Add custom values to dropdown menu fields in Zaps

Dropdown menus provide a list of values you can send to other apps in your Zap. If you want to send a value that's not available in a dropdown menu, you can use custom values. 

In action steps, you can map a field from a previous step as a custom value in the dropdown menu. In triggers, you can use IDs that you find in the trigger app.

Example

In the QuickBooks app, the Customer field in the Create Invoice action is a dropdown menu. It lists all the customers in your QuickBooks account. When you select a customer from the dropdown menu, your Zap will enter the same customer in every invoice. You may want to use a custom value instead, so the Zap enters a different customer each time it runs.

What can I use as a custom value?

You must use the ID of a specific item as a custom value. Sometimes, the ID may be the same as the name of the value, or it may be a numeric or alphanumeric string.

For action steps, you will see the ID below the name of an item in a dropdown menu. 

For trigger steps, check the app you're using to find the appropriate ID.

When using custom values, you must:

• Enter the ID of the value, not the name of the value (if they differ).
• Enter a value that already exists in the app, or the step will error.

Example

In QuickBooks’ Customer field, the customer name is the value name. The number below it is the value ID.

Sometimes, the value from a previous step doesn’t have a value ID. For example, a previous step may return a customer name instead of their QuickBooks ID. You can use a lookup table or search action to return an ID instead.

Use custom values in action steps

Set up a custom value

• Click the field you want to enter a custom value in to open the dropdown menu.
• Click the Custom tab.
• Click to expand the step you want to take a custom value from, then select the custom value.

Note

If you're mapping a custom value from a value you've created in a previous step, it may not exist yet. Add a delay step in between to give your connected app time to create the new value.

Use custom values in trigger steps

For trigger steps, there are no options to select from in the Custom tab. To enter a custom value instead:

1. Log into your trigger app.
2. Search for and copy the ID for the field you want to use in your Zap.
3. In Zapier, open your Zap, then click to open your trigger step.
4. In the Trigger section, click the field where you want to enter a custom value to open the dropdown menu.
5. Click the Custom tab.
6. Paste the ID in the text field that appears above the tab.