Can I create a button to create a copy of a card on the next list?

[B M]

TLDR;

Is it possible to create a button which has the following command:

copy the card to the next list on the board, and move the card to the top of the list

Detail

In this response, it shows how you can create a button to move:

move the card to the next list on the board, and move the card to the top of the list

It seems I cannot change the move variable to copy.

There is also the option to copy to a specific list, but no option to select the "next list" in the sequence. The below code would ideally work, but {nextlist} is not a valid variable, clearly :)

copy the card to the top of list "{nextlist}"

I am open to automating this in any way possible!

Why?

We use a process where our projects go from list 1 to 2 etc... as they progress. However, the process is not always perfectly linear.

I am aware there is a sub-menu on the card which can create a copy but this would ideally be simplified with a button using butler. 

Thank you for any help.

[Sunny Ape · Accepted solution]

Hello @B M 

No, there is no mechanism in Trello that Butler could use to know what list is 'next', 'previous' or otherwise. Lists are not sequential in any particular way, so you can only reference lists in Butler by their name.

However, you could do it by naming your list with a number prefix, using a custom number field to store that number, then using some mathematics and wildcards in the rule.

1. Create a custom field called something like 'List#'
2. Change the names of all the lists in your board to start with numbers, followed be a period and a space, like this:
   1. First List
   2. Second List
   3. Third List
3. Create a rule so that when the card is created or appears in the first list, the value of the field List# is set to the number '1'
4. Create a rule with the trigger you want and add two actions:
   1. set custom field "List#" to "{{%List#}} + 1"
   2. copy the card to the top of list "{{%List}}. {*}"

The complete rule would be:

set custom field "List#" to "{{%List#}} + 1", and copy the card to the top of list "{{%List#}}. {*}"

So, each time the rule is triggered, the number in the List# field would be incremented by one, then the card would be copied to the list with the name that started with that new number, followed by a period and a space, followed by any wild run of text until the end of the name.

Works like a charm, but it would be a bit fragile, since you can't stop people from tampering with the List# field or moving a card manually to another list with a name that starts with a number that is different to the number contained in the List# field.

[B M]

Hi David! This is a great solution. It'll work perfectly.

I'll just make sure my team is on the same page. Have a great week.

[Iain Dooley]

@B M You can automate this with BenkoBot!

Here's a command, you will get the chance to review the code before installing it in your board after you enter your api key/token:

https://trello.com/c/OL1bpbfM

This is triggering based on adding a label "Ready", you can change the label name at the top of the code.

If you still wanted this to trigger from a Butler button, you could make your button add the Ready label... the label is removed prior to copying to the next list.

You can see other examples of BenkoBot commands on that board, too... I'm in the process of translating the old Butler Bot examples from their public Trello board into BenkoBot install links so you can get an idea of how it works :)

[B M]

Hi Iain!

This looks like a pretty straightforward solution. Is BenkoBot a pay-for service?

[Iain Dooley]

@B M yep $10/month for 5000 minutes. You can buy extra minutes if you need them.