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Action Nodes

Action nodes are the components in DSentr workflows that perform tasks—sending messages, making API calls, writing to databases, updating spreadsheets, or anything else that happens after a trigger fires.
They are what make a workflow do real work.

Each action node integrates with a specific service or function (for example, Slack, SendGrid, or HTTP Request). You can chain multiple actions together to build complex automations.

How Action Nodes Work​

When a workflow runs:

  1. The trigger node starts the execution.
  2. The workflow moves along connected edges until it reaches an action node.
  3. The action node processes input data, performs its configured task, and passes results downstream.

Every action node defines:

  • Inputs – Data received from previous nodes (for example, message text, email recipient, or spreadsheet values).
  • Execution logic – The actual API call or operation that runs.
  • Outputs – Data made available to subsequent nodes (like an API response or a status code).

Authentication​

Some action nodes require authentication to connect with external systems.
They use Secrets & API Keys or OAuth Integrations, depending on the provider.
When configuring such a node, you’ll see a Credentials dropdown to select an existing credential or create a new one directly from the node editor.

Error Handling​

If an action node fails—due to invalid credentials, API timeouts, or bad input—DSentr marks that node’s step as failed and logs the error in the workflow’s execution history.
Failures don’t affect unrelated workflows; they’re isolated to that run.

You can inspect the run’s logs under Runs → Details to see each node’s input, output, and any returned error messages.

Available Action Nodes​

Action nodes cover both general-purpose and service-specific operations.
Some of the most common include:

  • HTTP Request – Send custom HTTP requests to external APIs.
  • SendGrid Email – Send transactional emails through SendGrid.
  • Mailgun Email – Deliver messages using your Mailgun domain.
  • Amazon SES Email – Send emails through AWS Simple Email Service.
  • Slack Message – Post formatted messages to Slack channels.
  • Microsoft Teams Message – Send notifications to Teams channels.
  • Google Sheets – Insert or update rows in a connected spreadsheet.
  • Run Code – Execute JavaScript inline within the workflow.

Each of these is documented separately with configuration fields, data mappings, and example use cases.

Action nodes form the backbone of automation in DSentr.
They let you transform data, communicate with other systems, and build powerful end-to-end processes without writing infrastructure code.