Create Custom Card Buttons for Automation

This guide explains how to create custom card buttons using Trello's Butler automation system. Card buttons provide a powerful way to trigger automated workflows directly from individual cards, allowing team members to execute complex actions with a single click.

Understanding Card Buttons

Card buttons are custom automation triggers that appear on the back of every card in your Trello boards. Unlike board-wide automation rules that run automatically based on conditions, card buttons give users manual control over when specific automated actions are executed. This makes them ideal for workflows that require human judgment or approval before automation runs.

Key Benefits of Card Buttons

• Execute complex automation workflows on-demand with a single click
• Maintain human oversight for critical business processes
• Standardize repetitive actions across team members
• Reduce manual errors in complex multi-step processes

Prerequisites

• Admin or board member permissions in your Trello workspace
• Access to Butler automation features (available on paid Trello plans)
• Basic understanding of your desired automation workflow

Creating Custom Card Buttons

Follow these steps to create and configure custom card buttons that will appear on all cards in your workspace. You'll start from the automation dashboard and work through the configuration process.

1

From the Butler automation dashboard, locate the Card buttons section. This interface allows you to add quick actions to your cards with a button. You'll see explanatory content about how card buttons work, including that they assign to any plus the card, add to "In progress" label, and set the card to be "Done" list and remove the "In progress" label.

2

The Create a Card Button interface will open, showing options for configuring your button. You'll see sections for Name, Automation, and Actions. Notice that it indicates "Closed for advice" and "Share and follow automation" options are available.

3

In the Name field, enter a clear, descriptive name for your card button. This name will be visible to all team members when they interact with cards, so choose something that clearly indicates what action the button will perform. The interface shows this is a required field for creating your automation button.

4

In the Automation section, you'll configure what triggers the button and any conditions. This is where you define the logic that determines when and how your card button will execute its actions. The interface provides options for setting up various trigger conditions and parameters.

5

In the Actions section, define what specific automated tasks will be performed when the button is clicked. This could include moving cards between lists, adding labels, assigning members, updating due dates, or any combination of Butler's available automation actions. You can add multiple actions that will execute sequentially.

6

Once you've configured the name, automation triggers, and actions, save your card button configuration. The system will validate your settings and create the button, making it available on all cards within the scope you've defined. Review your configuration before saving to ensure all actions are set up correctly.

7

To test and use your newly created card button, navigate to your workspace by clicking on Test Automation (or your workspace name). This will take you to the workspace where you can access boards that contain cards with your new automation button.

8

Click the menu button in the workspace interface to access additional workspace options and navigation. This provides access to various workspace management features and automation settings.

9

Select Automation from the workspace menu to return to the automation dashboard. This gives you access to manage all your automation rules, including the card button you just created, and allows you to create additional automation workflows as needed.

10

Back in the automation dashboard, you can verify that your card button has been successfully created and is active. The interface will show your card button in the list of available automation tools, confirming that it's ready to be used on cards throughout your workspace.

Using Card Buttons in Practice

Once created, your card buttons will appear on the back of every card within the scope you defined. Team members can click these buttons to instantly execute the automated workflows you've configured, providing consistent and efficient task management.

Common Card Button Use Cases

• Moving cards through workflow stages with appropriate label updates
• Assigning team members and setting due dates based on task types
• Creating standard checklists and templates for recurring tasks
• Triggering notifications to external systems or team members

Best Practices for Card Button Design

Button Naming Conventions

• Use action verbs that clearly describe what the button does (e.g., "Start Review", "Complete Task", "Escalate Issue")
• Keep names concise but descriptive - aim for 2-4 words maximum
• Maintain consistent naming patterns across related buttons in your workspace

Action Sequencing

• Order actions logically - for example, remove old labels before adding new ones
• Consider dependencies between actions and sequence them appropriately
• Test complex button sequences thoroughly to ensure they work as expected

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Button Not Appearing on Cards

• Verify that the button was saved successfully in the automation dashboard
• Check that you have appropriate permissions to create automation in the workspace
• Ensure the button scope includes the boards where you expect to see it

Button Actions Not Executing

• Review the automation log in Butler to identify any error messages
• Verify that all referenced lists, labels, and members exist in the target board
• Check that conditional logic in your button configuration is correctly structured

Advanced Configuration Options

For more sophisticated automation needs, card buttons can be configured with conditional logic, variable inputs, and integration with external systems through Butler's advanced features.

Conditional Actions

Card buttons can include conditional logic that checks card properties before executing actions. For example, a button might only move a card to "Complete" if all checklist items are marked as done, or assign different team members based on card labels.

Integration with External Tools

Through Butler's webhook and email capabilities, card buttons can trigger actions in external systems such as sending notifications to Slack, creating tickets in support systems, or updating project management databases.

Related Topics

To build comprehensive automation workflows, explore these related automation features:

• Create board buttons for workspace-wide automation actions
• Set up rule-based automation that triggers automatically
• Configure scheduled automation for recurring tasks

Conclusion

Custom card buttons provide a powerful way to standardize and streamline workflow actions while maintaining human control over when automation executes. By following the steps in this guide, you can create efficient, user-friendly automation that helps your team work more consistently and effectively.

Start by creating simple card buttons for your most common workflow actions, then gradually expand to more complex automation as your team becomes comfortable with the system. Remember to test buttons thoroughly and gather feedback from team members to refine your automation strategy.