Create a Workflow

Workflows are processes that orchestrate a variety of actions defined between a start and an end point. These actions can be, but are not limited to:

  • Executing other workflows

  • Executing pipelines

  • File handling

  • Error messaging handling

  • Notification handling

A simple workflow is displayed below. This workflow will check if a folder is empty, if not a pipeline is executed.

Hop-Simple Workflow

Concepts

Workflows consist of actions connected by hops. In the mail example 'Start', 'Check if a folder is empty', 'Pipeline', 'Success' and 'Abort workflow' are all actions.

  • actions are the basic operations in your workflow. A workflow typically consists of actions that are chained together by hops.

  • hops link actions together. Hops can be disabled by clicking on them, or through right-click → disable.

Creation

The design and execution of workflows is very similar to that of pipelines. However, keep in mind that there are significant differences between how Hop handles workflows and pipelines under the hood.

To create a workflow, hit the 'new' icon or 'CTRL-N'. From the pop-up dialog, select 'New workflow'.

Hop - New Workflow

When you are finished with your workflow, save it. This can be done via the File menu, the icons or using CTLR s or Command s. For new workflows a file browser is displayed to navigate towards the location you want to store the file.

Add Action to your workflow

Add the following actions to your workflow and create the hops to connect them:

  • Start

  • Pipeline

  • Success

Hop - New Workflow with actions

Double-click or single-click and choose 'Edit action' to configure the action for the pipeline you just created.

In the pipeline dialog, use the 'Browse' button to select your pipeline and give the action an appropriate name, for example 'First Pipeline'.

Click 'OK'.

Hop - New Workflow pipeline action

The action items can be configured through a single click on the object. The menu displayed below will be shown based on your action object.

Workflow Action
Action Description

Copy Action to clipboard

Copy the selected action to the clipboard.

Edit the action

Edit the selected action.

Create hop

Create a hop from the selected action.

Deteach action

Detach the action from the workflow.

Edit action description

Edit the description of the action.

Delete this action

Delete the action from the workflow

Edit Custom Logging

Edit the custom log settings for this workflow. This will change the log level used for this action.

Clear Custom Logging

Clear custom log settings. This will clear the log level used for this action.

Parallel execution

Execute the next actions in parallel.

Notice how the hops in your workflow are a little different from what you’ve seen in pipeline hops.

Add a fourth action 'Abort' and create a hop from your pipeline action.

Hop - New Workflow abort

Notice how the hop between your pipeline and Abort is different from the one between pipeline and Success. The hop types used in workflows are listed below.

Hop Icon Description

Unconditional hop

Lock icon, black hop

Unconditional hops are followed no matter what the exit code (true/false) of the previous action is

Success hop

Check icon, green hop

Success hops are used when the previous action executed successfully.

Failure hop

Error icon, red hop

Failure hops are followed when the previous action failed.
The hop type can be changed by clicking on the hop’s icon.

Workflow properties

Workflow properties are a collection of properties that describe the workflow and configure its behavior.

The properties dialog can be opened by double clicking on the workflow canvas.

Following properties can be configured:

  • Workflow

  • Parameters

  • Settings

Workflow properties

The Workflow tab allows you to specify general properties about the workflow including:

Property Description

Workflow name

The name of the workflow

Synchronize name with filename

If option is enabled the filename and workflow name are synchronized.

Workflow filename

The filename of the workflow

Description

Short description of the workflow

Extended description

Long extended description of the workflow

Status

Draft or production status

Version

Description of the version

Created by

Displays the original creator of the workflow

Created at

Displays the date and time when the workflow was created.

Last modified by

Displays the last user that modified the workflow

Last modified at

Displays the date and time when the workflow was last modified.

The parameters tab allows you to specify parameters specific for the workflow. Parameters are defined by a name, a default value and a description.

Parameters properties

The settings tab allows you to pass the batch ID.

Settings properties