Using data from earlier steps

Every step produces data, and any later step can use it. This is called mapping: instead of typing a fixed value, you point a field at a value that changes on every run, such as the customer’s name.

In the course

• VC{{workflow.student_name}} goes into the WhatsApp template. Lesson 1: Reply to every enquiry in seconds →
• SR{{workflow.trigger_source.name}} fills the CRM Source field. Lesson 1: Every portal lead, one workflow →

Animated explainerHow data moves from step to step

1Every step hands over data. Vidya's enquiry form gives you student_name, phone and course.

2In a later step, click into a field such as To. A picker opens with the data from earlier steps.

3Pick phone. It goes in as a placeholder: {{workflow.phone}}.

4Mix placeholders with your own words: Hi {{workflow.student_name}}, your demo is on Saturday!

5When the workflow runs, every placeholder is swapped for the real value: "Hi Rahul, your demo is on Saturday!"

Map a field

1. Open the step and go to Configure.
2. Click into a field and type / (or click the + next to it). A list opens with the data from the trigger and every earlier step, with the sample value next to each one.
3. Pick a value. It’s inserted as a placeholder.
4. Type around it if you like, for example Hi before the name and , thanks for writing! after it.
5. Click Save & continue.

Sample data

Type / to pick data. Each entry shows the source step, the sample value and its path.

×

For dropdown fields, tick Map Data first to switch the dropdown into a mappable box.

Auto-map fields

At the top of Configure, Auto-map fields fills every empty field whose name matches data from earlier steps (for example a phone field gets the trigger’s phone). Check the result before saving; it never touches account or dropdown choices.

What a placeholder looks like

In the editor, a mapped value shows as a readable label such as Webhook (Auto Appy) · Phone: 919820012345. Underneath, Auto Appy stores a placeholder:

Placeholder	Means
{{workflow.phone}}	The field phone from the trigger’s data.
{{workflow.customer.city}}	A field inside a group (customer → city).
{{workflow.items.0.name}}	The name of the first item in a list (counting starts at 0).
{{tasks.task-<step id>.id}}	The field id from an earlier step’s output.
{{workflow.trigger_source.name}}	Which trigger started this run (when there are several).
Hi {{workflow.name}}!	Placeholders mixed with your own text.

When the workflow runs, each placeholder is replaced with the real value from that run.

If a value is missing

If a run doesn’t include a field (for example the visitor left email blank), its placeholder becomes empty text. Lists and groups are inserted as JSON text. Add a condition such as email → Exists if a step must only run when the value is there.

Why can’t I see my data?

The picker only lists data that exists in a sample:

• Nothing from the trigger? Capture a sample first (Start Capturing Sample Data, then send one submission).
• Nothing from an earlier step? Test that step (Test This Node) so it has an output.
• The step isn’t listed at all? It must be connected before this step on the canvas.

Conditions and paths

Test, go Live, pause