# Step by step: How to run a workflow

**URL:** <https://community.novulo.com/t/step-by-step-how-to-run-a-workflow/527>\
**Category:** Wiki\
**Tags:** implementation, getting-started, step-by-step\
**Created:** [October 16, 2024, 8:12am UTC](https://community.novulo.com/t/step-by-step-how-to-run-a-workflow/527 "2024-10-16T08:12:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![k.molokova](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/34f0e0/32.png) [@k.molokova](https://community.novulo.com/u/k.molokova)\
**Post date:** [October 16, 2024, 8:12am UTC](https://community.novulo.com/t/step-by-step-how-to-run-a-workflow/527/1 "2024-10-16T08:12:20Z")

</div>

> Before start \> check the post about [Workflow configuration](https://community.novulo.com/t/workflow-and-its-configuration/286)

 

## Add a workflow

Go to Views \> Workflows all \> fill in a form:

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex008/uploads/novulo/original/1X/3f84df3a07d7a89d71e7800dfe787ec39ece4cfc.png)

- **Configuration** = workflow configuration,
- Description,
- **Status** ,
- Foreground,
- Queue name,
- **Sheduled action** ,
- Current step \> step within steps in the selected workflow configuration.

## Debug

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex008/uploads/novulo/original/1X/d3656e29f23ddd85edb1193013ffbfa32037c276.png)

For the first run set debug mode = yes. In the debug mode you can confirm each step and see it performes as expected and the transitions are correct. In debug mode = no \> a workflow run from the beginning to the end without pauses.

When the debug mode is set to true, you can set mannually status and current step.

A workflow will run with the default settings: set a [workflow configuration](https://community.novulo.com/t/workflow-and-its-configuration/286) and a description \> set debug = yes \> save \> run one step:

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex008/uploads/novulo/original/1X/db06af690e39a5e9442069e5c00e2e3598a41e2e.png)

## Status

This field is set automatically when the workflow is running and shows the current status of a workflow.

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex008/uploads/novulo/original/1X/1e54adf693fd6887f9422b945c3b5c8afb46cab3.png)

## Scheduled action

You can choose to run a workflow from the current ste or determine next step yourself:

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex008/uploads/novulo/original/1X/e9a99915ea1f368de649ca01088c83f21bd3749e.png)

If you set “Determine next step” \> you can choose from all steps available from the selected workflow configurations:

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex008/uploads/novulo/original/2X/a/a7dbe2c228f53bbe325f9441442fc1d23726e0ac.png)

Your workflow continues from the selected current step.

## Current step

This field is set automatically when the workflow is running and shows on which step workflow is.

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex008/uploads/novulo/original/1X/62a404dd5e04622c1cb4e4f02e848125af976ca4.png)

## Workflow parameters

You can also add the starting values = workflow parameters, if any are required.

## Workflow state values

The records are added automatically when the workflow is running: what was the step and what is the value it returned.

## User input

If you set user interaction steps \> inputs, buttons will be visible while running a workflow. In the example below the current step = user\_input\_date and we are waiting for a user to answer a question (choose a date) and click on the button:

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex008/uploads/novulo/original/1X/f34d615fffa1d74de5f693793450abec7010adbb.png)

## How to run a workflow

You can start a workflow from the workflow form \> as soon as you filled in the form and saved it \> the button is visible:

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex008/uploads/novulo/original/1X/ee87e94c4da77866934006ca791503cc105f6136.png)

You can use the “Start workflow” process from the Process action definitions (as a step with the type = Process call \> Process call = “Start workflow”). Make sure that a workflow configuration used by the process has a parameter with an exact corresponding parameter (be very attentive while setting a data type, for example).

_For instance_: M3035 starts a workflow for its marketing track functionality, always containing at least the parameter “marketingtrack”. So a workflow configuration for marketing tracks always has to have “Requires initial state” set to yes, and contain the parameter “marketingtraject”.

## FAQ

[WIP]

### Why can’t I refer to my previous step?

- check the name you are trying to refer if there are no typos;
- check the [Context](https://community.novulo.com/t/expressions-in-novulo/156) (in the field where you want to type an expression \> type “this.” + Crtl + space to see which variables are available to refer to)

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex008/uploads/novulo/original/1X/5279100a7cb0ac48884169e572a8b577c819c746.png)

### I got the parameter error

- check name and data type of the parameter if they are valid.

### Error “No more steps are available”

Check if the last step in your workflow configuration has outgoing transaction(s) from this step to “None”.