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Learn how to effectively implement deduplication in your Zapier Code output to prevent duplicate entries and errors.
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How to Apply Deduplication for an Array Returned in Zapier Code Output

When working with Zapier, especially while using the Code block, you might encounter a common problem: duplicating entries in your array output. This issue can lead to failures in triggering actions downstream, such as sending duplicate tweets, which violates service policies like Twitter’s Terms of Service. If you’re experiencing similar problems, you’re not alone. In this post, we’ll explain how to implement deduplication in your Zapier Code output to ensure smooth workflows.

The Dilemma: Duplicates in Your Output

Suppose you have a Zapier Code block fetching a JSON array—a situation that often entails preprocessing the data. However, without proper deduplication, each execution of your code could trigger actions based on the same data, leading to errors.

For instance, the mock data below illustrates this problem:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

If Zapier processes this data twice, you could receive a notification stating that your Zap has been stopped due to duplicate actions.

The Solution: Using Zapier Storage

To address the problem of duplicates, you can leverage the Storage by Zapier feature. This method will help you keep track of previously processed items and filter out duplicates effectively. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how to implement this:

Step-by-Step Implementation

Trigger: Begin with your usual trigger that initiates your Zap.

Retrieve Last Processed Item:

Use the Storage by Zapier action to Get Value with a storage key named lastItemId. This key will allow you to keep track of the last item’s ID that was processed.

Filter the Array:

Add the Code by Zapier step to filter the incoming array. In this step, you’ll only want to retain records where the id is greater than the retrieved lastItemId. This ensures that only new entries are processed.

Update Storage:

Finally, use the Storage by Zapier action again to Set Value, updating the lastItemId with the ID of the last item processed in the Code step. This way, the next time your Zap runs, it has the accurate baseline to assess new records.

Alternative Approach: Using StoreClient

If you prefer, you can also use the StoreClient approach instead of Storage by Zapier. The process is similar:

Update the existing key lastItemId whenever records are processed.

Compare the ID of the current records against lastItemId.

Update the StoreClient key at the end of processing.

Conclusion

Implementing deduplication in your Zapier workflows is crucial, especially when you're using a Code block to fetch and preprocess arrays. By using Storage by Zapier or StoreClient, you can ensure that your Zap runs smoothly, avoiding the frustration of duplicate actions.

By following these structured steps, you can effectively eliminate duplicates in your Zapier Code output, leading to successful, error-free automated actions.

Key Takeaway

Always ensure you have a mechanism in place to handle duplicates when processing data in Zapier, especially when the integrity of operations like sending tweets is at stake.

If you found this guide helpful, feel free to share your thoughts or additional questions in the comments below!