Hey everyone,
I’m having trouble with Zapier lately. It keeps sending me emails about an error with our Facebook form that’s linked to our website and CRM system. This happens whenever someone fills out a form from a Facebook ad.
The error message says:
Task timed out after 10.01 seconds
I’m not a coding expert, but I handle our Facebook Ads and can access the Zapier dashboard. Can anyone help me figure this out?
I found a similar issue where someone suggested splitting the code into multiple steps because paid users get 10 seconds per step. But I’m not sure how to do that with my code. Here’s what I’m working with:
let formData = {
apiKey: 'xyz123-abc-789-def-456ghi',
formId: input.form_id,
offerId: input.offer_id,
readyToStart: true,
consents: {
terms: true,
submissionType: 'INDIVIDUAL',
resumeAnalysis: false,
promotions: false,
aiUse: false,
dataAnalytics: false
},
fullName: input.name
};
// Add email and phone if provided
if (input.email) formData.email = input.email;
if (input.phone) formData.phone = input.phone;
// Handle various consent checkboxes
if (input.dataConsent === 'agreed') {
formData.consents.submissionType = 'GROUP';
formData.consents.companyIds = [1001, 1002, 1003, 1004, 1005];
}
// More consent checks...
// Send data to API
const result = await fetch('https://api.example.com/submit-form', {
method: 'POST',
headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
body: JSON.stringify(formData)
});
return result.ok ? { status: 'success' } : { status: 'error', details: await result.json() };
Any ideas on how to optimize this or split it up to avoid the timeout? Thanks!
I’ve encountered similar timeout issues with Zapier before, and there are a few strategies you can try to resolve this.
First, consider breaking your code into multiple Zaps. You could have one Zap handle the initial form submission and data preparation, then use a second Zap to make the API call. This way, you’re spreading the processing time across multiple steps.
Another approach is to optimize your code. For instance, you could simplify your consent logic by using a single object to map input values to consent fields. This could potentially reduce execution time.
If these don’t work, you might need to look into using a dedicated server or serverless function to handle the form submission, then have Zapier trigger based on the result. This bypasses Zapier’s timeout limitations altogether.
Lastly, double-check your API endpoint. Sometimes, slow response times from external services can contribute to these timeouts. Consider implementing retry logic or reaching out to the API provider if you suspect this might be the case.
As someone who’s battled Zapier timeouts before, I can relate to your frustration. Here’s what worked for me:
I ended up creating a simple serverless function (using AWS Lambda) to handle the heavy lifting. This approach completely sidestepped Zapier’s timeout issues. The Lambda function processed the form data and made the API call, while Zapier just triggered the function and handled the response.
If you’re not comfortable with serverless, another trick is to use Zapier’s ‘Delay’ action. Split your Zap into two: the first part prepares the data and stores it in Zapier’s storage, then a delayed action triggers the second part to make the API call. This gives you a breather between steps.
Also, double-check your API’s performance. Sometimes, the issue isn’t on Zapier’s end, but with a slow-responding API. If that’s the case, you might need to optimize your endpoint or talk to your API provider.
Good luck sorting this out!
hey gizmo, i faced a simlar problem. try splitting the code: one zap for data prep, another for api call. also check ur api speed. if still non working, consider a seperate server for heavy tasks. hope it works for u!