---
schema_version: "1"
id: b1e56a39ceb323bc2917f01a5ac74bc3b728aeddb4789b983bcb27058fbd6707
title: Define the Automation
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/mktg/264-0-0/mc_jb_define_automation.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_jb_define_automation.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: 0116b20642b018df60e027a3400e11b461340d61db9baae48537643756c70277
description: Define a Marketing Cloud Engagement automation using the Fire Event activity to fire an event prompting Journey Builder to detect updates. When you set up the Fire Event activity, select the same data extension used in the entry event you set up in your journey. Automations used for journeys can be set up in advance using Scheduled or File Drop Automations.
products:
  - Marketing
  - Marketing Cloud Engagement
release: "264"
---
# Define the Automation

Define a Marketing Cloud Engagement automation using the Fire Event activity to fire an event prompting Journey Builder to detect updates. When you set up the Fire Event activity, select the same data extension used in the entry event you set up in your journey. Automations used for journeys can be set up in advance using Scheduled or File Drop Automations.

Create a journey.

![Note](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-mktg-mc_journeys_and_automations-264-0-0-production-enus/e08cdd71-c1c1-4ae5-a5e9-8a6dad583ad4/images/icon_note.png)

Note In an upcoming release, Contact Data Events aren’t supported. Events and journeys created before this change continues to run without interruption. Use Audiences to admit contacts instead.

The only activity the automation must include is the Fire Event activity. Run the automation whenever new data is added to the data extension, or schedule it to run on a repeating basis.

1. Drag the Fire Event activity into a step of the automation.
2. To select the data extension you chose in the entry event you created, click **Choose...**.
3. Click **Save**.

Configure your API.

#### See Also

- [Automate Processes in Automation Studio](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_as_defining_an_automation.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Use an automation to start a process when specific criteria are met. For example, when a file is uploaded to the Enhanced SFTP, you can automatically run activities, like an import, a file transfer, or an email send.")