> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.cassidyai.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Manual trigger

> Start a Workflow on demand with custom input fields you define.

Manually start a [Workflow](/workflows/overview) with custom inputs whenever you need. The Manual trigger is the default trigger type and is ideal for Workflows you want to run on demand.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Add a Manual trigger">
    Create a new Workflow with a Manual trigger, or change an existing Workflow's trigger type to Manual.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/cassidy/KPnIokfoTlpXCsBG/images/reference/manual-trigger-img-0.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=KPnIokfoTlpXCsBG&q=85&s=7d57d93fb67fd63a40b7f0560a9bea80" alt="Workflow builder showing trigger type selection with Manual highlighted" width="892" height="338" data-path="images/reference/manual-trigger-img-0.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add input fields">
    Click **+ Add** to create input fields for your Manual trigger. Input fields let you provide data that the rest of the Workflow can reference.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/cassidy/KPnIokfoTlpXCsBG/images/reference/manual-trigger-img-1.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=KPnIokfoTlpXCsBG&q=85&s=7feddeec2de27af4f6569fc06aa14de2" alt="Manual trigger with the + Add button for input fields" width="992" height="1342" data-path="images/reference/manual-trigger-img-1.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose the input field type">
    Select the type that matches your data:

    | Type                    | Description                                                                                                   |
    | ----------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
    | **Text**                | Free-form text input                                                                                          |
    | **Number**              | Numerical values for calculations or data processing                                                          |
    | **Yes/No**              | Boolean toggle for true/false decisions                                                                       |
    | **URL**                 | A web link — Cassidy extracts the text content from the page                                                  |
    | **File**                | Upload PDFs, Word docs, spreadsheets, images, audio, or video. Images and media are automatically transcribed |
    | **Dropdown**            | Predefined options the user selects from                                                                      |
    | **Knowledge Base Item** | Select a specific file or folder from your [Knowledge Base](/knowledge-base/overview)                         |
    | **Object**              | A structured group of fields you define                                                                       |

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/cassidy/KPnIokfoTlpXCsBG/images/reference/manual-trigger-img-2.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=KPnIokfoTlpXCsBG&q=85&s=cd7c9fc3ce6c54f153a22d1dccdd8e2b" alt="Input field type selector dropdown" width="753" height="601" data-path="images/reference/manual-trigger-img-2.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Name your input fields">
    Give each field a descriptive name so it's easy to reference later as a variable in other actions.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/cassidy/KPnIokfoTlpXCsBG/images/reference/manual-trigger-img-14.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=KPnIokfoTlpXCsBG&q=85&s=0ed698b45d9f7bda19855eac06aac7df" alt="Input field with custom name entered" width="972" height="202" data-path="images/reference/manual-trigger-img-14.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure advanced settings">
    Expand the field settings to access additional options:

    * **Description** — Add context or instructions for the person running the Workflow
    * **Optional** — Toggle on if the Workflow should proceed even when this field is left empty
    * **Accepts Multiple** — Allow multiple values for the same field (useful for lists of URLs or files)

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/cassidy/KPnIokfoTlpXCsBG/images/reference/manual-trigger-img-15.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=KPnIokfoTlpXCsBG&q=85&s=7e4219acdf986f88dd340da96e4e84be" alt="Advanced settings panel showing Description, Optional, and Accepts Multiple toggles" width="978" height="202" data-path="images/reference/manual-trigger-img-15.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Reorder and manage fields">
    Drag input fields to reorder them. Click the pencil icon to edit a field, or the trash icon to remove it.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>When you run the Workflow, fields with **Accepts Multiple** enabled show a **+ Add** button so you can provide additional values as a list.</Tip>

## Related

* [Build and configure Workflows](/workflows/building)
* [Run and test Workflows](/workflows/running-and-testing)
* [Bulk runs](/workflows/bulk-runs)