Beyond the Flowchart
A workflow’s true power lies not just in its path, but in the rules and logic embedded at each step. Advanced Status Settings transform a simple flowchart into an intelligent, secure, and automated business process.These settings are configured by clicking on a
Status
within the workflow design canvas. They add layers of control over the transition into that status.Status
.
1. Conditions: The Gateway to a Status
Conditions act as a smart gateway that anObject
must pass through to enter a status. If the combined conditions are not met, the user is blocked from making the transition. You can set two types of conditions—Data Validation and User Permissions—and combine them for powerful control.
[Image Placeholder: A screenshot of the status configuration panel with the ‘Conditions’ tab open, showing both a data validation rule and a user permission rule configured.]
Condition Type: Data Validation
This checks the data on the Object itself before allowing the transition.- Use Case: Prevent a
Contract
from moving toSENT_FOR_SIGNATURE
unless theContract Value
field is filled out AND theLegal Approval Checklist
is 100% complete. - What you can validate:
Data Fields
(e.g., not empty),Checklists
(e.g., completion %),Sub-objects
(e.g., all sub-tasks areDONE
), and more.
Condition Type: User Permission
This checks who the user attempting the transition is, acting as a secure approval gate.- Use Case: Ensure that only a user with the ‘Manager’
Role
can move aPurchase Request
to theAPPROVED
status. - Who you can grant permission to:
User accounts
,Groups
,Roles
, and users listed inUser Fields
(like ‘Assignee’ or ‘Supervisor’).
By creating multiple transitions out of a single status, each leading to a different next status with its own unique condition, you can create dynamic routing. For example, a
REVIEW
status could have a transition to APPROVED
(if Score
<= 8) and another to NEEDS_REWORK
(if Score
> 8).2. Input Screens: Collecting Data in Context
An Input Screen is a form that automatically pops up when a user transitions an Object into this status, requiring them to fill in specific fields before the transition is complete.- Use Case: When a support ticket is moved to the
CLOSED
status, an Input Screen appears that requires the agent to fill out theResolution Summary
andTime Spent
fields. - Why it’s useful: It ensures you collect the right data at the right time, improving data quality and saving users from having to remember to go back and fill in details later.
3. Workflow Automation: Triggering Actions
You can attach a series of automated actions that fire the moment anObject
successfully enters a status.
- Use Case: When a
Candidate
Object enters theHIRED
status, a workflow automation can instantly:- Create a new
Object
in the ‘Employee Onboarding’Function
. - Update the ‘Onboarding Task’
Assignee
field to the HR team. - Send a pre-written welcome email to the candidate.
- Create a new
- Note: This is a specific type of automation tied directly to the workflow. The main
Universal Automation
engine allows for even more complex rules that can run in the background or be triggered by other events.