Inbox automation · Runs when you forward an email to Fieldwork
Turn an email thread into a task list.
Tasks from a thread, with owners, dates, and next steps. This automation runs when you forward an email to Fieldwork. Fieldwork emails you the report when something needs attention.
Turn an email thread into a task list — Sep 17
Automation run • Sep 17
Turn an email thread into a task list
Output
Three tasks came out of Harbor & Pine's forwarded email thread, “Portland fulfillment checklist.” Two have named owners. The third needs an owner and a deadline before anyone can treat it as assigned.
Reviewed a thread forwarded September 17, 2026. Relative dates below use Portland time.
| Task | Owner | Due date | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|
| Confirm packing-material counts | Owen Reed | September 18 | Count remaining supplies at Portland Warehouse and compare them with the checklist. |
| Update the fulfillment checklist | Lena Vale | September 21, inferred | Add the agreed packing checks before the Monday buying review. |
| Decide how to handle damaged mugs | Unclear | Not mentioned | Maya to confirm who owns the decision and when it is needed. |
Owen's “tomorrow” means September 18. Lena's “before Monday's review” implies September 21, but the thread gives no meeting time or exact cutoff.
The damaged-mug discussion names no decision owner. Maya is the suggested person to clarify ownership, not an assigned task owner. No other unresolved requests were found in the thread. This is a proposed task list only, with no tasks created or messages sent.
Automation steps. The agent follows these 3 steps each time it runs, using your connected email and calendar.
- 1
Read the email thread I forwarded, or ask me for its subject or sender.
- 2
Turn it into a task list with an owner, due date if mentioned or implied, and next step for each task.
- 3
Mark anything unclear rather than guessing.
Adjust the automation in Chat
Tell the agent what to do differently and ask it to set up that version with the same trigger.
- Separate confirmed deadlines from inferred dates.
- Include the sentence supporting each task.
- List unanswered questions before the tasks.
Fieldwork emails the report. Each email links to the full run as a conversation in Fieldwork. The automation asks the agent to keep a log in your knowledge base and read it before each run to check what has changed.
What starts this automation
Runs when you forward an email to Fieldwork. Set up forwarding in the app and use the address shown in Settings. You can adjust the sender, subject, and attachment filters at setup.
Only useful reports
When nothing needs attention, the run skips the email. When there are findings, you get a report with a link to the full conversation.
No messages sent
An automated run has no tool that sends, posts, or replies. The agent can update notes and its log in your Fieldwork knowledge base.
This automation reads your email and calendar. Connect Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 to Fieldwork. The automation uses whichever you connect.
More automations for inbox.
Questions about this automation.
- How do I set it up?
- Connect Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 and activate the automation, then use the forwarding address in Settings, Email, under Automations. It runs when you forward an email, or in chat with a supplied thread, subject, or sender.
- Will it create tasks or drafts?
- It reads the email thread and returns a proposed task list. It does not create tasks, save mailbox drafts, send messages, or change your calendar.
- Can I change the task list format?
- Ask in chat for different columns, deadline rules, or a separate list of unclear requests. Ask for an adjusted automation to use those instructions on future forwarded threads.
- Where will I receive the report?
- A triggered run emails you the report with a link to the full conversation, while a chat run replies in chat. If a triggered run finds nothing to report, it sends no email or push notification.
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