This guide explains how to set up who or what a workflow is for, how to choose where each action gets its information, and how the workflow designer checks a workflow before it is published.
The workflow designer now asks plain questions and catches more mistakes before a workflow is published. One question sets up who or what the workflow is for, each action asks for its information in plain words, and any problems are shown next to the field you need to fix.
Before you start
- Published workflows run as before. Existing workflows open on the matching answer to the trigger question; workflows with other inputs ask the question once.
- Templates open ready to use.
Choosing who or what can trigger a workflow
|
Step |
What to do |
|
1 |
Open the workflow in the workflow designer and go to the Details tab. Account Settings > Workflows |
|
2 |
Answer the question about who or what the workflow is for: A person, A map area or Advanced (see the table below). |
|
3 |
Add any other inputs you need, such as a note. These can sit alongside a person or an area. |
|
Answer |
What the designer sets up |
Where the workflow can be started from |
|
A person |
A required Person input |
Workflows list, Alerts, and People on the map |
|
A map area |
A required Area input |
Workflows list, Geo-fences, Places, POIs, and Map areas |
|
Advanced |
Nothing; you add the inputs yourself |
Depends on the inputs added |
Input names are created automatically, and new inputs are required by default.
Choosing where an action gets its information
|
Step |
What to do |
|
1 |
Open the action and find the field you want to set. Each action asks its own question, such as “Who should be notified?” |
|
2 |
Choose the source: provided by the workflow, from an earlier action, or fixed text. |
|
3 |
If the workflow input you need doesn't exist yet, create it from the dialog in one click. |
- Choices that can't be used are greyed out, with the reason.
- Where only one choice is possible, it is picked automatically.
- The Inputs tab describes each source in words.
Checking a workflow before it's published
Problems now show on the action and field they relate to, as well as in the validation panel.
|
Step |
What to do |
|
1 |
Open the validation panel. It lists each action with its problem count. |
|
2 |
Select an action in the panel. It opens on the tab with the first problem. Each tab shows its own count, and an empty required field is flagged “This is required”. |
|
3 |
Fix the field. Only that field's problem clears, so you can work through the list one by one. |
The designer also checks two new rules:
- An action can only use results from an action that always runs before it.
- Information must be the right kind, for example a list of people.
Warnings before you break something
The designer warns you before a change that would leave other actions without the information they rely on.
|
Change |
What happens |
|
Removing a workflow input |
The actions using it are listed, then cleared. |
|
Deleting an action whose results are used |
The actions using its results are listed, then cleared. |
|
Changing who or what triggers the workflow |
The actions using the current person or area are listed, then cleared. |
|
Making a used input optional |
A warning names the actions that need it. |
Undo restores anything cleared since the last save.
Troubleshooting / FAQs
|
Question |
Answer |
|
A choice in the input dialog is greyed out. |
It can't be used for that field. The reason is shown next to it. |
|
A field says “This is required”. |
New inputs are required by default. Choose a source for the field, or make the input optional if it isn't needed. |
|
I can't use the result of an earlier action. |
An action can only use results from an action that always runs before it. Move the action, or choose a different source. |
|
I removed an input by mistake and other actions were cleared. |
Use Undo to restore anything cleared since the last save. |
Need more help? Contact Vismo Support at techsupport@vismo.com.