Send a Slack reminder when a keyword appears in a Google Doc
Important discussions in Google Docs happen asynchronously. By the time you read them, decisions are made and momentum is lost. This automation watches for key phrases—'approved,' 'blocked,' 'decision'—and reminds you in Slack the instant they appear.
Trigger
Keyword Detected in Document
Triggers when a specific keyword or phrase first appears in a Google Doc. This trigger monitors a Google Doc and fires once when the specified keyword is detected. After the keyword is found, the trigger will not fire again until reset.
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're collaborating on a Google Doc but miss critical keywords. Comments pile up, someone types 'decision' or 'approved', but you don't notice for hours or days. The window to respond or take action closes.
- Never miss important keywords or decisions in documents
- Respond to approvals or blockers in real time
- Reduce back-and-forth by catching critical moments early
- Stay aware without constantly polling the document
Setup
Build it in a few focused steps.
- 1Connect Google Docs and Slack in your Notis portal.
- 2Create a new Automation: 'When the word [keyword] first appears in [doc name], send me a Slack reminder with context.'
- 3Select 'integration_event' and choose 'Keyword Detected in Document.'
- 4List the keywords to watch for—e.g., 'approved', 'blocked', 'urgent', 'decision', 'issue'.
- 5Test by adding one of your keywords to the document and confirming the Slack reminder arrives.
Questions about this workflow
What if the keyword appears multiple times?
This trigger fires once when the keyword is first detected. After that, you won't get duplicate alerts unless you reset the automation.
Can I watch for multiple keywords?
Yes. List all the keywords you want to monitor in one automation, or create separate automations if you want different actions for different words.
Is the keyword detection case-sensitive?
Tell Notis your preference. You can watch for exact matches (e.g., 'APPROVED' only) or case-insensitive matches (e.g., 'Approved', 'approved', 'APPROVED').
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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