Filter Exisitng Entry Every 'X' number of Hours from HTTP Request

Questions
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#1

Hey guys,

So I have a client I’m helping send out Messages to Twilio

Basically what I’m doing is I have a custom form that’s 24/7 collecting information on Google Sheets
(Names & Phone Number) then using Google Sheets Trigger (Custom Node from : n8n-nodes-google-sheets-trigger - npm) once a new row is detected a message is sent to that new Number.

Essentially the messages being sent are “Hi [[username]], thanks for filling out our Form. We’ll get back to you shortly”

So everything’s working well to that end, the thing is some of the customers are in a situation where they have to fill in 2 or more Questionnairs thereby getting 2 or more “Thank you Messages” (I’m trying to avoid spamming)

I’d like to know if there’s a way I can filter out (using ‘IF Node’ maybe? 'Date/Time Node maybe?) numbers that are already existing not to be sent the message

i.e if number has been sent a Thank you message in the past 24hours, don’t send message.

The Nodes are
GoogleSheets Trigger > Set Node > Twilio

#2

You could look at using getWorkflowStaticData.

You could save the user/number and check if they already exist. You probably want to store them with a timestamp and clean out the list for any entries over 24hrs

#3

@pemontto thanks for taking the time to give this a look

The entries each have unique timestamps on Google Sheet as well (i.e the time the entry was made & filled on Google Sheets)

Do I then use the timestamp (Ps: do they have to be in ISO-8601 format e.g 2020-07-10 15:00:00.000 ?) & pass it on the expression : getWorkflowStaticData ?

Kindly, if you can, do provide with an example workflow…

Thanks.

#4

Can you post a redacted JSON sample of the data from the trigger in your workflow and I’ll have a crack?

BTW managing the date is just so your static data doesn’t balloon out unbounded. We need to know which entries we can clean up safely!

#5

Here’s some randomly generated data just to get the gist of the format of data that’s coming from Google Sheets.

I’m assuming the getWorkflowStaticData Node will come between the Set & Twilio Node?

Ps : if Phone Number has been sent a Thank you message in the past 24hours, don’t send message.

Contains;

  1. Name
  2. Number
  3. Timestamp
  4. Message
#6

Here’s something that might get you started

  • Cleanup clears entries older than 24hrs
  • Throttle will set the item.send field to false if an SMS has already been sent