Create actions that download and export data

Workbooks support actions that initiate direct downloads and exports to email, Slack channels, webhooks, and cloud storage.

This document explains how to create actions to download and export workbook content to specific destinations. For more information about actions in Sigma, see Intro to actions.

User requirements

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The following requirements apply to users who configure actions. Users who access and interact with a workbook can typically trigger all existing actions within it. Any restrictions are noted in this document.

The ability to configure actions requires the following:

• You must be assigned an account type with the Full explore or Create, edit, and publish workbooks permission enabled.

• You must be the workbook owner or be granted Can explore¹ or Can edit workbook permission.

1 If you’re granted Can explore workbook permission, you can configure actions but cannot save changes to the workbook’s published version.

Initiate direct download

Create an action that downloads an entire workbook, a specific page, or an individual element directly to the interacting user’s device.

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This action can only be configured and triggered by users assigned an account type with the Download or Send Now permission enabled.

1. Open a workbook in Explore or Edit mode.
2. Select the element you want to trigger the action, then click Actions in the side navigation.
3. In the Actions panel, click Add action in an existing sequence, or click Add action sequence to create a new one.
4. In the Action modal, configure the required fields to define the response:

• Action	Select Download and export.
  Destination	Select Download.
  Attachment	Select the workbook content to download, then choose a file type.

5. If the trigger element is a table, pivot table, or input table, configure additional settings that determine when and how user interaction triggers the action sequence:
   • To trigger the action sequence only when a user selects a cell in a specific column, click the When selecting cells in column field and select the column. To trigger the action sequence when a user selects a cell in any column, select Any column.
   • [optional] To control whether keyboard navigation within the element can trigger action sequences on the element, click More in the Actions panel, then select Allow keyboard to trigger actions. When the option displays a checkmark, keyboard navigation and pointer events (e.g., mouse clicks) can trigger the action sequences. When the option doesn't display a checkmark (default), only pointer events can trigger them.

     💡

     Keyboard navigation as a trigger interaction can disrupt the user experience. For example, if the element's action sequences include actions that open links or other workbooks, a user can be unintentionally navigated away from their current task. This can be particularly disruptive if the action sequence can be triggered by selecting a cell in any column.

     Consider allowing keyboard navigation to trigger actions only when it facilitates the configured action sequences and is unlikely to interfere with usability.

6. [optional] To execute the action sequence only when a specific condition met, click More in the action sequence, then select Add condition and configure the criteria. For more information about conditions, see Define an action condition.

Export to email

Create an action that emails an entire workbook, a specific page, or an individual element to selected recipients.

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This action can only be configured and triggered by users assigned an account type with the Download or Send Now permission enabled.

1. Open a workbook in Explore or Edit mode.
2. Select the element you want to trigger the action, then click Actions in the side navigation.
3. In the Actions panel, click Add action in an existing sequence, or click Add action sequence to create a new one.
4. In the Action modal, configure the required fields to define the response:

• Action	Select Download and export.
  Destination	Select Email.
  Recipient	Enter one or more comma-separated email addresses for the export recipients.
  Subject	Enter text to include in the email subject line.
  Message	[optional] Enter a message to include in the email body.
  Attachment	Select the workbook content to export, then choose a file type.
  More options	[optional] Select the Include link to workbook checkbox to allow the export recipient to open the workbook directly from the email. [optional] Select the Run queries as recipient checkbox to run workbook queries as the recipient of the email. If deselected (default), queries run as the user who performs the action. [optional] Select the Send as .zip file checkbox to send attachments as a compressed zip file.

5. If the trigger element is a table, pivot table, or input table, configure additional settings that determine when and how user interaction triggers the action sequence:
   • To trigger the action sequence only when a user selects a cell in a specific column, click the When selecting cells in column field and select the column. To trigger the action sequence when a user selects a cell in any column, select Any column.
   • [optional] To control whether keyboard navigation within the element can trigger action sequences on the element, click More in the Actions panel, then select Allow keyboard to trigger actions. When the option displays a checkmark, keyboard navigation and pointer events (e.g., mouse clicks) can trigger the action sequences. When the option doesn't display a checkmark (default), only pointer events can trigger them.

     💡

     Keyboard navigation as a trigger interaction can disrupt the user experience. For example, if the element's action sequences include actions that open links or other workbooks, a user can be unintentionally navigated away from their current task. This can be particularly disruptive if the action sequence can be triggered by selecting a cell in any column.

     Consider allowing keyboard navigation to trigger actions only when it facilitates the configured action sequences and is unlikely to interfere with usability.

6. [optional] To execute the action sequence only when a specific condition met, click More in the action sequence, then select Add condition and configure the criteria. For more information about conditions, see Define an action condition.

Export to Slack

Create an action that exports an entire workbook, a specific page, or an individual element to Slack.

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This action can only be configured and triggered by users assigned an account type with the Export to Slack permission enabled.

