# Create an automation

> Describe an automation in a sentence, start from a template, or build it part by part, then try it once and turn it on.

Source: https://mockflow.com/docs/create-an-automation

There are three ways to start an automation in MockFlow: describe it in a sentence and let MockFlow AI shape it, start from a template, or build it part by part. Each way ends in the same builder, where you check every part, try the automation once and turn it on.

## Open New automation

Use any of these:

- In the workspace sidebar, click **+** next to **Automations**.
- On the Automations page, click **New automation**.
- On a board, open the main menu and click **Automate this board**. The automation starts already set to add to that board.

The **New automation** screen offers three ways to start: the describe box (1) with **Shape it** (2), **Popular templates**, and **Start from scratch** (3).

![The New automation screen with a sentence typed in the describe box, the Shape it button and the Start from scratch card next to popular templates](https://assets.mockflow.com/docs/media/839b23e83a204693a3f8cfe224cf3ec4.webp)

## Describe it in a sentence with Shape it

1. In the describe box (1), write what you want in one sentence, for example _when a Zoom meeting ends, turn the transcript into a board of decisions and action items_.
2. Click **Shape it** (2). MockFlow AI turns the sentence into a draft automation: the app, when it runs, what it makes, the space it goes to, what happens next and a name.
3. The builder opens with the draft. Check each part and change anything that is not right.

Shape it only uses apps that are available on your plan and events that your connection supports. Shaping a draft does not use AI credits; runs do.

## Start from a template

**Popular templates** shows the most used MockFlow templates. Click **See all templates** to browse them all, or open the **MockFlow templates** or **Team templates** tab on the Automations page.

Each template card shows the app, the kind of board it makes, what happens next, when it runs and what it does. Its button tells you what is needed:

- **Use** opens the template in the builder, ready to turn on.
- **Connect {App}** means you sign in to the app first.

See [Automation templates](/docs/automation-templates).

## Build it part by part

Click **Build** on the **Start from scratch** card (3). The builder shows the automation as one sentence with parts to fill in:

_From_ **[****app****]**, **[****when****]**, _read_ **[****what****]**, _make_ **[****type****]** **[****how****]** **[****where****]**, _then_ **[****action****]**.

Click each highlighted part of the sentence (1) to choose it. The heading shows how many parts are left.

![The automation builder with the sentence From Zoom, when a cloud recording is ready, read that meeting's notes, make a board of the action items by AI as a new MockFlow board in Product team, then post it to a Slack channel, the Ideas panel, and the Turn on and Try it once buttons](https://assets.mockflow.com/docs/media/cecaf77b3db942f0ba2ef4f7cfe8558f.webp)

| Part | What it does | Learn more |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **From** | The app the automation reads. Leave it out for an automation that works only with MockFlow. | [Connect apps](/docs/connect-apps-to-automations) |
| **When** | A set time, a press of **Run**, an event in your app or an event in MockFlow | [When it runs](/docs/choose-when-an-automation-runs) |
| **Read** | What to read from the app, such as a channel, a project or a calendar. Shown when the app offers it. |  |
| **Make** | The kind of board or component to make | [What it makes](/docs/choose-what-an-automation-makes-and-where-it-goes) |
| **How** | Whether AI makes it or each record is added as it is | [What it makes](/docs/choose-what-an-automation-makes-and-where-it-goes) |
| **Where** | A new board each run in a space you pick, or a board or component you already have | [Where it goes](/docs/choose-what-an-automation-makes-and-where-it-goes) |
| **Then** | An optional step after the board is made, such as posting it to Slack | [Then steps](/docs/choose-what-an-automation-makes-and-where-it-goes) |

## Give MockFlow AI instructions

Under the sentence, a text box takes your instructions. With no app to read, it asks you to **Tell MockFlow AI what to put on the board**. When the automation reads an app or MockFlow, it is optional: **Add any additional instructions to AI**, such as _group the action items by owner_ or _keep it to one page_.

When the automation reads an app, an **Ideas for** panel (2) suggests a few starting points for what to make from it, for example _Ideas for that meeting's notes_. Picking an idea fills in the instructions, and you can change anything after.

MockFlow AI can miss things or get them wrong, so look over what it makes.

## More options

Open **More options** to set the following. When the automation reads an app, it is labelled **More options and filter data**.

![More options and filter data open, with the Name, Filter data and Runs per month, at most fields](https://assets.mockflow.com/docs/media/94f6517703c94fef857559ead4fd5246.webp)

- **Name:** what the automation is called in your list and in the sidebar.
- **Filter data (optional):** only items about this topic go on the board. If nothing matches, that run makes no board.
- **{App} settings:** extra settings for the chosen app event, when it has any.
- **Runs per month, at most:** a cap for this automation, 30 by default. It cannot be set higher than your plan's monthly runs.

## Choose the AI model

The gear in the builder opens model settings:

- **Main Model:** the AI model MockFlow AI uses for this automation. Choosing a model is part of the Max plan.
- **Local Agent:** run the automation with your own AI agent through [MockFlow Bridge](/docs/what-is-mockflow-bridge), using no AI credits. See [Run automations with your own AI and save AI credits](/docs/run-automations-with-your-own-ai).

## Check the summary, try it once and turn it on

The builder lists what the automation will do next to **More options**, for example **New MockFlow board each time**, **Everyone in Product sees it** or **Only you see it**, and **Each run uses your AI credits**. The side panel shows your **Runs this month**, **AI credits left** and how long **A run usually takes**.

1. Click **Try it once** (3) to run the automation now and see what it makes. Nothing is scheduled yet.
2. Adjust any part, the instructions or More options until the result is right.
3. Click **Turn on** (3). Until every part is filled in, the button says what is still missing, for example **Pick an app first** or **Pick when it runs first**.

If the app is not connected yet, the button reads **Connect {App} and turn on**. The app opens in a new window to sign in, and the automation turns on when you are done.

After it is on, the automation is listed under **My automations** and in the sidebar. See [Manage automations and their runs](/docs/manage-automations-and-runs).