Butler variables

See also: Custom field variables

Variables are special pieces of text enclosed in curly brackets that are replaced by a current value when a command is executed. You can use variables in list names, card titles, card descriptions, and comments.

For example, in the command when a card is moved into list "In progress", post comment "started on {date}", the {date} variable will return the date when the card was moved. 

Similarly, in the command when a card is moved to "Done", post a comment "Closed by {username}" the {username} variable will return the username of the user who moved the card.

You can use the following types of variables in Butler commands:

• Time and date variables
• Board variables
• Card variables
• Member variables
• Variables used in commands with specific triggers

Time and date variables

Time and date variables return the value of a certain time or date.

Note: Long numbers are zero-padded to be of consistent length, which is necessary for sorting.

Time variables

Date variables

You can prepend tomorrow, yesterday, nextworkingday_, and previousworkingday_ to the following variables. For example, {previousworkingday_monthdaynumber}, {tomorrowmonthdaynumber}, {yesterdayisodate}.

You can prepend last and next to the following variables. For example: {lastweeknumber}, {nextusmonthweeknumber},{nextquarternumber}, {lastyearshort}.

See also: Arithmetic and formatting in date variables

Board variables

Board variables return the value of board-related data.

After the create board command, the following board variables with the new prefix, such as {newboardlink}, refer to the new board. After the copy board command, the variables with the copy prefix, such as {copyboardlink}, refer to the new copy of the board.

Card variables

Card variables return the value of card-related data. These variables are available in Butler commands that have cards in the context.

For the following variables, adding round at the end such as {cardagedaysround}, rounds the number to the nearest integer.

Additionally, you can use the following variables if your command has a trigger that involves a source card (like when a card is copied):

Adding prefixes to card variables

Example: when a card with a name containing "information security" is added to the board, create a new card with title "Security training" in list "In progress" and set the card's description to "{newcardname}: task for the current week"

Example: when a card is added to list "Doing", find a card titled "Rollup", and add item "{triggercardlink}" to checklist "Doing"

Example: when a card with the blue "Marketing" label is added to list "Backlog", copy the card to the top of list "Week 1-3" on board "Marketing team", and rename the card to "{copycardname}: incoming request"

Example: when a card with the yellow "Sales" label is added to the board, find a card titled "Sales tasks", move the card to the top of the list, and post comment "{foundcardname} deadline: end of the week" .

Example: when a card is moved into list "In progress", for each card linked in the attachments, set the card's description to "{multipliercardname}: In progress" .

Member variables

Variables are only available in Butler Rules (commands with when triggers):

Example: when a card is moved into list "Done", post comment "Completed by {username}"

Variables available only in Rules that have a card in the context and in Due Date commands:

Example: when the due date is marked as complete in a card in list "In progress", post comment "Completed by {creatorusername}"

The following variables are available only for particular match types (add, mention) and in commands with triggers where a user is matched such as when someone is added to a card or when someone is mentioned.

In multipliers (for every member in the card), the following variables are only available for comments and email notification actions.

Using variables in commands with specific triggers

This section includes the list of variables that are available in Butler commands only in certain trigger conditions.

Commands with triggers that include a custom field value:

Rules with triggers such as when a list is created, when a card is added to the board (these variables are available in commands that have a list in the context):

Rules with when a due date is added trigger:

Rules with when a comment is posted trigger:

Rules with mentioning triggers (for example, when a card is mentioned, when a member is mentioned) and after the find the mentioned card action:

Rules that involve a checklist in a trigger such as when a checklist is added:

Rules with when a checklist item is checked/unchecked trigger:

Rules with triggers that involve a label such as when a green label is added:

Rules with when the name of a card starts with trigger and trigger conditions such as when a card with a name containing:

Rules with when the name of a card contains a date trigger:

Rules with triggers such as when an attachment is added to a card:

Rules with triggers such as when the name or the description of a card starts with:

Variables available after an HTTP request:

Variables available after a Jira issue is created:

Variables for the Butler Bot

Note: Butler Bot is no longer officially supported. If you're starting out with Butler, you won’t be able to use the legacy functionality. Please see Butler overview guide to learn more about automating your Trello workflows with Butler in Trello.

To see the current value of most variables, in the Butler list, create a new card named print variables. For example, when a label is added to a card, print variables.

You can see the variables in the Rule Logs after you run the command.