Create a Slack reminder when a Google Doc placeholder is filled
Templates and forms lose momentum when nobody notices they're complete. This automation watches for filled placeholders and instantly reminds you in Slack to review the work.
Trigger
Document Placeholder Filled
Triggers when a Google Doc's plain text changes such that a configured placeholder token/pattern is no longer present (i.e., the document has been filled in). This trigger monitors a specific Google Doc and fires when a placeholder pattern that was previously present is no longer found in the document's plain text.
Action
Create a reminder
Creates a slack reminder with specified text and time; time accepts unix timestamps, seconds from now, or natural language (e.g., 'in 15 minutes', 'every thursday at 2pm').
Why this helps
You set up Google Doc templates with placeholder fields, but by the time someone fills them in, the work falls through the cracks. No one remembers to check, feedback is delayed, and the project stalls.
- Stop losing track of completed templates and forms
- Catch work as soon as it's done, not days later
- Keeps feedback cycles moving without manual check-ins
- Reduces the need for 'did you finish the form?' messages
Setup
Build it in a few focused steps.
- 1Connect Google Docs and Slack in your Notis portal (one-time setup).
- 2Create a new Automation and tell Notis: 'When the placeholder in [doc name or template] is filled, send me a Slack reminder at [time] to review it.'
- 3Select 'integration_event' and pick 'Document Placeholder Filled' as your trigger.
- 4Set a reminder time that works for your workflow—immediately, end of day, or a specific time.
- 5Test with a dummy Google Doc: add your placeholder text, have someone fill it, and verify the Slack reminder fires.
Questions about this workflow
How does Notis know which placeholder to watch?
You specify the exact placeholder text or pattern—e.g., '[CLIENT NAME]' or 'TODO:'. Notis detects when it's no longer in the document, indicating the field has been filled.
Can I set up multiple placeholders in the same doc?
Yes. Create separate automations for each placeholder you want to track, or tell Notis to watch for all of them with a single reminder.
What time should I schedule the reminder?
It depends on your workflow. Immediate reminders work if you want to review as soon as it's done. Or set it for end-of-day batch review if you prefer focused review blocks.
When this happens · Trigger
Do this · Action
Supported Triggers and Actions
Notis builds workflows that link Google Docs to Slack. A trigger fires from one place; an action lands in another.
Google Docs triggers
Slack actions
New Document Created
Triggers when a new Google Doc is created. This trigger monitors Google Docs and fires when new documents are detected. Uses timestamp filtering to efficiently poll for new documents.
Set snooze duration
Deprecated: turns on do not disturb mode for the current user, or changes its duration. use `set dnd duration` instead.
Document Deleted
Triggers when an existing Google Doc is deleted (moved to trash). This trigger monitors Google Docs and fires when documents are trashed.
Add a custom emoji to a Slack team
Deprecated: adds a custom emoji to a slack workspace given a unique name and an image url. use `add emoji` instead.
Document Placeholder Filled
Triggers when a Google Doc's plain text changes such that a configured placeholder token/pattern is no longer present (i.e., the document has been filled in). This trigger monitors a specific Google Doc and fires when a placeholder pattern that was previously present is no longer found in the document's plain text.
Add an emoji alias
Adds an alias for an existing custom emoji in a slack enterprise grid organization.
Document Search Update
Triggers when a Google Doc matching a user-defined search query is newly created or updated since the last poll. This trigger uses timestamp filtering to efficiently monitor documents.
Add a remote file
Adds a reference to an external file (e.g., google drive, dropbox) to slack for discovery and sharing, requiring a unique `external id` and an `external url` accessible by slack.
Document Structure Changed
Triggers when a Google Doc's structure changes (headers/footers added/removed, tables/images count changes). This trigger monitors a specific document for structural changes like: - Headers added or removed - Footers added or removed - Tables added or removed - Images (inline objects) added or removed - Positioned objects added or removed - Footnotes added or removed
Add a star to an item
Stars a channel, file, file comment, or a specific message in slack.
Document Updated
Triggers when an existing Google Doc is updated or modified. This trigger monitors Google Docs and fires when documents are updated.
Add call participants
Registers new participants added to a slack call.
Document Word Count Threshold
Triggers when a Google Doc's word/character count crosses a user-defined threshold. This trigger monitors a specific Google Doc and fires when its word or character count becomes greater than or equal to the configured threshold value.
Add emoji
Adds a custom emoji to a slack workspace given a unique name and an image url; subject to workspace emoji limits.
New Folder Created in Root
Triggers when a new folder is created in the root folder of Google Drive. This trigger monitors Google Drive and fires when new folders are detected in the root directory.
Add reaction to message
Adds a specified emoji reaction to an existing message in a slack channel, identified by its timestamp; does not remove or retrieve reactions.
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When this happens · Trigger
Do this · Action
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