--- title: "Workflow Triggers · AssistantGeneral" description: "Start workflows on a timetable, a cron expression, a new file, an incoming webhook, new mail in IMAP or Gmail, or a chat message, with every fired run recorded." url: "https://royalsoftworks.com/products/assistant-general/features/triggers-and-schedules/" source: "https://royalsoftworks.com" format: "markdown" note: "Markdown rendering of the HTML page at `url`. Same content, same canonical URL." --- Features · Automation # Work that starts by itself. Start workflows on a timetable, a cron expression, a new file, an incoming webhook, new mail in IMAP or Gmail, or a chat message, with every fired run recorded. [Editions](https://royalsoftworks.com/products/assistant-general/editions/): Pro, Enterprise and Government. Not in Free. ## Triggers and schedules, feature by feature Each comes with a small drawing of how it works. They are diagrams, not screenshots; numbers in them are examples. - ### Every few minutes Run a workflow on an interval, with Run now, the last and next run shown, and a history of results. Timeline (Every 15 minutes (example)): 9:00, 9:15, 9:30, 9:45, 10:00. - ### A different input each time Give a schedule a list of inputs; each run takes the next one, and the place is remembered across restarts. Diagram: Input A → Input B → Input C, then back to the start (next run). - ### Cron, with a time zone A standard cron expression such as weekdays at nine, in the time zone you set, with optional input text. Timeline (0 9 \* \* 1-5 · your time zone): Mon 9:00, Tue 9:00, Wed 9:00, Thu 9:00, Fri 9:00. - ### When a file appears or changes Watch a file or folder, include sub-folders if you like, and filter by name (for example \*.pdf). Diagram: New .pdf in folder → Trigger → Workflow. - ### When another system calls A webhook on a port and path you choose, for the method you choose, with an optional shared secret the caller must send. Diagram: POST /hook, then “Secret matches?”: yes, Workflow runs; no, Ignored. - ### When mail arrives Poll any IMAP inbox, unread mail only if you prefer, every few minutes. The password stays in the app's credential store. Diagram: IMAP inbox → Check every few minutes → New mail: workflow. - ### Gmail activity Fire on mail received, sent or deleted, narrowed with a Gmail search such as from:boss@company.com. Diagram: Gmail leads to Received, Sent, Deleted. - ### When a message comes in A connected chat app can run a workflow on every message, or only when an auto-reply rule matches. Diagram: Message, then “A rule matches?”: yes, Its workflow; no, Default reply. - ### One workflow starts another A workflow step can fire a named event that starts other workflows. Diagram: Workflow A → Fires an event → Workflow B. - ### What happened, passed in The file path, the request body or the email subject arrives as the workflow's input. Diagram: File path and Request body and Email subject come together as Workflow input. - ### Every firing on record When it fired, how long it ran, whether it worked and what it said. Diagram: Example firing record: two runs that worked, one that failed. - ### Switches for IT On a managed desk, schedules and event triggers can each be allowed or switched off per group. Diagram: On a managed desk, schedules and event triggers are allowed or switched off per group. ## Goes well with - [Workflow automation](https://royalsoftworks.com/products/assistant-general/features/workflow-automation/) - [Messaging bridges](https://royalsoftworks.com/products/assistant-general/features/messaging-bridges/) - [Data connectors](https://royalsoftworks.com/products/assistant-general/features/data-connectors/) [Previous Workflow automation](https://royalsoftworks.com/products/assistant-general/features/workflow-automation/) [Next Ready-made workflows](https://royalsoftworks.com/products/assistant-general/features/workflow-templates/) [All 31 feature classes](https://royalsoftworks.com/products/assistant-general/features/)