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Triggers

Triggers are events that initiate workflow execution in Vectense Platform. They monitor for specific conditions and automatically start workflows when those conditions are met.

Overview​

Triggers enable automated workflow execution by:

  • Event Detection: Monitoring for specific events or conditions
  • Automatic Initiation: Starting workflows without manual intervention
  • Data Provision: Providing initial data and context to workflows
  • Scheduling: Enabling time-based and event-based automation
  • Integration: Connecting external systems to internal workflows

Available Triggers​

Time-Based Triggers​

Cron Trigger

  • Schedule workflows using cron expressions
  • Precise timing control for automated processes
  • Timezone support and flexible scheduling
  • Perfect for reports, maintenance, and batch processing

External System Triggers​

Webhook Trigger

  • Receive HTTP requests from external systems
  • Real-time event processing from third-party services
  • Secure authentication with shared keys
  • Ideal for API integrations and real-time responses

Database Trigger

  • Respond to database changes and events
  • Monitor data modifications and insertions
  • Support for various database systems
  • Perfect for data-driven workflows

Email Trigger

  • Process incoming emails automatically
  • Extract content and attachments
  • Filter emails based on criteria
  • Ideal for customer service and communication workflows

File System Triggers​

Filesystem Trigger

  • Monitor local directories for file changes
  • Detect new, modified, or deleted files
  • Pattern matching and filtering capabilities
  • Perfect for document processing workflows

Cloud Storage Trigger

  • Monitor cloud storage for file events
  • Support for major cloud storage providers
  • Real-time file change notifications
  • Ideal for cloud-based document workflows

Calendar and Events​

Calendar Trigger

  • Trigger workflows based on calendar events
  • Integration with calendar systems
  • Event-based automation
  • Perfect for meeting and event-driven processes

Trigger Concepts​

Trigger Lifecycle​

Registration

  1. Configuration: Set up trigger parameters and conditions
  2. Activation: Enable trigger monitoring
  3. Monitoring: Continuously watch for trigger conditions
  4. Event Detection: Identify when trigger conditions are met
  5. Workflow Initiation: Start associated workflow with event data

Execution Flow

Event Occurs → Trigger Detects → Validates Conditions → Starts Workflow → Provides Context

Trigger States​

Active

  • Trigger is monitoring for events
  • Ready to initiate workflows
  • Consuming system resources for monitoring
  • Visible in active trigger monitoring

Inactive

  • Trigger is disabled and not monitoring
  • Cannot initiate workflows automatically
  • No resource consumption
  • Useful for testing and maintenance

Error

  • Trigger encountered an error condition
  • May have stopped monitoring
  • Requires attention and troubleshooting
  • Error details available in monitoring interface

Trigger Configuration​

Common Configuration Elements​

Basic Settings

  • Name: Descriptive identifier for the trigger
  • Description: Optional documentation of trigger purpose
  • Active Status: Enable/disable trigger monitoring
  • Workflow Association: Link to workflow that will be executed

Output Configuration

  • Memory Variables: Define variables for passing data to workflows
  • Data Formatting: Control how trigger data is formatted
  • Context Preservation: Maintain event context throughout workflow

Error Handling

  • Retry Logic: Automatic retry of failed triggers
  • Error Notifications: Alert mechanisms for trigger failures
  • Fallback Behavior: Actions when trigger fails consistently

Advanced Configuration​

Filtering and Conditions

  • Event Filtering: Only trigger on specific types of events
  • Conditional Logic: Apply conditions before triggering workflows
  • Data Validation: Ensure event data meets requirements
  • Throttling: Limit trigger frequency to prevent overload

Security Settings

  • Authentication: Secure access to trigger endpoints
  • Authorization: Control who can modify trigger settings
  • Encryption: Secure data transmission and storage
  • Audit Logging: Track trigger access and modifications

Trigger Monitoring​

Real-Time Monitoring​

Status Dashboard

  • Active Triggers: View all currently active triggers
  • Event Activity: See recent trigger events and workflow initiations
  • Error Alerts: Immediate notification of trigger failures
  • Performance Metrics: Track trigger response times and reliability

