# Choose when an automation runs

> Run an automation at a set time, only when you press Run, when something happens in MockFlow, or when an event happens in one of your apps.

Source: https://mockflow.com/docs/choose-when-an-automation-runs

The **When** part of an automation decides what starts a run. Click **pick when it runs** in the builder to choose one of four kinds:

| Choice | Starts a run | Good for |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **At a set time** | On a schedule, like every Monday at 9am | Stand-ups, weekly reports, monthly metrics |
| **Only when I press Run** | Only when you click **Run** | Boards you make on demand, such as a client report before a meeting |
| **An event in your app** | When something happens in the app the automation reads | A meeting board after each recording, a retro when a sprint closes |
| **MockFlow** | When a board is created, someone joins, and similar events | Kickoff kits for new boards, welcome boards for new members |

![The When menu of a Jira automation listing Jira events such as When a sprint closes and When an issue is created, At a set time and Only when I press Run](https://assets.mockflow.com/docs/media/187a6b50fb5d43c4bfbd659e0a25fff8.webp)

Events that can happen often are grouped under **Can run many times a day**. Each run that makes a board counts toward your monthly runs, so the builder warns you when an automation could run many times a day. See [Automation plans and limits](/docs/automation-plans-and-limits).

## Run an automation on a schedule

Choose **At a set time**, then pick how often:

- **Every hour**, at a minute you choose, in five minute steps
- **Every day**, at a time you choose
- **Every weekday**, Monday to Friday
- **On days I pick**, any mix of days from Sunday to Saturday
- **Every week**, on one weekday
- **Every month**, on a day from Day 1 to Day 28, or the **Last day**

Then set the time and click **Use this time**.

![The At a set time panel set to Every month on Day 1 at 9:00 AM, with the time zone and the Use this time button](https://assets.mockflow.com/docs/media/f29aebda918d4ffab269659e7d9abe03.webp)

Schedules use the time zone shown under the time, which is the time zone of your browser when you set it.

When a scheduled automation reads an app, each run reads what is new in that app since the last run. For example, a weekly Slack automation reads only that week's messages.

## Run an automation only when you press Run

Choose **Only when I press Run** for an automation that never starts by itself. A **Run** button appears on its row under **My automations**, and **Run now** is always in its builder.

## Run an automation when something happens in MockFlow

Choose **MockFlow** to start a run on an event in your own workspace:

- A board was created
- A board was renamed
- A board was moved to the trash
- A board came back from the trash
- Someone was given access to a space or a board
- Someone lost access to a space or a board
- Someone commented on a board

Use **Only in** to limit the event to one space, or leave it on **Any space**. With a MockFlow event, **Where** can also be **The board it is about** for board events or **The space it is about**, so a kickoff kit lands on the board that was just created.

## Run an automation when something happens in an app

After you choose the app under **From**, its events are listed under **When**. Each reads as _When_ followed by the event.

| App | Events that can start a run |
| --- | --- |
| Slack | New messages are posted in a channel |
| Trello | A card is created; a card moves to another list |
| Notion | A page is created; a page is edited; someone comments on a page |
| Jira | A sprint closes; a sprint starts; an issue is created; an issue is updated; a version is released |
| Linear | An issue is created; an issue is updated; a project update is posted; someone comments on an issue |
| Fathom | A meeting recording is ready |
| Zoom | A cloud recording is ready; a meeting is scheduled |
| Fireflies | A meeting transcript is ready |
| Google Drive | A file is added; a file is changed; someone comments on a file |
| GitHub | A pull request opens or closes; a pull request review is submitted; an issue is opened; commits are pushed |
| Gmail | A new email arrives; you send an email |
| Google Sheets | New rows are added; a row changes |
| Google Calendar | An event is added; an event is about to start; an event changes |
| Google Docs | A document is created; a document is edited |
| Confluence | A page is created; a page is added under a page; a page is edited; someone comments on a page |
| OneDrive | A file is added; a file is changed |
| Asana | A task is created; a task moves to another section; someone comments on a task |
| ClickUp | A task is created; a task changes status; someone comments on a task |
| monday.com | An item is created; an item moves to another group; a column value changes, like a status; someone posts an update on an item |
| HubSpot | A contact is added; a deal changes stage |
| Salesforce | A lead is added; a deal is added or changes; a contact is added |
| Outlook | A new email arrives; a calendar event is added |
| Typeform | A form gets a response |
| PostHog | A new error shows up |

Microsoft Teams, Airtable, Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude and Instagram do not start runs. Use them with **At a set time** or **Only when I press Run**.

Some events need extra details, such as which channel, project or form to watch. Set them under **More options**, in the app's settings.

> **Note** If an event is shown as **Not on this connection**, the way your app is connected cannot deliver it. Pick a schedule instead.

The list of apps and events grows as MockFlow adds connectors.