Connections
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One of the most significant changes we have made in the beta version is the introduction of data source connections. Connections simplify the process of creating templates by automatically importing the structure of your data directly into the template builder, so you can just drag and drop your imported tokens.
You will still create your documents via the original integrations methods, but the connection will be responsible for getting your data source fields, so you will no longer have to switch between your data source and Documint template builder to copy and paste your fields.
MOTIVATION: Connections make building your Documint template a lot easier by importing your data source's structure into the template builder and avoiding the tedious process of manually adding your fields into the template.
The new connection feature also lets you preview live record data from your data source in the template preview. No need to go to Airtable (or any other connected data source) and create a test document to see how your template looks!
Connections retrieve the structure of your data directly from your data source. This avoids the tedious process of manually copying your data source fields and pasting them into your Documint template.
Once you configure the connection, your connected data source structure will be imported into the tokens panel in the template builder. Now you will just be able to drag and drop your tokens into the template.
And if you make any changes to your data source (for example, you add a field to your Airtable table) you can easily sync your connection again and those changes will be instantly reflected in the tokens panel.
The connection is still a new feature and currently we only have the Airtable connection.
No worries though! If you are connecting directly to the Documint API, or your data source does not have a connection yet (as is this the case with all integrations except Airtable for now) you can still use the custom connection to build out the structure or your data (schema).
We start the process by selecting a data source connection option. This will display a pop-over that will show a configuration menu for setting up the connection. Currently you would either select the custom or Airtable connection option.
The configuration process differs by connection.
In the case of the Airtable connection (currently the only connection option that connects directly to your data source), you configure it by:
Selecting your Airtable integration. These are your provided Airtable personal access tokens (PATs). If you have not set one yet, you will be prompted to provide one.
Selecting the base and table you want to use.
Selecting the associated tables you want to use (via the expand fields section).
Once you save the connection, your tokens will appear in the drag-and-drop tokens panel.
If you have a connection that directly connects to your data source (such as the Airtable connection), you can disconnect it. Once disconnected, your current schema will remain, but you will now be able to edit it in the field editor.
Reconnecting your data source is just as simple. Just hit the reconnect button!
If, for one reason or another, you would like to switch connections, just click on the dropdown menu in the connection card and click reset. This will clear the present connection and display all the connection options again.
Connections are meant to make the template creation process a lot simpler, so we will be looking to make connections for all integrations where possible.
We will be adding a HubSpot connection next. The HubSpot connection would allow users greater control over the object types and associations they want to use.
The custom connection allows you to define the structure of your data via the . Once you save your fields, you will see them appear in the drag-and-drop tokens panel.
For detailed instruction on using connecting to Airtable see .
