# Instagram Post

<!-- meta: type=instagram-post; location=Tags; category=Step (action); platforms=Joomla and WordPress (where applicable) -->

## Overview

Instagram Post is a **Step (action)** in **Tags**. Publishes an image, video, or Reel to Instagram via the Content Publishing API.

When the flow reaches this step, JOrchestrator executes **Instagram Post** against your linked site or an external integration, using the field values you set on **General** and **Design**. Downstream steps can read the output payload fields defined for this node.

## Why use this node

Instagram Post is a **action step** in the **Tags** group. Action steps run in the middle or end of a flow. They perform work on your CMS, call external services, or transform data for the next step.

Typical reasons teams add **Instagram Post** to a flow:

- Automate "Instagram Post" as part of a larger Joomla or WordPress workflow
- Replace manual tags work with a repeatable, logged flow step
- Chain with triggers, logic, and messaging nodes on the same canvas

## Example workflows

Common patterns on the canvas:

1. **Trigger or Webhook** → upstream steps → **Instagram Post** → **Send Email** or CMS update
2. **Scheduled trigger** → **Instagram Post** → **Debug** (while testing) → production action

## How to set it up

Account ID and access token in Node Configuration → Instagram. Media URL (public https), optional Caption, and Media type on the Design tab.

## Good to know

Creates a media container, optionally polls until FINISHED, then publishes. Video and Reels poll by default.

## Properties panel

The designer shows these tabs for this node:

| Tab | Purpose |
|-----|---------|
| **Info** | Plain-language description and output payload fields for downstream steps |
| **General** | Canvas label and read-only node ID |
| **AI** | Optional assistant to help draft settings from plain language |
| **Design** | Node-specific configuration fields |

### System (automatic — not edited by the user)

These fields are managed by the designer or runtime — you do not type into them directly:

| Property key | Label | Type | Required | Visible when | Notes |
|--------------|-------|------|----------|--------------|-------|
| `_nodeId` | Node ID | `node-id` | No | — | — |
| `_payloadFields` | Available Fields | `payload-panel` | No | — | — |

### User-configured — General tab

| Property key | Label | Type | Required | Visible when | Notes |
|--------------|-------|------|----------|--------------|-------|
| `label` | Label | `text` | No | — | Node label |

### User-configured — Design tab

| Property key | Label | Type | Required | Visible when | Notes |
|--------------|-------|------|----------|--------------|-------|
| `instagramAccountId` | Account ID (optional) | `payload-text` | No | — | Uses Joomla Node Configuration → Instagram default Account ID if empty |
| `mediaUrl` | Media URL | `payload-text` | **Yes** | — | https://cdn.example.com/photo.jpg Public https URL — Instagram fetches the image or video from this address. |
| `caption` | Caption (optional) | `textarea` | No | — | Post caption or {{node.text}} |
| `mediaType` | Media type | `select` (`IMAGE` \| `VIDEO` \| `REELS`; default: `IMAGE`) | No | — | — |
| `pollUntilComplete` | Poll until complete | `select` (`` \| `true` \| `false`; default: ``) | No | — | Leave empty to poll automatically for VIDEO/REELS only. Set true/false to override. |
| `pollIntervalSeconds` | Poll interval (seconds) | `number` (default: `5`) | No | — | — |
| `maxPollAttempts` | Max poll attempts | `number` (default: `60`) | No | — | — |

### CMS site configuration (not on this node's properties panel)

Credentials, API keys, mailers, SMTP, and integration defaults are configured in the CMS plugin under **Node Configuration**, not per step on this node. Link the flow to a domain before testing CMS-backed fields.

## Output payload fields

After this step runs, later nodes can reference these fields using placeholders such as
`{{instagram_post.success}}`.

| Field key | Type | Description |
|-----------|------|-------------|
| `success` | boolean | Whether the operation completed successfully. |
| `mediaId` | string | Text value from this node's output. |
| `containerId` | string | Text value from this node's output. |
| `caption` | string | Text value from this node's output. |
| `mediaType` | string | Text value from this node's output. |
| `mediaUrl` | string | Text value from this node's output. |
| `message` | string | Human-readable status, error, or result summary. |

## Validation rules

- **Media URL** (`mediaUrl`) must be filled before the flow can be saved.

## Related nodes

Other steps in the same area of the palette:

- **Create Tag** (`create-tag`) — Tags
- **Create Tag** (`wp-create-tag`) — Tags
- **Delete Tag** (`delete-tag`) — Tags
- **Delete Tag** (`wp-delete-tag`) — Tags
- **Instagram Account Info** (`instagram-account-info`) — Tags