A Pack is an extension that enhances the functionality of your doc. Packs work by complementing the core building blocks of Coda, allowing you to customize the appearance, functionality, and integrations of your doc. However, you may occasionally encounter issues with your Pack. This could include receiving an error message or experiencing problems with your Pack buttons, tables, or formulas not working as intended. Below, we outline some common issues and provide troubleshooting tips to get you unstuck.
Within this article, you’ll find...
Reconnect Pack accounts
Sometimes, you may encounter issues with your Pack connection. This could manifest as an error message (e.g., “Failed to connect to [Pack Name]...”) or cause your Pack table to not sync.
This can be caused by a number of issues, but it’s often resolved by the trusty “unplug and replug” troubleshooting step. When in doubt, we recommend following the steps outlined below:
Sign in again
Click Insert in the upper right of your doc
Select Packs.
Click into the Pack that’s experiencing issues.
Click Settings. You should then see a list of accounts that are connected to this Pack.
Navigate to the account that’s being used for the problematic formula, table, or button.
For a Private account, click the three-dots menu next to the account name, and click Sign in again.
For a Shared account, click the down arrow next to the account name, then click the three dots menu. Click Sign in again.
Follow any prompts to re-authenticate your Pack account.
Refresh the Pack.
Disconnect and reconnect
If you've already attempted to "Sign in again" after following the previous steps, you may need to perform a harder refresh. To disconnect and reconnect a Pack account, follow these steps:
Head to https://coda.io/account
Scroll down to Accounts connected to Packs section
Find the particular Pack in question. Click the down arrow next to the account name, and you should see a list of all docs where this Pack account is currently used.
Find the problematic doc, and click the corresponding Disconnect.
Back in your doc, you’ll need to reconnect to your account. You can connect it as a private account or shared account, depending on your needs. See the Shared and private accounts section below for an explanation of these different account types.
Sync table settings
If you’re having an issue with a sync table from a Pack, it may be resolved by adjusting the settings for the table.
Row limits
If you’re missing some rows from your Pack sync table, this may be due to the current row limit set for the table. You can check this by:
Click on Options at the upper right corner of the table.
Click on the first option in the side panel (it’s usually the name of the Pack table)
Click Advanced
Under Table limit, select either 100, 1,000, or 10,000 rows.
After adjusting the table limit to the desired row amount, refresh your table to bring in any additional rows.
Sync cadence
If your sync table seems to be showing stale information, this may be due to the current sync cadence settings for the table. To change the sync cadence, follow these steps:
Click on Options at the upper right corner of the table.
Click on the first option in the side panel (it’s usually the name of the Pack table)
Under Refresh this table, select the desired sync cadence for your sync table.
If you choose “Manually,” you can resync your table as needed by clicking the Refresh button at the top of the table.
Keep in mind that if your doc is very large or the table is quite complex, selecting “Hourly” might slow down your doc.
Other common Pack issues
Shared vs private accounts
Most Packs allow you to set up both private accounts and shared accounts, and determining which type of account connection you need can be an important step in troubleshooting Pack issues.
A private account is one that only you - the person setting up that account - can use to take actions from the Coda doc.
A shared account is one that can be used to take actions by anyone who has access to the doc.
Not sure which type of Pack account to set up for your use case? Check out this article that goes in-depth on the differences between the two.
Check your inputs
Occasionally, a Pack might show an error message even if the Pack isn't faulty. This usually occurs because of incorrect input that Coda sends to the Pack.
One situation our support team frequently encounters involves the Gmail pack's Send Email action. Sometimes, the formula does not work as expected, which can be frustrating for customers. After investigating the issue, the team frequently discovers that the formula is missing a recipient in the "To" field or that the email address was formatted incorrectly.
If you’re experiencing issues with a Pack formula or button action, be sure to verify the inputs being sent to the Pack.
Automation Bot does not have access
When you set up an automation, you can choose whether the actions from that automation are taken by yourself or by Automation bot (lear more about this distinction here).
If your automation operates as Automation Bot, ensure that you use a shared account - rather than a private account - for the Pack action within the automation. Automation Bot lacks the necessary permissions to use your private Pack account, so any attempted actions will fail. But if the Pack is using a shared account, then Automation Bot will be able to utilize this account and complete the action successfully.
If you’re running into this issue, you can either modify the automation to use a shared Pack account, or you can edit the automation to take actions as yourself rather than as Automation Bot. This setting can be changed at the very bottom of your automation panel.
Third-party Packs
Some Coda Packs are managed by third-party software providers. To obtain support for these Packs, you'll need to follow a different process than for those maintained by Coda.
To get assistance, please use the contact information found on the listing page for the Pack in the Coda Gallery. You can also find this information in your doc’s right-hand panel by navigating to Insert, clicking into the Packs tab, and selecting the Pack (within the Installed Packs section). Then click into the About tab for that Pack, and locate Ssupport contact info.
If you think you are experiencing a bug with this Pack, we suggest sharing the browser you are using, any screenshots or screen captures of the undesired behavior, and the steps you took that illustrate the issue.
For feature requests, we suggest explaining how this feature would benefit you and your team, detailing its intended use, and rating your desire for it on a scale of 1-4. Please remember that Pack Makers are not obligated to fulfill any feature requests.
If you do not receive a timely response from the Pack Maker, please don't hesitate to contact our support team for further assistance.
FAQs
How can I see which Packs are installed in my doc?
How can I see which Packs are installed in my doc?
Click on Insert in the upper right corner of your doc.
Select Packs
Under Installed Packs, you’ll see all the Packs currently installed in your doc.
Why are some rows missing from my Pack sync table? Is there a limit for the number of rows in a Packs sync table?
Why are some rows missing from my Pack sync table? Is there a limit for the number of rows in a Packs sync table?
Yes, you can adjust the row limit for your Pack sync table in the sync settings. The options available are 100, 1,000, or 10,000 rows.
When should I use a shared vs private account for my Pack connection?
When should I use a shared vs private account for my Pack connection?
This depends on what you are using the specific pack for. This article goes in-depth on each type of account connection so you can make an informed decision.
My automation is failing, saying Automation Bot does not have access. What do I do?
My automation is failing, saying Automation Bot does not have access. What do I do?
This is likely occurring because your automation is trying to take actions as Automation Bot using a private Pack account. Either change the automation to run as yourself or change the Pack account in the automation rule to a shared account. Learn more in the section above.
How do I get help with building a Pack?
How do I get help with building a Pack?
Working on making your own Pack and need help? Check out the Packs SDK.
The Pack I’m using seems buggy or broken, and the steps in this article haven’t helped. What do I do?
The Pack I’m using seems buggy or broken, and the steps in this article haven’t helped. What do I do?
If the Pack is a third-party Pack, please contact the Pack Maker via the contact info listed in the Pack’s Gallery listing or the Pack’s About panel (accessible within your doc).
If the Pack is a Coda-owned Pack, please contact our support team via these steps:
Click the question mark icon in the lower right corner of any doc and select Contact Support
When you send your message to our support team:
Be sure to clearly describe the issue you’re facing
Include any relevant screenshots, videos, or other helpful materials
Provide the steps taken that present the issue.
Provide any steps taken to help resolve the issue on your end.
This information will significantly help our support team in diagnosing the problem and ensure a quicker resolution!