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Create and manage workflow diagrams

Workflow diagrams allow you to create a visual representation of a business process that consists of steps and paths. Complete the steps in the sections below to create and manage workflow diagrams.

Create workflow diagrams

To create workflow diagrams, complete the following steps:

  1. Access the Workflow Manager web app.
  2. Click the Design tab.

    The Design page appears.

    Note:

    If you don't have sufficient privileges, the Design tab is not available.

  3. Click Diagrams Diagrams.

    The Workflow Diagrams panel and workflow canvas appear.

  4. In the Workflow Diagrams panel, click Create New.

    The Step Library and Settings panels appear, and a new diagram appears in the workflow canvas.

  5. Provide a name for the diagram in the Diagram Name text box in the Diagram Settings section of the Settings panel.
    Note:

    If Diagram Settings isn't available, click a blank area of the workflow canvas.

  6. Provide a description for the workflow diagram in the Diagram Description text box.
  7. Optionally, configure workflow diagram options in the Options section.
  8. Optionally, add spatial data to the workflow diagram in the Spatial Data section.
    1. Click Add Data Source.

      The Add Data Source dialog box appears.

    2. Add a data source by doing one of the following:
      • Browse for item—Choose a branch versioned feature layer from the list.
        Tip:

        You can refine the results by applying filters to the search.

      • Enter item ID manually—Provide the item ID and reference name of the branch versioned feature service in the Item Id and Reference Name text boxes.
        Note:

        If the item ID is valid, the Reference Name text box is automatically populated.

    3. Click OK.

      The data source appears in the list. If the data source isn't available or your account doesn't have access to the data source, an invalid data source icon appears and the data source name must be manually entered in the Name text box.

      To edit the data source, click Edit Source Edit Source. To delete the data source, click Delete Source Delete Source.

  9. Add steps to the workflow diagram by doing any of the following:
    • Drag a step template from the Step Library panel to a step's connection arrow on the workflow canvas.

      A diagram of a step being dragged to another step's connection arrow

      The step appears in the direction of the connection arrow and is automatically connected to the existing step.

    • Click a step and click one of its connection arrows to add a manual step.

      A diagram of a step being added by clicking on the step's connection arrow

      The manual step appears in the direction of the arrow and is automatically connected to the existing step.

    • Drag a step template from the Step Library panel to an empty area of the workflow canvas.

      A diagram of dragging a step to an empty area of the canvas

      The step appears on the workflow canvas without a path and must be manually connected to other steps in the workflow diagram.

      Learn more about configuring paths

  10. To replace an existing step in the diagram with a different step type, drag a step template from the Step Library panel or drag a step from the canvas onto the middle of the step you want to change and click Yes when the Overwrite Step dialog box appears.

    When a step is replaced, it retains its original name, path settings, path assignments, and customization.

    Overwrite an existing step in a workflow diagram.

  11. Configure step settings as necessary.
  12. Repeat steps 9 through 11 to add more steps and add paths to the workflow diagram as necessary.
  13. Optionally, double-click a blank area of the workflow canvas next to a step or a path to add text labels to the workflow diagram.
  14. Click Save to save a draft of the workflow diagram.

    A confirmation message appears and the word Draft appears next to the name of the diagram.

  15. Optionally, click Print Diagram Print Diagram and click Print All to print the workflow diagram or click Print Visible to print what's visible on the workflow canvas.
  16. When the workflow diagram is ready for use, click Activate to make it available for use in job templates.

    When a diagram is activated for the first time, a message appears asking if you want to create a job template from the workflow diagram.

    Learn more about job templates

  17. Click Back to return to the Design page.

Duplicate workflow diagrams

Duplicating a workflow diagram allows you to make a draft copy of a diagram that can be used as a starting point for a new diagram with similar steps.

To duplicate a workflow diagram, complete the following steps:

  1. Access the Workflow Manager web app.
  2. Click the Design tab.

    The Design page appears.

    Note:

    If you don't have sufficient privileges, the Design tab is not available.

  3. Click Diagrams Diagrams.

    The Workflow Diagrams panel and workflow canvas appear.

  4. Click the workflow diagram you want to duplicate in the Workflow Diagrams panel.
  5. Click More Actions More Actions and click Duplicate Diagram.

    The duplicated diagram appears in the Workflow Diagrams panel with - Copy appended to the workflow diagram name.

The workflow diagram can now be edited and activated for use in job templates.

Edit workflow diagrams

To edit workflow diagrams, complete the following steps:

  1. Access the Workflow Manager web app.
  2. Click the Design tab.

    The Design page appears.

    Note:

    If you don't have sufficient privileges, the Design tab is not available.

  3. Click Diagrams Diagrams.

    The Workflow Diagrams panel and workflow canvas appear.

  4. Hover over the workflow diagram that you want to edit in the Workflow Diagrams panel and click Edit.

    The Step Library and Settings panels appear and the workflow diagram appears in the workflow canvas.

    Tip:

    Provide a keyword in the Search Diagrams text box to filter the list to workflow diagrams that contain the keyword.

  5. Update the workflow diagram as necessary.
    Tip:

    Click the Active/Draft toggle button to compare the active and draft diagrams.

  6. Click Save to save a draft of the workflow diagram.

    A confirmation message appears and the word Draft appears next to the name of the diagram.

  7. Optionally, click Print Diagram Print Diagram and click Print All to print the workflow diagram or click Print Visible to print what's visible on the workflow canvas.
  8. When the workflow diagram is ready for use, click Activate to make it available for use in job templates.
    Note:

    Once the workflow diagram has been activated, it is used for all new jobs. Existing jobs that have not been upgraded continue to use the previous workflow diagram.

    Learn more about upgrading jobs

  9. Click Back to return to the Design page.

Discard workflow diagram drafts

To discard workflow diagram drafts, complete the following steps:

  1. Access the Workflow Manager web app.
  2. Click the Design tab.

    The Design page appears.

    Note:

    If you don't have sufficient privileges, the Design tab is not available.

  3. Click Diagrams Diagrams.

    The Workflow Diagrams panel and workflow canvas appear.

  4. Click the workflow diagram that contains the draft you want to discard in the Workflow Diagrams panel.
    Tip:

    Click the Active/Draft toggle button to compare the active and draft diagrams.

  5. Click More Actions More Actions and click Discard Draft.

    The Discard Draft dialog box appears.

    Caution:

    Discarded drafts can't be recovered.

  6. Click Yes to discard the draft diagram or click No to cancel.

Delete workflow diagrams

To delete workflow diagrams, complete the following steps:

  1. Access the Workflow Manager web app.
  2. Click the Design tab.

    The Design page appears.

    Note:

    If you don't have sufficient privileges, the Design tab is not available.

  3. Click Diagrams Diagrams.

    The Workflow Diagrams panel and workflow canvas appear.

  4. Click the workflow diagram you want to delete in the Workflow Diagrams panel.
  5. Click More Actions More Actions and click Delete Diagram.

    The Delete Workflow Diagram dialog box appears.

    Caution:

    Deleted workflow diagrams can't be recovered.

  6. Click Yes to delete the workflow diagram or click No to cancel.

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