Process Studio - Workflows - Starting Rule Node Management

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Overview

The Starting Rule is the first step in every workflow. Its purpose is to start the workflow automatically when a specific event happens.

How it Works

 A starting rule works as follows:

System Event Trigger:

  • Waits for a trigger (For example: a scheduled time or a system event).

Conditions Validation:

  • Evaluates the path conditions.

Recorded Workflow:

  • If the conditions are met, it creates a new Workflow Record and starts running it.

Output Path:

  • Directs the Workflow into the correct Path based on the met conditions.

Type of Triggers

Type Description
Scheduled trigger  It is a time-based trigger that defines when the Workflow record runs, based on CRON expressions.
Event trigger Its system event-based trigger that defines when the Workflow record runs, based on a monitored system Object and a specific event related to that Object.

Path

Each Path represents a possible outcome or branch based on WHEN Conditions. 

A Condition is composed of WHEN Conditional blocks. 

  • WHEN the condition is TRUE → the workflow continues through the corresponding path.
  • WHEN the condition is FALSE → the following path condition is evaluated.

For more information on WHEN Conditionals please read: How it Works the WHEN Conditional

 How to Configure a Starting Rule Node

To configure a Starting Rule node follow these steps:

30 STEPS

1. In the Workflows Editor, locate the Starting Rule node and click on its card.

2. The Edit Starting Rule panel is displayed.

3. Then, select the Trigger Type: Scheduled trigger or Event trigger.

4. Scheduled trigger: Runs the workflow at set intervals.
If the Scheduled trigger option is selected, enter a valid Cron Expression.
The workflow will be triggered according to the schedule.

5. Event trigger: Triggers the Workflow based on specific events.
Select the Event trigger option.

6. If the Event trigger option is selected, select the Object.

7. Select an Object.

8. Also select the Event Type that will be monitored. The workflow will be triggered every time the event occurs.

9. Select an option.

10. (Optional) Click the +ENDING button to add a criteria that defines when the workflow will be ended.

11. Select the Workflow ending criteria that will be applied: After or Stop On.

12. If the After option is selected, enter an integer number of Occurrences (>0). That specific value is the number of Occurrences (or runs) that the Workflow will go through.

13. Select Stop On.

14. If the Stop On option is selected, enter or select a date (MM/DD/YYYY).

15. Click Next month

16. Then select 28.
The Workflow will continue to run until it reaches that date, at which point it will automatically stop.

17. Enable the Conditions toggle switch to configure WHEN Condition(s) that will define the node Paths (outputs).

18. Configure a WHEN Condition to evaluate a field value against the condition.
Click the icon next to the WHEN condition.

19. Then, select an Object.

20. Next click the icon next to the Object’s name.

21. And select a Field (or a Relationship and then a Field).

22. Now click the icon next to the Field’s name.

23. And select an Operator.

24. After that, click the icon next to the Operator’s name.

25. And enter the Value.

26. Optional: Build Multiple Conditions (AND / OR) by clicking the icon next to the entered value. Select the AND or OR operator to build another Conditional, and configure it as outlined in previous steps.

27. (Optional) Click the +PATH button to add a new path with a WHEN Conditional and configure it as outlined in previous steps.

28. Once your Starting Rule is configured, click SAVE to save the setup.
The SAVE button is enabled when all the mandatory fields have been completed in the Edit Starting Rule panel.

29. The rule was edited successfully message appears

30. That's it. You're done.

https://www.iorad.com/player/2671721/Control-Center---Process-Studio--Workflows---How-to-Configure-a-Starting-Rule-Node?iframeHash=watchsteps-1&lang=en



Next step

  1. In the Workflows Editor, locate the Starting Rule node and click on its card. The Edit Starting Rule panel is displayed.
  2. Enter or change the starting rule Name*.

Trigger Type 

  1. Select the Trigger Type: Scheduled trigger or Event trigger.
  • Scheduled trigger: Runs the Workflow at set intervals. If the Scheduled trigger option is selected, enter a valid Cron Expression. The workflow will be triggered according to the schedule.
  • Event trigger: Triggers the Workflow based on specific events. If the Event trigger option is selected, select the Object and the Event Type that will be monitored. The workflow will be triggered every time the event occurs.
  • A Cron Expression is a string consisting of subexpressions (fields) that describe individual details of the schedule.
  • In the Cron Expression field, make sure to enter an expression that follows the correct CRON syntax to ensure the Workflow starts at the intended times or intervals. 
  • A built-in Cron Generator is coming soon.
  • The Object dropdown displays all Objects that have a dependency relationship with the Target Object configured during workflow creation.
  • The Event Type dropdown lists the events related to the selected Object.

Ending

  1. (Optional) Click the +ENDING button to add a criteria that defines when the Workflow will be ended.
  2. Select the Workflow ending criteria that will be applied: After or Stop On.
  • After: If the After option is selected, enter an integer number of Occurrences (>0). That specific value is the number of Occurrences (or runs) that the workflow will go through. Once the workflow has run this number of times, it will stop and be considered finished.
  • Stop On: If the Stop On option is selected, enter or select the Stop On date (MM/DD/YYYY). The workflow will continue to run until it reaches that date, at which point it will automatically stop.

Conditions 

  1. Enable the Conditions toggle switch to configure WHEN Condition(s) that will define the node output(s).
  • Each starting rule can have one or more Paths. 
  • The Paths are evaluated simultaneously, and only the first matching Path will be followed during the running workflow.
  1. Click the ellipsis icon next to the WHEN Condition to copy the setup from a configured Template 

Listed templates are saved WHEN Conditions, as outlined in step 10.

OR

  1. Configure a WHEN Condition to evaluate a field value against the condition.
  • Click the next to the WHEN condition.
  • Select an Object.
  • Click the next to the Object’s name. 
  • Select a Field or a Relationship and then a Field.
  • Click the next to the Field’s name. 
  • Select an Operator.
  • Click the next to the Operator’s name. 
  • Enter the Value.

Optional: Build Multiple Conditions (AND / OR)

  • Click the next to the entered value. 
  • Select the AND or OR operator to build another Conditional, and configure it as outlined in step 7-8. 

Delete elements within a WHEN Conditional by clicking the icon on the displayed label.

  1. (Optional) Click +PATH to add a new WHEN Conditional and configure it as outlined in step 7-8.
  2. (Optional) Click the ellipsis icon next to the built WHEN Conditional to save the WHEN Conditional as a template. Once saved, it can be reused as outlined in step 7. 

Save

  1. Click SAVE to save the setup. The rule was edited successfully message appears.

The SAVE button is enabled when all the mandatory fields have been completed in the Edit Starting Rule panel.