Working with Workflow Templates

There are 3 ways to define the workflow templates used to model workflows:

1. Use the workflow API to create and manage a workflow template model with WorkflowTemplateService in the Service Layer. Implement ImpEx scripts to import a workflow template definition.
2. Use the workflow workspace in Backoffice by directly creating a workflow template or configuring and managing existing workflow templates.

   Using the workflow workspace directly isn’t always the best choice, as the lack of a visual representation of the workflow structure greatly complicates the management and design of workflow templates.

3. Use the visual Workflow Template Designer, a graphical tool for creating and editing a workflow template, to offer a more visual and intuitive user experience.

In the next interaction, you will discover which approach we recommend.

Let’s now find out how to use the visual workflow template designer in Backoffice:

Here is a quick summary of the visual workflow template designer:

• It is provided in Backoffice out-of-the-box.
• It can be started when creating a workflow template .
  
• or editing an existing workflow template.
  
• It’s a visual workflow template editing tool…
  • originally based on existing functionality allowing you to visualize and monitor workflow instances that’s part of the Backoffice collaboration feature,
  • but enriched with Add, Edit, and Delete buttons along with drag-and-drop actions to help you create, edit, delete, and reposition actions, decisions, and their connections.

In addition, the tool also supports basic data validation during the workflow template design process. For example,

• it doesn't allow you to create invalid connections.
  
• and it can detect stand-alone actions or decisions that are missing connections, displaying error message when you attempt to save the workflow template.