Workflow tab

The Workflow tab contains tools to modify and execute the workflow of the job. When a job is created, it automatically contains steps that are set as defaults for the job type. At this point, unless the system is set to autocommit jobs, the user has the ability to modify the workflow. You can modify the workflow by adding or removing steps and changing the properties of the steps and paths connecting them. Once the workflow has been committed, no more modifications can be made to the workflow. Tools along the top of the workflow window provide the functionality to manipulate the job workflow. It would be expected that the modification of the workflow would be done by a manager, not the person who would be carrying out the work on the job. The figure below shows the workflow in edit mode (before it has been committed).

NoteNote:

Modification of the workflow is controlled by the ManageWorkflow privilege.

Workflow Tab

When the workflow has been committed, the workflow is ready for execution. At this point, the job would most likely be reassigned to the first user to work the job. The next time that user logged in to Workflow Manager, the job would be reassigned to him or her.

An alternative to reassigning the entire job to individual users is to assign steps to individuals or groups. This allows the execution of the job to be passed to different users without reassigning the entire job at each stage. For example, it is likely that the QC Data step would always be performed by the quality assurance team, so that step could be assigned to this group ahead of time. When a step is assigned to a group, it must be reassigned to an individual user before it can be worked. If it is assigned to an individual, only that user can execute that step. If the step is unassigned, only the current user of the job can execute the step.

The path that the job takes through the workflow is entirely dependent on the decisions made at each of the steps. In many cases, the choice for progression will be limited to just one step. In some cases, a decision will be made based on the result of the step's execution. In other cases, the decision will be given directly to the user, who will have to choose which step to progress to. For the job's progression to be automatically routed, the following must be true:

In all other cases, the step will do one of the following:

When all of the steps in the workflow have been completed, there will be no current steps. At this point, you cannot carry out any more tasks on the workflow.

In edit mode

The left window contains job steps, which can be categorized into three categories:

To add a step, drag the item into the workflow.

Workflow steps

Along the top of the workflow window are several tools to manipulate the workflow.

Save Workflow Save—Once the workflow has been configured or to save and complete later, click the Save Workflow button to save all changes.

Draw Path Workflow Path—When a job step is dragged onto the workflow, a connector must also be added to connect the steps in the order they must be executed. Click once on a job step to begin the connector and click on the next step to end the connector.

Text Tool Text—The Text Tool allows you to enter text in the workflow canvas for annotations, labels, and other text properties.

Validate Workflow Workflow ValidateValidate Workflow confirms the workflow is valid.

Delete Object Workflow Delete—The Delete Object tool allows you to delete the selected object in the workflow.

Clear Workflow Clear Workflow—The Clear Workflow tool clears the contents of the workflow design canvas.

Assign Step Assign Step—The Assign Step button allows you to assign a step in the workflow to a certain user or group.

Workflow Tab - Assign step

Align Left—Align the selected objects to the left.

Align Right—Align the selected objects to the right.

Align Top—Align the selected objects to the top.

Align Bottom—Align the selected objects to the bottom.

Align Center Vertical—Align the selected objects vertically.

Align Center Horizontal—Align the selected objects horizontally.

Distribute Vertical—Distribute the selected objects vertically.

Distribute Horizontal—Distribute the selected objects horizontally.

Set Fill Color Color Picker FillSet Fill Color will allow you to set the color of the selected object.

Set Line Color Color Picker Line—The Set Line Color tool will allow you to set the color of the selected line.

Set Text Color Color Picker Text—The Set Text Color tool will allow you to set the color of the selected text.

Fit to Window Zoom To Full ExtentFit to Window lets you view the entire workflow in the current window size.

Fixed Zoom In Fixed Zoom InFixed Zoom In will zoom in at a predefined scale.

Fixed Zoom Out Fixed Zoom OutFixed Zoom Out will zoom out at a predefined scale.

Zoom In Zoom In—The Zoom In tool allows you to zoom in by dragging the mouse over an area in the workflow.

Continuous Zoom Continuous Zoom—The Continuous Zoom tool allows you to zoom in and out by moving the mouse forward and backward.

Pan Pan—Clicking and dragging on the view allows you to pan the current extent.

Select Selection Pointer—Click once to select a job step or connector.

Identify Object Identify—Click on a job step or connector to launch the properties window. This can also be launched by double-clicking on the step/connector regardless of what tool is enabled.

Step Properties

The options shown in the check boxes above are as follows:

If a path is selected when this tool is executed, the following Path Properties dialog box appears:

Path Properties dialog

These are the main properties to set here:

In execution mode

When the workflow has been committed for execution, the job is ready to be worked. Similarly to edit mode, the workflow is shown as a set of steps connected by paths. The current step(s) is highlighted with the symbology set by the Workflow Manager Administrator. The following tools are available exclusively for execution mode:

Zoom To Workflow Zoom To Workflow—This tool centers the current view on the currently active step.

Assign Step Assign Step—Assign the current step to a particular user or group.

Percent Complete Percent Complete—This tool allows you to define what percentage this step accounts for in the entire job.

Execute Step Execute Step—Runs the current step. If more than one step is current, it will run the step selected by the user.

Auto-Run Auto Run—Runs the current step, then continues to run steps until a step not marked as autorun is reached.

Mark As Started Mark As Started—This tool allows you to flag a step as started or complete. This will allow you to track when a procedural step was started or completed.

Mark As Complete Mark As Complete—Marks the step as completed without executing the step. This is the only option if the step is procedural.


Published 6/7/2010