could you explain how to do the trigger techs?
I could not queue them, either with the setting enabled/disabled.
the other techs worked fine

As an example, if you enable automation science and trigger research only, and start a new game, all technology that only requires automation science packs will be researched. The trigger technologies that have either no prerequisites or automation science only, are researched.
Trigger technologies such as Oil Processing will not be completed, as it has prerequisites which require Logistic Science Packs, which was not selected in the startup settings.

So can I manually instantly research a trigger tech?

On startup, you can have the trigger techs researched. Once in the game, the trigger techs that were not instantly researched, will need to be triggered manually.