Creating Simple Flow StructureLast Updated: 07/29/2016 Introduced in Verision: 2.0 |
A simple flow structure creates an entity that is not database-stored and is intended for use in a flow only to temporarily define a piece of data. It is simply a data structure that is not stored. Its limitation is that it can’t perform actions on itself or others. It relies on other components to manipulate it, and other entities to contain it. All you can do with it is create it and use it in the context of a flow. It will not persist beyond the execution of the flow in which it is used.
Example
We begin in the Designer Folder by navigating to Create Datatypes Action menu and picking Simple Flow Structure from its menu.
Note: In Decisions 3.2 this Action is renamed to Flow Structure and can be found under DataTypes/Database > User Defined Types category on the Folder Actions Panel.
Next, we Name our structure and click Add to add new Data Members to our structure.
Because in this example we are creating CorporatePrinter data structure we name our first data member Brand. We define its type as Text and click Ok to save and get back to our Data Structure definition.
Next we add another Data Member, isOnWarranty, and define its type Logical because it could be either Yes or No.
This completes our Data Structure definition. We click Ok to save and close our Definition window.
To test our Data Structure we Create Flow in the designer folder.
Name the flow and click Create to continue.
In the Flow Designer start-up window locate Create or Copy Data step under All Steps [Catalog] >Data category select and click Add to add it to our workspace.
We can connect this step to our start and end steps. With Create or Copy Data step selected locate Data Definitions option and click Add New to add new definition.
We are going to create an instance of Data Structure we created in the beginning. So we give our Corporate Printer a name.
Next, in the Type picker we search for the Data Type that we created and select it. We can click Ok to save and get back to our Data Definition.
This completes our Data Definition so we click Ok to save it and close Data Definition window.
Next, under Inputs options we can see our Printer. From the Mapping dropdown we pick Constant and click Value to provide our Data Structure with some Data pieces. In the Edit Object popup window we define our Printer’s brand and check isOnWarranty checkbox if our Printer is on warranty. Click Ok to save and continue.
And this completes our Simple Flow Structure definition.