1. Open a workbook in Explore or Edit mode.
2. Select the element you want to trigger the action, then click Actions in the side navigation.
3. In the Actions panel, click Add action in an existing sequence, or click Add action sequence to create a new one.
4. In the Action modal, configure the required fields to define the response:

• Action	Select Download and export.
  Destination	Select Slack.
  To	Enter the name of a Slack channel that must receive the export.
  Message	[optional] Enter a message to include in the Slack notification.
  Attachment	Select the workbook content to export, then choose a file type.
  More options	[optional] Select the Include link to workbook checkbox to allow channel members to open the workbook directly from the Slack message.

5. If the trigger element is a table, pivot table, or input table, configure additional settings that determine when and how user interaction triggers the action sequence:
   • To trigger the action sequence only when a user selects a cell in a specific column, click the When selecting cells in column field and select the column. To trigger the action sequence when a user selects a cell in any column, select Any column.
   • [optional] To control whether keyboard navigation within the element can trigger action sequences on the element, click More in the Actions panel, then select Allow keyboard to trigger actions. When the option displays a checkmark, keyboard navigation and pointer events (e.g., mouse clicks) can trigger the action sequences. When the option doesn't display a checkmark (default), only pointer events can trigger them.

     💡

     Keyboard navigation as a trigger interaction can disrupt the user experience. For example, if the element's action sequences include actions that open links or other workbooks, a user can be unintentionally navigated away from their current task. This can be particularly disruptive if the action sequence can be triggered by selecting a cell in any column.

     Consider allowing keyboard navigation to trigger actions only when it facilitates the configured action sequences and is unlikely to interfere with usability.

6. [optional] To execute the action sequence only when a specific condition met, click More in the action sequence, then select Add condition and configure the criteria. For more information about conditions, see Define an action condition.

Export to a webhook

Create an action that exports an individual element’s data to another application with a webhook.

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This action can only be configured and triggered by users assigned an account type with the Export to webhook permission enabled.

1. Open a workbook in Explore or Edit mode.
2. Select the element you want to trigger the action, then click Actions in the side navigation.
3. In the Actions panel, click Add action in an existing sequence, or click Add action sequence to create a new one.
4. In the Action modal, configure the required fields to define the response:

• Action	Select Download and export.
  Destination	Select Webhook.
  Endpoint	Enter the receiving application’s endpoint.
  Attachment	Select an element to export, then choose a data format.

5. If the trigger element is a table, pivot table, or input table, configure additional settings that determine when and how user interaction triggers the action sequence:
   • To trigger the action sequence only when a user selects a cell in a specific column, click the When selecting cells in column field and select the column. To trigger the action sequence when a user selects a cell in any column, select Any column.
   • [optional] To control whether keyboard navigation within the element can trigger action sequences on the element, click More in the Actions panel, then select Allow keyboard to trigger actions. When the option displays a checkmark, keyboard navigation and pointer events (e.g., mouse clicks) can trigger the action sequences. When the option doesn't display a checkmark (default), only pointer events can trigger them.

     💡

     Keyboard navigation as a trigger interaction can disrupt the user experience. For example, if the element's action sequences include actions that open links or other workbooks, a user can be unintentionally navigated away from their current task. This can be particularly disruptive if the action sequence can be triggered by selecting a cell in any column.

     Consider allowing keyboard navigation to trigger actions only when it facilitates the configured action sequences and is unlikely to interfere with usability.

6. [optional] To execute the action sequence only when a specific condition met, click More in the action sequence, then select Add condition and configure the criteria. For more information about conditions, see Define an action condition.

Export to cloud storage

Create an action that exports an individual element’s data to cloud storage.

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This action can only be configured and triggered by users assigned an account type with the Export to cloud permission enabled.

1. Open a workbook in Explore or Edit mode.
2. Select the element you want to trigger the action, then click Actions in the side navigation.
3. In the Actions panel, click Add action in an existing sequence, or click Add action sequence to create a new one.
4. In the Action modal, configure the required fields to define the response:

• Action	Select Download and export.
  Destination	Select Cloud Storage.
  Storage integration	Enter an integration name.
  Cloud Storage URI	Enter a file path for the export destination.
  Element	Select an element to export, then choose a file format.
  More options	[optional] Select the Prefix file name with current date and time checkbox to include the export date and time (in ISO format) in the file name.

5. If the trigger element is a table, pivot table, or input table, configure additional settings that determine when and how user interaction triggers the action sequence:
   • To trigger the action sequence only when a user selects a cell in a specific column, click the When selecting cells in column field and select the column. To trigger the action sequence when a user selects a cell in any column, select Any column.
   • [optional] To control whether keyboard navigation within the element can trigger action sequences on the element, click More in the Actions panel, then select Allow keyboard to trigger actions. When the option displays a checkmark, keyboard navigation and pointer events (e.g., mouse clicks) can trigger the action sequences. When the option doesn't display a checkmark (default), only pointer events can trigger them.

     💡

     Keyboard navigation as a trigger interaction can disrupt the user experience. For example, if the element's action sequences include actions that open links or other workbooks, a user can be unintentionally navigated away from their current task. This can be particularly disruptive if the action sequence can be triggered by selecting a cell in any column.

     Consider allowing keyboard navigation to trigger actions only when it facilitates the configured action sequences and is unlikely to interfere with usability.

6. [optional] To execute the action sequence only when a specific condition met, click More in the action sequence, then select Add condition and configure the criteria. For more information about conditions, see Define an action condition.