Creating a card directly from an inbox conversation allows you to ensure important emails don’t fall outside of your workflows. This is especially helpful when an email parser or inbox rule doesn’t create a card as expected or when you want to track a one-off email in a specific process.
Why You Might Need to Manually Create a Card
1. An Email Parser Didn’t Create a Card
If an email came into your inbox but didn’t automatically create a card, you can manually create one to keep the process moving.
If an email parser is not working as expected, double-check that the parser settings are configured correctly. Parsers rely on specific email formats, and lead sources may change those formats over time.
2. An Inbox Rule Didn’t Trigger
Inbox rules are powerful, but if one doesn’t fire as expected, manually creating a card ensures you don’t miss a step in your workflow.
3. You Received a One-Off Email
For example:
- A maintenance request that doesn’t follow your normal intake flow
- A unique request you want to track on a different board
Manually creating a card lets you place that email into the right process without changing your existing automations.
Best Practice: Archive After Creating the Card
We always recommend archiving the inbox conversation after creating a card.
This helps you:
- Keep your inbox clean
- Clearly see which emails were successfully parsed
- Identify which email parsers may need attention or updates
How to Create a Card From an Inbox Conversation
- Open the email in your inbox.
- At the top of the conversation, click the Create Card icon (it looks like the boards icon).
- Keyboard shortcuts:
- Mac: Option + C
- Windows: Control + C
- A message will appear letting you know the conversation will be viewable in the card’s Related tab.
- You can proceed or choose not to show this message again.
- Select the board where you want the card created.
- Any new card fields or start card fields configured for that board will appear on the right side.
- Use these fields to pull relevant details from the email.
- The email subject or body will automatically populate the card’s Notes or Description, depending on the board setup.
- Fill in any remaining fields, add files if needed, and click Save.
Once saved:
- The card is created on the selected board
- The email is linked to the card via the Related tab
- You’ll remain in the inbox (you won’t be redirected to the board)
What Happens Next?
You now have:
- A card actively moving through a workflow
- A clear record of the original email tied to that process
- Full visibility and follow-up—without losing track of the conversation
If Your Email Parser Needs an Update
Email parsers occasionally need updates when lead sources change their email format.
To request a parser update:
- Email help@getaply.com
- Include two example email URLs:
- Received within Aptly
- Aptly email URLs
Our engineering team can use these examples to quickly update the parser so future emails are processed correctly.
Manually creating a card from the inbox is a simple way to stay in control of your workflows—ensuring no email, request, or opportunity slips through the cracks.