Health Monitoring

  • Trigger Health: Monitor individual trigger status and performance
  • Resource Usage: Track system resources used by triggers
  • Error Rates: Monitor frequency of trigger failures
  • Performance Trends: Analyze trigger performance over time

Historical Analysis​

Event History

  • Complete Event Log: Record of all trigger events
  • Workflow Correlation: Link trigger events to workflow executions
  • Performance Analysis: Historical performance data and trends
  • Usage Patterns: Understand trigger usage and frequency

Troubleshooting Data

  • Error Logs: Detailed error information and stack traces
  • Debug Information: Internal system details for troubleshooting
  • Performance Data: Timing and resource usage information
  • Correlation Analysis: Identify patterns in trigger behavior

Best Practices​

Trigger Design​

Single Responsibility

  • Each trigger should have a clear, focused purpose
  • Avoid overly complex trigger conditions
  • Use multiple simple triggers rather than one complex trigger
  • Maintain clear separation of concerns

Reliability

  • Implement proper error handling and recovery
  • Use appropriate retry logic for transient failures
  • Monitor trigger health and performance regularly
  • Have alerting in place for critical trigger failures

Performance

  • Optimize trigger configuration for performance
  • Avoid resource-intensive trigger conditions
  • Use appropriate polling intervals for polling-based triggers
  • Consider system load when configuring multiple triggers

Security Considerations​

Access Control

  • Limit access to trigger configuration and monitoring
  • Use role-based permissions for trigger management
  • Implement proper authentication for webhook triggers
  • Audit trigger access and modifications

Data Security

  • Encrypt sensitive trigger data and credentials
  • Validate all incoming data from external sources
  • Sanitize data before passing to workflows
  • Implement proper logging without exposing sensitive information

Network Security

  • Use HTTPS for all webhook endpoints
  • Implement proper firewall rules for trigger access
  • Use VPNs or private networks where appropriate
  • Monitor network traffic for anomalies

Integration Patterns​

Event-Driven Architecture​

Real-Time Processing

  • Use webhook triggers for immediate response to external events
  • Implement proper error handling for real-time scenarios
  • Consider system capacity for high-frequency events
  • Use queueing for event buffering if needed

Batch Processing

  • Use scheduled triggers for batch processing scenarios
  • Optimize for efficiency with large data sets
  • Implement proper progress tracking and monitoring
  • Consider resource usage during batch operations

API Integration​

RESTful APIs

  • Use webhook triggers to receive API calls
  • Implement proper authentication and authorization
  • Follow REST conventions for consistent interfaces
  • Provide clear documentation for external integrators

Event Streaming

  • Use appropriate triggers for streaming data sources
  • Implement proper backpressure handling
  • Consider data ordering and consistency requirements
  • Monitor stream health and performance

Troubleshooting​

Common Issues​

Triggers Not Firing

  • Check trigger configuration and active status
  • Verify external system connectivity and credentials
  • Review trigger conditions and filtering logic
  • Check system resources and capacity

Performance Issues

  • Monitor trigger response times and resource usage
  • Optimize trigger configuration and conditions
  • Consider system load and concurrent trigger activity
  • Review network connectivity and latency

Data Issues

  • Validate trigger data format and content
  • Check data transformation and mapping logic
  • Review error logs for data processing issues
  • Verify external system data quality

Debugging Tools​

Monitoring Dashboard

  • Real-time trigger status and activity monitoring
  • Performance metrics and trend analysis
  • Error tracking and alerting
  • Historical data and correlation analysis

Logging and Tracing

  • Detailed execution logs for trigger events
  • Distributed tracing for complex trigger scenarios
  • Error tracking and root cause analysis
  • Performance profiling and optimization insights

Testing Tools

  • Manual trigger testing and validation
  • Integration testing with external systems
  • Load testing for high-volume scenarios
  • Error scenario testing and validation

Triggers are the foundation of automated workflows in Vectense Platform. Choose the appropriate trigger type for your use case and configure it properly to ensure reliable, efficient automation.