Write to table integration overview

Overview

The Write to Table action in Clay connects data across tables, streamlining complex workflows, especially between Company and People tables.

A few example cases where you will find the Write to Table function useful:

• Parsing Lists: Break down a list in a cell and map each item to another table.
• Column Mapping: Mirror columns from one table to another.

Setting up write to table

To set up the Write to Table action, you’ll need:

• Clay API Key
  Your Clay API key (Guide) to create an integration account.‍
• Source Table
  A table to copy data from, for either lists or column mappings.‍
• Destination Table
  A table to copy data into, ideally with named columns.

Write to Table Use Case and Instructions

There are two scenarios where you’d use Write to Table.

1. List mapping to parse lists into individual rows to the destination table.
2. Column mapping to move column data into the destination table.

Use Case #1: List Mapping

Use Write to Table to map out lists to into rows for another table.

Each cell can contain a list of items (e.g., find contacts at company). Use Write to Table to map each item individually to rows in the destination table.

Below is an example of a list you'll find within a table.

Tutorial

Step 1: Select your Clay account

If no account is selected, obtain your API key to set up a Clay integration.

Step 2: Select a table to write to

Choose a destination table, ideally within your current workbook.

Step 3: Select the column with lists

Choose the column containing cells with lists you want to map (e.g., email addresses found in each cell).

Step 4: Map list data to your new table

Select the list properties to map into your new table columns.

Step 5 (Optional): Configure run settings

Auto-update will automatically enrich new rows if they are added.

The Only run if allows you to set conditions to control when the AI runs. For example, you can make the AI run only if specific data fields are filled.

Use Case #2: Column mapping

Use Write to Table to copy columns from one table to another.

Copying Columns lets you transfer specific columns from one table to another, keeping data aligned and consistent. This simplifies workflows by reducing manual data entry across tables.

Tutorial

Step 1: Select your Clay account

If no account is selected, obtain your API key to set up a Clay integration.

Step 2: Select a table to write to

Choose a destination table, ideally within your current workbook.

Step 3: Omit the list by entering /

Enter “/” to skip list selection, as you won’t be mapping a list in this step.

Step 4: Map out columns

Select the columns you want to copy from the source table and match them to the appropriate columns in the destination table.

Step 5 (Optional): Configure run settings

Auto-update will automatically enrich new rows if they are added.

The Only run if allows you to set conditions to control when the AI runs. For example, you can make the AI run only if specific data fields are filled.

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FAQ

I received an “Invalid credentials” error, what can I do?

This error generally means your API key is incorrect or missing. To Fix:

1. Copy your API key. Refer to this guide for instructions: Find Your Clay API Key.
2. Add the API key to your integration account in Clay under the Integrations section.
3. Save your changes and retry the action.

Why am I seeing the error “You cannot write to the selected table because the sequence of Write to Table integrations is misconfigured”?

This error occurs when there’s invalid or conflicting data, such as:

• Writing to a deleted column.
• Sending data to a table that references another table.

To Fix:

1. Reconfigure your Write to Table integrations.
2. Double-check that all columns and tables exist and are correctly set up.
3. Add the integrations again to ensure no misconfigurations remain.

How do I send comma separated data within a cell to a new column?

If you have data in a comma-separated list and want to send it to a new column or table, follow these steps:

1. Use Extract Data From Values to process the CSV data.
2. Add the correct column using the Forward Slash (/) command.
3. Apply a custom extraction Regex: [^,"]+"?[^,"]+

This will split the values into a list.

Once complete, you can send the newly created list to the desired column or table.

Can I write individual values to another table, or does it have to be a list?

Lists are optional. You can write individual values or entire lists depending on your column setup.