Data Operations

This guide covers advanced techniques for working with Directus data in Clay, including filtering, field selection, pagination, and optimization strategies.

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Working with Directus Data

Understanding Filters

When retrieving data from Directus, you can use powerful filter operators to find exactly what you need.

Filter syntax in Clay query parameters:

Key: filter[field_name][operator]
Value: The comparison value

Common operators:

Operator	Description	Example
`_eq`	Equals	`filter[status][_eq]` → `published`
`_neq`	Not equals	`filter[status][_neq]` → `draft`
`_contains`	Contains (case sensitive)	`filter[title][_contains]` → `Guide`
`_icontains`	Contains (case insensitive)	`filter[title][_icontains]` → `guide`
`_in`	In array	`filter[status][_in]` → `draft,published`
`_gt`	Greater than	`filter[views][_gt]` → `1000`
`_lt`	Less than	`filter[price][_lt]` → `100`
`_null`	Is null	`filter[deleted_at][_null]` → `true`
`_nnull`	Is not null	`filter[published_at][_nnull]` → `true`

Selecting Specific Fields

To improve performance and reduce data transfer, specify only the fields you need:

In query parameters:

Key: fields
Value: Comma-separated field names (e.g., id,title,status,author)

Including related fields:

Use dot notation: author.first_name,author.last_name
This pulls in data from related collections

Sorting and Pagination

::field{name="sort" type="string"} Field name (prefix with - for descending). Example: -date_created (newest first) ::

::field{name="limit" type="number"} Maximum items to return (e.g., 50) ::

::field{name="offset" type="number"} Number of items to skip (e.g., 0, 50, 100) ::

Common Use Cases

Use Case	Scenario	Steps
🛒 E-commerce Product Enrichment	Enrich product data with inventory and pricing information	1. Use Get Item from Collection to check if a product exists in Directus

Use Update Item in Collection to update stock levels from external sources
Use Get Related Item Details to pull supplier information | | 📝 Content Publication Workflow | Automatically publish content when it's approved in Clay | 1. Use Directus webhooks to send draft content to Clay for review
Enrich content with SEO metadata and keyword research in Clay
Use Update Item in Collection to publish content back to Directus | | 👥 Lead Enrichment System | Sync CRM data between Clay and Directus | 1. Use Directus webhooks to send new leads to Clay
Enrich leads with company data and contact information
Use Update Item in Collection to sync enriched data back
Use Get Related Item Details to pull company profiles | | 📋 Form Submission Processing | Process form submissions and create records | 1. Use Directus webhooks to send form submissions to Clay
Use Get Item from Collection to check for existing records
Use Create Item in Collection to add new contacts
Use Update Item in Collection to update existing records |

Troubleshooting

When working with Directus API through Clay, you may encounter various error codes. For a comprehensive list of Directus error codes and their meanings, refer to the official Directus Error Codes documentation.

Common Issues

Authentication Problems:

Verify your API token is valid and active
Check that you're using the correct format: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN
Ensure the token hasn't expired

Collection and Field Issues:

Verify collection names match exactly (case-sensitive)
Check that field names match your Directus schema
Ensure proper permissions are set for collections

Filter and Query Issues:

Use the correct format: filter[field][operator]
Test filters in Directus admin panel first
Check for special characters that need escaping

Getting Help

If you encounter issues:

For Directus-specific questions: Ask for help in the Directus Community
For Clay-specific questions: Contact Clay support or check Clay's documentation
For API connection issues: Verify your Directus configuration and permissions

Next Steps

Learn Clay Templates → - Use Clay's pre-built templates
Learn Directus Webhooks → - Set up real-time data sync
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