Manage Updates

Work with updates (comments) on monday.com items programmatically.

What are Updates?

Updates are comments or posts on items in monday.com. They appear in the item's updates section and support:

Text content
User mentions
Rich formatting
Replies and threads

Post an Update

Add a comment to an item:

ruby

require "monday_ruby"

Monday.configure do |config|
  config.token = ENV["MONDAY_TOKEN"]
end

client = Monday::Client.new

response = client.update.create(
  args: {
    item_id: 123456,
    body: "This update will be added to the item"
  }
)

if response.success?
  update = response.body.dig("data", "create_update")
  puts "Update posted: #{update['body']}"
  puts "Update ID: #{update['id']}"
  puts "Posted at: #{update['created_at']}"
else
  puts "Failed to post update"
end

Output:

Update posted: This update will be added to the item
Update ID: 3325555116
Posted at: 2024-07-25T03:46:49Z

Mention Users in Updates

Use HTML tags to mention users in your updates:

ruby

# Mention a single user
response = client.update.create(
  args: {
    item_id: 123456,
    body: "Hey <@12345678>, can you review this task?"
  }
)

User ID Format

Use <@user_id> to mention users. Replace user_id with the actual monday.com user ID. Mentioned users will receive a notification.

Mention Multiple Users

ruby

response = client.update.create(
  args: {
    item_id: 123456,
    body: "Team update: <@12345678> and <@87654321> - please review by EOD"
  }
)

Mention Teams

ruby

response = client.update.create(
  args: {
    item_id: 123456,
    body: "Attention <team_id:98765>: New requirements posted"
  }
)

Query Updates

Retrieve updates from items or your account:

Get Recent Updates

ruby

response = client.update.query(
  args: { limit: 10 },
  select: [
    "id",
    "body",
    "created_at",
    {
      creator: ["id", "name", "email"]
    }
  ]
)

if response.success?
  updates = response.body.dig("data", "updates")

  puts "Recent Updates:"
  updates.each do |update|
    creator = update["creator"]
    puts "\n#{creator['name']} (#{update['created_at']}):"
    puts "  #{update['body']}"
  end
end

Get Specific Updates

ruby

response = client.update.query(
  args: { ids: [3325555116, 3325560030] },
  select: ["id", "body", "created_at", "text_body"]
)

if response.success?
  updates = response.body.dig("data", "updates")
  updates.each do |update|
    puts "Update #{update['id']}: #{update['body']}"
  end
end

Get Item Updates

To get updates for a specific item, query the item with updates nested:

ruby

response = client.item.query(
  args: { ids: [123456] },
  select: [
    "id",
    "name",
    {
      updates: [
        "id",
        "body",
        "created_at",
        { creator: ["id", "name"] }
      ]
    }
  ]
)

if response.success?
  item = response.body.dig("data", "items", 0)
  puts "Updates on '#{item['name']}':"

  item["updates"].each do |update|
    puts "\n#{update.dig('creator', 'name')}:"
    puts "  #{update['body']}"
  end
end

Like an Update

Show appreciation for an update:

ruby

response = client.update.like(
  args: { update_id: 3325555116 }
)

if response.success?
  liked_update = response.body.dig("data", "like_update")
  puts "Liked update ID: #{liked_update['id']}"
end

Delete an Update

Remove a specific update:

ruby

response = client.update.delete(
  args: { id: 3325555116 }
)

if response.success?
  deleted = response.body.dig("data", "delete_update")
  puts "Deleted update ID: #{deleted['id']}"
else
  puts "Failed to delete update"
end

Permanent Deletion

Deleting an update is permanent and cannot be undone. Only the update creator or board admins can delete updates.

Clear All Updates from an Item

Remove all updates from an item at once:

ruby

response = client.update.clear_item_updates(
  args: { item_id: 123456 }
)

if response.success?
  result = response.body.dig("data", "clear_item_updates")
  puts "Cleared all updates from item #{result['id']}"
end

Destructive Operation

This permanently deletes ALL updates from the item. This action cannot be undone. Use with caution.

