Make Text aggregator: combine order lines into one summary

If your Make workflow produces separate item records, a Text aggregator can turn them into one readable summary. This practice uses two fictional order records, Notebook with quantity 2 and Pencil with quantity 1. The example below shows one text value inside Make.

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Full Make editor showing a single text output containing Notebook x 2 and Pencil x 1

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Use this lesson when a repeating workflow needs one combined text value for a later step. For a one-off list, typing the summary in a text editor is simpler. This exercise stops at the result in Make and sends no message.

1. Create the order lines

1. In Scenarios, click Create scenario. Name it Order summary practice at the top left.
2. Add JSON > Parse JSON. Leave Data structure empty and paste the sample below into JSON string.
3. Save the module and scenario. Choose Save anyway only for an unused-output warning.
4. Click Run once, then Run anyway for that warning. Inspect the source output for two bundles.

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Full Make editor showing a JSON source with Notebook and Pencil order lines

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2. Build the summary line

1. Close the result panel. Click the plus to the right of JSON. Choose Tools > Text aggregator.
2. Set Source Module to JSON - Parse JSON [1].
3. In Text, paste the template below. Check that item and quantity become coloured tokens from module 1.
4. Turn on Show advanced settings. Set Row separator to New row and leave Group by empty.
5. Save the module and scenario.

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Full Make editor with Text aggregator source, New row separator and mapped item and quantity

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3. Read the combined result

1. Click Run once. Handle the unused-output warning as above.
2. Open the result bubble above Text aggregator.
3. Under Output, check that one bundle contains text with both lines below.

A later message or document action would use this aggregated text value. Keep it disconnected until the summary contains the right records.

Add a heading once. Keep the heading out of the Text aggregator template, where it repeats for each record. Add it after aggregation:

1. Click the plus after Text aggregator and choose Tools > Set variable.
2. Type message in Variable name. In Variable value, type Order summary:, press Enter, then select text from Text aggregator [2]. Use the token from your aggregator if its module number differs.
3. Save the module and scenario. Keep it Inactive, click Run once, and open the result above Set variable. One output bundle should contain message with these three lines:

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Full Make editor showing one message bundle with Order summary above Notebook x 2 and Pencil x 1.

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Set variable adds the heading once, after the two order lines have been aggregated.

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Make’s Text Aggregators in action lesson (opens in a new tab) uses the same approach to add a heading after aggregation. This practice still sends no message.

If lines run together

Reopen advanced settings and select New row. If a value is absent, run the source again and select its token in Text. To use fields after an aggregation, include what the later step needs in the aggregator's output rather than assuming every earlier field remains available.

Use the Free-plan limits to check capacity before adding scheduled actions.

Sources: Make aggregator documentation (opens in a new tab); Make Text aggregator instructions (opens in a new tab). Screenshots show Make with fictional practice data.