Compile data in a digest in Zaps – Zapier

Digest is a tool you can use to compile data from Zap [triggers](https://help.zapier.com/hc/en-us/articles/8496288188429) or [actions](https://help.zapier.com/hc/en-us/articles/8496257774221) in a single batch that can be sent at a regular interval to a Zap action. This means that instead of the actions in a Zap running every time the trigger or action event occurs, the Zap will receive the data and run in bulk at a given interval, such as every day or every week.

Digests can be used with one or multiple Zaps.

Using this tool doesn't count towards your [task usage](https://help.zapier.com/hc/en-us/articles/8496196837261).

![actionEdit icon](https://cdn.zapier.com/storage/photos/649a3c82786155ec1f844e1e870a74bf.png) Example

You have Zaps that receive leads and assign them to different salespeople. You can use a Digest by Zapier step to compile all the leads that came in that week, then an email step to send the batch to you every Friday. This cuts down on the number of email notifications you receive while still allowing you to keep track of your leads on a weekly basis.

## 1\. Add a digest step

First, set up a [trigger](https://help.zapier.com/hc/en-us/articles/8496288188429) or an [action](https://help.zapier.com/hc/en-us/articles/8496257774221) that contains the data that you want to add to the digest. When you’re done, add a digest step to your Zap.

*   Click the next **Action** step, or click the **plus + icon** to add a step to your Zap.
*   Search for and select **Digest by Zapier**.
*   Click the **Event** dropdown menu and select **Append Entry and Schedule Digest**.
*   Click **Continue**.

## 2\. Set up your digest step

*   In the _Title_ field, enter a **name** for your digest. The title will be used to identify your digest in later steps in your Zap or in other Zaps and can have a maximum of 32 characters.
*   In the Entry field, select the **data** from a previous step to add to the digest.
*   Click the **Frequency** dropdown menu and select how often you want to receive this digest of information:
    *   **Daily**
    *   **Weekly**
    *   **Monthly**
    *   **Threshold**: releases the digest when it reaches a certain number of entries. If it doesn't reach the count within a month of the first entry, it will be released with the content collected up till that time.
    *   **Manual**: allows you to use another Zap to release your digest. This option requires you to create a separate Zap with a _Release Existing Digest_ action step.

Each frequency option will show different fields to select the specific time of day or day of the week or month to release the digest.

*   Click **Continue**.
*   Click **Test & Review**. The Zap will create a new item in your digest and display the result.

![miscEye icon](https://cdn.zapier.com/storage/photos/335619ab6472fe1fefab18d493cb39bf.png) Note

The _Daily_ frequency option has a setting that allows you to prevent a digest from being released on weekends. If you click the **Trigger on Weekends?** dropdown menu and select **No**, you'll receive any content that was collected over the weekend on the next Monday.

## 3\. Release the content of the digest

If you selected a _Daily_, _Weekly_, _Monthly_, or _Threshold_ frequency, you’ll need to add another action to the Zap to release the content of the digest. This is typically an email or messaging step.

*   Click the **Action** step, or click the **plus + icon** to add a step to your Zap.
*   Search for and select the **app** you want to send the digest to.
*   Click the **Event** dropdown menu and select an **event**.
*   Click **Continue**.

Next, set up your action to include the digest content.

![actionEdit icon](https://cdn.zapier.com/storage/photos/649a3c82786155ec1f844e1e870a74bf.png) Example

If you create a digest that compiles all the leads you get in a week, you can set up an action to send yourself an email that contains the weekly digest of leads in the email body.

![Email by Zapier step set up to release a digest](https://cdn.zappy.app/120d3cbe48c6fe62b61aac3a9567504b.png)

![miscEye icon](https://cdn.zapier.com/storage/photos/335619ab6472fe1fefab18d493cb39bf.png) Note

Formatting and styling options for the digest content will differ depending on the app you send the digest content to.

## 4\. Optional: "Manual" frequency—compile data from multiple Zaps in the same digest

If you selected a _Manual_ frequency, you’ll need to release it with a separate Zap. This allows you to add content from multiple sources into your digest.

Once you've set up all the necessary Digest by Zapier steps to compile your data, create a new Zap that will release the content.

## Create a Zap to release your digest

[Schedule by Zapier](https://help.zapier.com/hc/en-us/articles/8496288648461) allows you to release the digest at a set interval when paired with the _Release Digest_ action from Digest by Zapier.

### 1\. Add a "Schedule by Zapier" trigger

*   [Create a new Zap](https://help.zapier.com/knowledge/articles/8496309697421/en-us?brand_id=360005149871).
*   In the trigger step, click **Schedule**.
*   Click the **Event** dropdown menu and select **how often** you want to receive the digest.
*   Click **Continue**.
*   Fill out the details related to the selected frequency.
*   Click **Continue**.
*   Click **Test trigger**. The Zap will display the results of the test.

![miscEye icon](https://cdn.zapier.com/storage/photos/335619ab6472fe1fefab18d493cb39bf.png) Note

The test result will always display the current date and time, not the next time the Zap will trigger.

### 2\. Add a "Release Digest" action

*   Click the **Action** step, or click the **plus + icon** to add a step to your Zap.
*   Search for and select **Digest by Zapier**.
*   Click the **Event** dropdown menu and select **Release Existing Digest**.
*   Click **Continue**.
*   Click the **Digest** dropdown menu and select the **digest** to release.
*   Click **Continue**.
*   Click **Test trigger**. The Zap will display the current digest content.

### 3\. Add an app to receive the digest

Add another action step to receive the digest content:

*   Click the **Action** step, or click the **plus + icon** to add a step to your Zap.
*   Search for and select the **app** you want to send the digest to.
*   Click the **Event** dropdown menu and select an **event**.
*   Click **Continue**.

Next, set up your action to include the digest content. When the Zap triggers, it will send the digest content to this app.

## Limitations of digests

*   The title of a digest can have up to 32 characters.
*   A digest can have a maximum of 25,000 characters.

If these limits are exceeded, you'll see an error message: `Secrets can only be 36 chars in length, keys can only be 32 chars in length, value must be smaller than 250000 bytes.`

## Digest and Zap history

In your [Zap history](https://zapier.com/app/history), you’ll see individual Zap runs for each time the Zap was triggered, not only for when the digest is released. The first Zap run in the Zap will have a status of _Delayed_ until the digest releases (according to the frequency settings). When the digest is released, the status of the Zap run will change to _Success_.