Format Update Text

Add Line Breaks

Use \n for line breaks in update text:

ruby

update_text = <<~UPDATE
  Task Status Update:

  ✓ Completed design mockups
  ✓ Implemented core features
  ⚠ Testing in progress

  Next steps: Deploy to staging
UPDATE

response = client.update.create(
  args: {
    item_id: 123456,
    body: update_text
  }
)

Add Links

Include hyperlinks in your updates:

ruby

response = client.update.create(
  args: {
    item_id: 123456,
    body: "Check out the docs: https://developer.monday.com/api-reference"
  }
)

Bold and Italic Text

Use markdown-style formatting:

ruby

response = client.update.create(
  args: {
    item_id: 123456,
    body: "**Important:** This task is *high priority*"
  }
)

Post Status Updates

Track progress with regular updates:

ruby

def post_status_update(client, item_id, status, details)
  timestamp = Time.now.strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M")

  body = <<~STATUS
    [#{timestamp}] Status: #{status}

    #{details}
  STATUS

  response = client.update.create(
    args: {
      item_id: item_id,
      body: body
    }
  )

  if response.success?
    update = response.body.dig("data", "create_update")
    puts "Posted status update: #{update['id']}"
    true
  else
    puts "Failed to post status update"
    false
  end
end

# Usage
post_status_update(
  client,
  123456,
  "In Progress",
  "Working on feature implementation. ETA: 2 hours."
)

Reply to Updates

Create threaded conversations by replying to updates:

ruby

# First, get the parent update ID
parent_update_id = 3325555116

# Post a reply (this is done by creating a new update on the same item)
response = client.update.create(
  args: {
    item_id: 123456,
    body: "Great point! I'll handle that right away."
  }
)

Replies

While the API creates flat updates, the monday.com UI organizes them into threads. Updates are displayed chronologically within the item's updates section.

Bulk Create Updates

Post multiple updates efficiently:

ruby

def post_bulk_updates(client, item_id, messages)
  posted = []

  messages.each do |message|
    response = client.update.create(
      args: {
        item_id: item_id,
        body: message
      }
    )

    if response.success?
      update = response.body.dig("data", "create_update")
      posted << update
      puts "✓ Posted: #{message[0..50]}..."
    else
      puts "✗ Failed to post: #{message[0..50]}..."
    end

    # Rate limiting: pause between requests
    sleep(0.3)
  end

  posted
end

# Usage
progress_updates = [
  "Started design phase",
  "Mockups completed and approved",
  "Development in progress",
  "First iteration deployed to staging",
  "QA testing completed"
]

posted = post_bulk_updates(client, 123456, progress_updates)
puts "\nPosted #{posted.length} updates"

Error Handling

Handle common update errors gracefully:

ruby

def create_update_safe(client, item_id, body)
  response = client.update.create(
    args: {
      item_id: item_id,
      body: body
    }
  )

  if response.success?
    update = response.body.dig("data", "create_update")
    puts "✓ Posted update: #{update['id']}"
    update['id']
  else
    puts "✗ Failed to post update"
    puts "  Status: #{response.status}"

    if response.body["errors"]
      response.body["errors"].each do |error|
        puts "  Error: #{error['message']}"
      end
    end

    nil
  end
rescue Monday::AuthorizationError
  puts "✗ Invalid API token"
  nil
rescue Monday::InvalidRequestError => e
  puts "✗ Invalid request: #{e.message}"
  puts "  Check that the item_id is correct"
  nil
rescue Monday::Error => e
  puts "✗ API error: #{e.message}"
  nil
end

# Usage
update_id = create_update_safe(
  client,
  123456,
  "This is a safe update with error handling"
)

Validate Update Content

Check update content before posting:

ruby

def valid_update_body?(body)
  return false if body.nil? || body.strip.empty?
  return false if body.length > 10000  # monday.com has a character limit

  true
end

update_body = "This is a valid update"

if valid_update_body?(update_body)
  response = client.update.create(
    args: {
      item_id: 123456,
      body: update_body
    }
  )
else
  puts "Invalid update content"
end

