# Set up an automatic reply (/server/automation)











An automation makes Tickety do something by itself: when something happens, like a member typing certain words, it sends a message and can do more after that. For self roles and suggestions there are ready made templates: see [Let members pick their own roles](/server/self-roles) and [Collect suggestions members can vote on](/server/suggestions).

<Steps>
  <Step>
    ### Start a new automation [#start-a-new-automation]

    Open your [dashboard](https://tickety.top/dashboard) and pick your server. In the sidebar, under **Server**, click **Automations**, then press **Create New Automation**.

        <img alt="Create New Automation on the Automations page" src="__img0" />
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Name it [#name-it]

    Under **Automation Settings**, type a name in **Name**, like Rules reply. Members never see it.

        <img alt="Name under Automation Settings" src="__img1" />
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Pick what sets it off [#pick-what-sets-it-off]

    Under **Automation Flow**, open **What Makes It Post** and pick one. The most common:

    * **A message like this one**: a member writes something close to your sentence. This is the default.
    * **Words in a message**: a member's message has one of your words in it.
    * **A command**: a member types something like `!rules`.
    * **Any message in a channel**: every message in the channels you pick.
    * **Someone joins the server**.

        <img alt="What Makes It Post in Automation Flow" src="__img2" />
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Fill in the trigger [#fill-in-the-trigger]

    Type the command in the box that appears, or add your words to **The Words to Look For**, pressing enter after each one. For **A message like this one**, **Trigger Match Percentage** sets how close a message has to be, starting at 85. For **Any message in a channel**, pick the channels in **Channels to Watch**.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Write the reply [#write-the-reply]

    A **Send a message** step is already in the flow. Type the reply in **The Message**, up to 2000 characters.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Pick where it posts [#pick-where-it-posts]

    Under **Where It Posts**, keep **Reply where it fired** to answer under the member's message, or pick **Post to a channel**.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Add more steps [#add-more-steps]

    Press **Add a step** to do more when it fires, like deleting the member's message or giving a role.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Create it [#create-it]

    Press **Create** at the top of the page. It starts working straight away. Later changes are saved with **Save Changes** in the bar at the bottom.
  </Step>
</Steps>

In Discord, an automation that answers a command looks like this:

<img alt="An automation reply under the member's command in Discord" src="__img3" />

## It did not work? [#it-did-not-work]

<Accordions>
  <Accordion title="Saving says to enter the command or the words">
    The trigger box is empty. Fill it in, or pick the channels to watch.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="This automation does not do anything yet">
    The flow has no steps. Press **Add a step**.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="A command does nothing">
    Tickety only reacts when the command is followed by a space or ends the message, so `!rules` works but `!rulesplease` does not. Messages from bots are always ignored.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Words in a message does not match">
    Words match whole words only, so `refund` does not match `refunded`. Add each form you want as its own word. If you need different wordings of a whole question, use **A message like this one** instead.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="A message like this one rarely matches">
    Lower **Trigger Match Percentage**, so messages that are less close still count.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Two automations match and only one fires">
    Tickety runs one automation per message. A channel automation wins, then the longest command, then patterns, then words, then the closest similar message.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Nothing happens at all">
    Check **Automation Enabled** is on.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Role triggers never fire">
    **Someone gets a role** and **Someone loses a role** need Tickety to have the View Audit Log permission.
  </Accordion>
</Accordions>

For every trigger, step and setting, see the [automation reference](/automations/reference).