything is yours to change. Add, remove or edit any step, as with a workflow you built yourself.

Good to know

  • The templates only show on an empty workflow, before a trigger has been added.
  • ◇ marks a step on paid plans. "On every plan, Free included. ◇ uses Microsoft SQL, which asks for a paid plan when you publish." On Free you can set it up and test it; publishing asks for a paid plan.
  • A template you started from does not change your workflow later. It is a starting point, not a link.
  • More templates are in the gallery. Select See all templates under the list, or see Installing a template from the gallery.

If something goes wrong

What you see Why What to do
No Start from a template section The workflow already has a trigger, or you are a Viewer Start a new workflow, or ask an admin for the Editor role.
The template was not added — "Something went wrong. Try again." The steps could not be saved Choose the template again.
Publishing says "“Microsoft SQL” needs a paid plan. Change the plan, or remove it and publish the rest." The template uses a premium connection and the company is on Free Remove that step, or wait for paid plans to open.