Flows builder

The ProcessMIX Flow component is a workflow process engine. Flow describes the order in which a series of steps must be executed. They are depicted using nodes. It consists of several parts: Advanced Diagram Editor (ADE), flow settings, and nodes settings.

Flow settings are used to set up flows, and edit their properties such as flow name, input parameters, output parameters, and local variables.

Node settings are used to set up the specific node in the flow, edit their properties such as node name, and other specific parameters, such as assign value to the input/output/local variable, choose an asset to work with and its parameters, function to execute, etc. Node settings are available by clicking on the node.

Advanced Diagram Editor (ADE) is used to build a flow from the provided nodes.

Video tutorial about how the flow works here How to create a simple flow

How to create the first Flow?

After the project has been created and you have started working on it, you will be redirected to the Integrated Development Environment (IDE). Here you can see the project working environment. Use it to create a model of decision-making and manage your solutions.

When you start a project, you can create your first flow in two ways:

The first way. Create a flow by clicking on New Flow in the central part of IDE.

The second way. Go to Flows on the Project Explorer panel — left panel. Make sure you are in the Flows section. Now create a flow by clicking on the icon on the top of the Explorer panel. To create a flow in a folder you need to select the desired folder and then click on the icon. In the pop-up window, enter the flow name and click the CREATE button.fgfgn

The third way. Go to Flows on the Project Explorer panel — left panel. Make sure you are in the Flows section. Right-click to open the context menu on the Explorer panel. Clicks New Flow. In the pop-up window, enter the flow name and click the CREATE button.

Now your first flow has been created.

How to work with Flow?

Every Flow is a set of nodes. A Node is the basic computing element of ProcessMIX, and with its help, information processing is executed.

ProcessMIX has different types of nodes, each responsible for a particular type of information processing logic. By combining nodes, a user makes processes that handle incoming and outgoing values.

How to use Flow settings to build flow?

First, you need to configure the settings flow, which is available in the right panel of the builder.

• Initialize variables. This attribute declares the way the output and local variables will be initialized.
  Let’s see an example:
  Checkbox is unchecked: Output and local variables are all equal to NULL. Use the ‘initialize’ or ‘initializeDeep’ functions to initialize output or local variables.
  Checkbox is checked: Output and local variables are initialized with default values.
• Description. Description (optional) will help you to understand the purpose and function of the process.
• Inputs parameter and data type. Define the input parameters that a flow can operate against and their type. What the flow will take as input after the application is generated.
• Local variables and data type. Local variables are used for mapping source elements, mapping functions, or constants to a specific target element. They are declared and used only for the specific target element or attribute for which they are declared. 
• Data type of the output parameter. Define the output parameters: what type of parameters will be returned once the Flow has finished executing.

Supported data types

• Boolean — value “true” or “false”
• String — text, for example, “Peter Petenson”
• Integer — number, for example, “22”
• Float — floating-point or decimal number, for example, “0.1234”
• Date — specify the date value in the format format yyyy-mm-dd, for example ‘’1993-05-31’’
• Custom — any arbitrary structures that can be created in the Structure builder or default structures.пр

Operations with inputs parameter and local variables

Select input parameters or local variables on Flow settings. By clicking the right mouse button, a context menu opens through which a number of operations are available.

Let’s see what operations are possible here:

• Add — allows you to add a new parameter or local variables.
• Clone — allows you to create a clone of the parameter or local variables. The cloned parameter will have a name as the Name of the parent parameter or local variables + Clone(n).
• Rename — allows you to rename the parameter or local variables.
• Delete — allows you to delete the parameter or local variables.
• Selection of a data type of the parameters or local variables — allows you to change the type of the parameter or local variables.

How to build Flow and work with nodes?

After creation, each Flow consists of 2 nodes:

IN — start point of flow,

OUT — end point of flow

The node panel is a vertical panel, located on the left, where you can add nodes to the ADE.
You can read which nodes are provided in the application in the corresponding section.
The order of nodes and their number in one thread are not limited, so you can create processes of any complexity. Also split processes into separate flows and connect them using a subflow node.
The order of execution of operations in a flow is determined by the order of nodes.

As new nodes are added to the flow, each next node gets access to the structures generated as a result of the work of the previous node.

Operations with nodes

Let’s see what operations are possible here:

• Add nodes. Click on the required node on the vertical panel and drag it to the workspace. Place the node on the desired connection arrow or empty workspace.
• Move nodes. Click on the required node on the ADE and drag it to the workspace.
• Connect nodes. Click on the connector arrows present in most nodes. When a node is placed on a connector arrow that connects other nodes, the arrow interrupts, and the chain of nodes accepts the moved node if it has no connections with other nodes. All nodes except IN and OUT should have an incoming connection, and all nodes, except OUT, should have an outgoing connection.
• Increase/decrease nodes size. Scroll the mouse wheel.

Select node on ADE. By clicking the right mouse button, a context menu opens through which a number of operations are available.

• Clone — allows you to create a clone of the node. The cloned node will have a name as the Name of the parent node + Clone(n).
• Cut — allows you to cut nodes for later transfer.
• Copy — allows you to copy the node for later transferring it.
• Delete — allows you to delete the node.

Operations with Flow

Select Flow on the Project Explorer panel — left end panel. By clicking the right mouse button, a context menu opens through which a number of operations are available.

Let’s see what operations are possible here:

• Edit or simply click on the name of the flow — allows you to open the Flow Builder with the properties of the flow. The flow will open in a new tab.
• Copy — allows you to copy the flow for later transferring it.
• Clone — allows you to create a clone of the flow. The cloned flow will have a name as the Name of the parent flow + Clone(n).
• Cut — allows you to cut flow for later transfer.
• Paste — allows you to paste flow. Is not available unless you have previously used the Copy or Cut options.
• Rename — allows you to rename the flow.
• Delete — allows you to delete the flow.