Get Update Creator Information

Retrieve who posted an update:

ruby

response = client.update.query(
  args: { ids: [3325555116] },
  select: [
    "id",
    "body",
    "created_at",
    {
      creator: [
        "id",
        "name",
        "email",
        "photo_thumb"
      ]
    }
  ]
)

if response.success?
  update = response.body.dig("data", "updates", 0)
  creator = update["creator"]

  puts "Update by: #{creator['name']}"
  puts "Email: #{creator['email']}"
  puts "Posted: #{update['created_at']}"
  puts "Content: #{update['body']}"
end

Complete Example

Post a comprehensive status update with mentions and formatting:

ruby

require "monday_ruby"
require "dotenv/load"

Monday.configure do |config|
  config.token = ENV["MONDAY_TOKEN"]
end

client = Monday::Client.new

# Define item and user IDs
item_id = 123456
project_manager_id = 12345678
developer_id = 87654321

# Create formatted update with mentions
update_body = <<~UPDATE
  **Weekly Status Update**

  Progress this week:
  ✓ Completed UI redesign
  ✓ Implemented new authentication flow
  ✓ Updated documentation

  Next week priorities:
  • Deploy to production
  • User acceptance testing
  • Performance optimization

  Action items:
  <@#{project_manager_id}> - Schedule production deployment
  <@#{developer_id}> - Review performance metrics

  Questions or concerns? Let's discuss in tomorrow's standup.
UPDATE

# Post the update
response = client.update.create(
  args: {
    item_id: item_id,
    body: update_body
  },
  select: [
    "id",
    "body",
    "created_at",
    "text_body",
    {
      creator: ["id", "name"]
    }
  ]
)

if response.success?
  update = response.body.dig("data", "create_update")

  puts "\n✓ Status Update Posted Successfully\n"
  puts "=" * 50
  puts "Update ID: #{update['id']}"
  puts "Posted by: #{update.dig('creator', 'name')}"
  puts "Posted at: #{update['created_at']}"
  puts "\nContent:"
  puts update['body']
  puts "=" * 50
else
  puts "\n✗ Failed to post update"
  puts "Status code: #{response.status}"

  if response.body["error_message"]
    puts "Error: #{response.body['error_message']}"
  end
end

Monitor Item Activity

Track all activity on an item:

ruby

def monitor_item_activity(client, item_id, interval: 60)
  last_update_id = nil

  loop do
    response = client.item.query(
      args: { ids: [item_id] },
      select: [
        "id",
        "name",
        {
          updates: [
            "id",
            "body",
            "created_at",
            { creator: ["name"] }
          ]
        }
      ]
    )

    if response.success?
      item = response.body.dig("data", "items", 0)
      updates = item["updates"] || []

      # Show new updates
      updates.each do |update|
        if last_update_id.nil? || update["id"].to_i > last_update_id.to_i
          puts "\n[#{update['created_at']}] #{update.dig('creator', 'name')}:"
          puts "  #{update['body']}"
          last_update_id = update["id"].to_i
        end
      end
    end

    sleep(interval)
  end
end

# Monitor item for new updates every 60 seconds
# monitor_item_activity(client, 123456, interval: 60)

Manage Updates ​

What are Updates? ​

Post an Update ​

Mention Users in Updates ​

Mention Multiple Users ​

Mention Teams ​

Query Updates ​

Get Recent Updates ​

Get Specific Updates ​

Get Item Updates ​

Like an Update ​

Delete an Update ​

Clear All Updates from an Item ​

Format Update Text ​

Add Line Breaks ​

Add Links ​

Bold and Italic Text ​

Post Status Updates ​

Reply to Updates ​

Bulk Create Updates ​

Error Handling ​

Validate Update Content ​

Get Update Creator Information ​

Complete Example ​

Monitor Item Activity ​

Next Steps ​

Manage Updates

What are Updates?

Post an Update

Mention Users in Updates

Mention Multiple Users

Mention Teams

Query Updates

Get Recent Updates

Get Specific Updates

Get Item Updates

Like an Update

Delete an Update

Clear All Updates from an Item

Format Update Text

Add Line Breaks

Add Links

Bold and Italic Text

Post Status Updates

Reply to Updates

Bulk Create Updates

Error Handling

Validate Update Content

Get Update Creator Information

Complete Example

Monitor Item Activity

Next Steps