Guide: Runs: what each automation did
This page: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/keyword-automations/runs-what-each-automation-did
Topic: Automation
Time: about 2 minutes
Who can do it: Owner, Administrator or Manager
Author: https://anantgupta.xyz (Anant Gupta, founder of CommentWatchDog)
Start in the app: https://app.commentwatchdog.com/en/inbox
Result when done: For any comment or message, you can see what the automation did, step by step, with the exact messages.
Context: Every time an automation acts, a run is written: the person, the steps with their times, the outcome. Runs are grouped by day, newest first; the outcome is the one pill: Done, Waiting, Needs a person, Skipped, Failed. A run opens in a drawer with the timeline joined to the exact messages and comments, the thread one click away.

Before you start:
1. Skipped runs are kept 30 days, the rest 90; the counts on the list never expire.
2. Needs a person means someone on your team has to act: a draft to review, a thread handed over.
3. A refused public line whose message still went is Done, not attention.

Steps:
Step 1 of 2: Open Runs.
Where: From the list: See runs in a row's menu, or the count on an editor's header. The back link at the top returns to the list; a scope chip names the automation and can be removed.
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/automation-runs.en.webp (Runs grouped by day; the outcome as the one pill.)
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/automation-runs-phone.en.webp (Runs on a phone.)
You should see: Day groups with counts; All, Needs a person and Skipped with counts; search by name.

Step 2 of 2: Open a run.
Where: Click a row (or Enter on it). The drawer: the outcome, the timeline with exact times and the messages as sent, Open the thread, Copy run id. J and K move to the next and previous run; Esc closes.
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/automation-runs-drawer.en.webp (A run opened: the timeline with the exact messages.)
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/automation-runs-drawer-phone.en.webp (The same on a phone.)
You should see: The exact message that went out, and the comment it answered.

If something is off:
Problem: A run says Waiting
Fix: On Instagram a private reply to a non-follower sits in Requests, and Instagram does not report whether it was seen; the run waits for their reply or tap.
Problem: A run says Failed with a Meta error
Fix: The error is named in the timeline: 1705 is a Facebook ad comment that cannot take a public reply, 551 a person who cannot receive messages.
Problem: A person is shown as Forgotten
Fix: They were forgotten under People; their runs stay without a name.

Common questions:
Question: Do new runs appear on their own?
Answer: Yes, the page checks every 20 seconds and lands new runs at the top with a soft highlight.
Question: Can I search runs by the person?
Answer: Yes, by the username or name; press / to jump to the search.

Related guides:
- People and exports: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/keyword-automations/people-and-exports
- What Meta allows: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/keyword-automations/what-meta-allows
- The Automation list: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/keyword-automations/the-automation-list

Plain text of this guide: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/keyword-automations/runs-what-each-automation-did.md
All guides for assistants: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/llms.txt