Automations

Run a rule automatically when something happens in Basecamp. A rule has a trigger and one or more actions.

Triggers

Automations fire on one of two kinds of trigger:

Basecamp events — any of the webhook events Basecamp emits:

• Todo created, changed, completed, uncompleted, archived, or trashed
• Todolist created or changed
• Message created or changed
• Comment created
• Document created
• Upload created
• Schedule entry created

Field changed — a custom field value changes on an item. Optionally scope it to a specific field, or to a specific value on that field.

Actions

• Set field — set a custom field value on the item
• Add option / Remove option — attach or detach a tag (or multi-select option)
• Complete todo / Uncomplete todo
• Post comment — post a comment on the item
• Assign people — assign or unassign team members
• Move card — move a card table card to a different column

Example rules

• Auto-tag new work: When a to-do is created → add tag urgent.
• Close the loop: When a to-do is completed → set status field to Done.
• Route by priority: When custom field Priority changes to High → assign to the team lead.

Creating an automation

1. Open Settings → Automations in the Assistant web app.
2. Click New automation.
3. Pick a trigger (Basecamp event or field change), choose one or more actions.
4. Save. The rule runs on all future matching events.

Existing items are not modified retroactively — automations only fire on events that happen after the rule is saved.

Tips

• Start with one or two rules. Automations are easy to stack until no one remembers why a to-do got tagged.
• Each automation has an Activity log showing when and why it fired.
• Admin-only feature: non-admins can view automations but can’t create or edit.