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Building and Configuring Workflows
Task Configuration
Task Configuration
The workflow configuration panel in the Workflow Editor allows you to configure task details, properties, parameters, variables, events, namespaces, and data sources for workflows.
Configuring Operator Task List Actions
Operators can perform a variety of actions with a task or task step, such as assigning priority, entering expiration reasons, cancelling, performing jumps, acquiring and releasing the task, and reassigning task steps.
Acquiring and Releasing Tasks
Task steps may be acquired by an operator if it has not already been acquired by another operator. Then, if required, an operator may release a task step so that it can be acquired by another operator.

Workflow Products Documentation

Building and Configuring Workflows
- Workflow Design Basics
- Workflow Foundations
- Task Management for Administrators
- Task Configuration
  - Task Configuration
    The workflow configuration panel in the Workflow Editor allows you to configure task details, properties, parameters, variables, events, namespaces, and data sources for workflows.
    - Developing a web form for a workflow
      This tutorial shows how you can design, develop, and use a web-based form, then add it to a simple workflow for use by an operator working in the Task List.
    - Task List Filters Configuration
      Users can perform context sensitive filtering in the Task List, which focuses a list of tasks or task steps on specific criteria.
    - Task Assignments
      Task assignments include routing workflow task to a location or personnel resource depending on the requirement of the workflow.
    - Continuously Looping Workflows
      You can configure a workflow to run the preprocess through the postprocess logic in a continuous loop.
    - Task Name
      Task Name is a general read property that is available at the workflow level.
    - Highlight Color
      Highlight Color is a general writable property that you can use to emphasize a task or task step during run time. When viewing these tasks during run time, you will observe a bar of color on the task that you set a color against.
    - Configuring Electronic Signatures
      To include a signature with a task/task step action or a form, add personnel with the authority to sign and verify forms. By default, all signatures are configured at the workflow level.
    - Automatic Task Selection
      Auto Select is a read property that is available at the workflow level. You can set a task to be selected automatically in the Task List during run time by configuring client methods or workflow activities with the Auto Select feature.
    - Parameters
      Parameters are used to pass data into and out of a workflow or subprocess, so that they can interact with other workflows and subprocesses.
    - Local Variables
      Local variables are used as local data sources that are available to the running workflow during the lifetime of the workflow instance.
    - Data Items
      Data items are data bound to data sources that are external to the current workflow. If the data item has a defined data type, then the data item acts as a local variable of that data type.
    - External Events
      External events allow the workflow or subprocess to use events defined outside of the workflow.
    - Namespaces
      A namespace is a logical design-time naming convenience, used mainly to define scope in an application and organize classes and other types in a single hierarchical structure.
    - Linked Documents
      You can link documents or web sites in workflow tasks, subprocess task steps, and schedule tasks. If the document is defined at the task level, it is visible in all task steps.
    - Work Instructions
      The Work Instructions tab is where you can input detailed instructions for a person performing a task or task step.
    - Configuring Operator Task List Actions
      Operators can perform a variety of actions with a task or task step, such as assigning priority, entering expiration reasons, cancelling, performing jumps, acquiring and releasing the task, and reassigning task steps.
      - Set the priority of a workflow task
        You can apply a numeric value for a task. This priority setting does not affect the execution of the workflow; it is used only for sorting and filtering within the Task List.
      - Set a workflow task to expire
        You can set an expiration date and/or time for workflow tasks when a workflow is running.
      - Task Priority
        Task Priority is a general read property that is available at the workflow level. Task Priority is a general read property that is available at the workflow level. You can apply a numeric value for a task. This priority setting does not affect the execution of the workflow; it is used only for sorting and filtering within the Task List.
      - Task Expiration
        Operators can enter an explanation as to why a task or task step expired.
      - Canceling Tasks
        Operators can cancel an entire task or an individual task step in the Task List.
      - Acquiring and Releasing Tasks
        Task steps may be acquired by an operator if it has not already been acquired by another operator. Then, if required, an operator may release a task step so that it can be acquired by another operator.
      - Task Jumps
        Operators can skip from one task step to another in the Task List when a workflow is running.
      - Reassigning Tasks Steps
        In an active, running workflow, operators can reassign a task step to a different person, piece of equipment, or location, as required.
- Task Step Configuration
- Global Subprocesses
- Basic Activities
- Schedules
- Faults
- Test Workflows
- Debug Workflows
- Track Data
- Web Services Service Provider
- Legacy Workflow Web Service
- Categories
- Completion Codes
- Actuals
- REST APIs

Acquiring and Releasing Tasks

Task steps may be acquired by an operator if it has not already been acquired by another operator. Then, if required, an operator may release a task step so that it can be acquired by another operator.

Note: Operators must have authorization to perform certain actions in the Task List, which can be assigned to them in the Security Editor. They may, however, still view the contents in this area.

Setting Task Steps to be Acquired

Tasks can appear in more than one Task List. For this reason, workflows are automatically set up to ensure that the first request made that acquires a task step takes ownership of that task step until it is either completed or released. If two or more operators try to acquire a task at the same time, only one is able to start the task. Subsequent personnel receive a message stating that another operator has already acquired it. If more than one user is performing a preparatory task at the same time, such as filling in a form, the first operator to submit the form receives acknowledgment for having completed the task. In some circumstances, the task step is acquired as soon as data is entered in a form.

Task steps can be acquired in several ways, such as:

using the Jump, Cancel, or Manual Start features;
submitting or cancelling a form;
programmatically acquiring the step using the client method in the Forms Designer (not available in the mobile task lists); or
marking the subprocess to automatically acquire the task step, so that the first operator whose task list is populated with the task step will acquire it.