User Guide > Objects > Alphabetical Listing > Variables & Prompts Tab

Variables & Prompts Tab

The Variables & Prompts tab can be used to change the values of object and PromptSet variables of workflow tasks. In doing so, you can activate workflow tasks with particular values.

This tab is structured in a similar way to the Variables & Prompts tab of objects. PromptSet objects and object variables that are assigned to the object are listed and their values can be modified as necessary. Modifications only apply to the Workflow tab and do not affect other executions. To get the original values back again, remove the object from the workflow and add it again.

The nodes "Parent PromptSets" and "Parent Values" provide an overview of the workflow's PromptSet objects and object variables. These values are displayed but cannot be changed.

To adjust the task's PromptSet values, you directly modify the PromptSet element.

When you want to use variables in the value as well, you click on the blue text that displays next to the elements. The effect is that the PromptSet elements change into a gray text field that bears the name of the related PromptSet variable. In this specific text field, you can enter the predefined variable and the object or PromptSet variables of the workflow (parent) with a leading &.
You can select predefined variables by using a dialog that opens when you click the button. Note that this button is only active when the text cursor is positioned within a gray text field.
To change the PromptSet element back to its original view, you click the blue text again. By doing so, your entries will be deleted.

For example:

Variable names of one of the workflow's PromptSet elements include: &PARENT#
Variable name of one of the workflow task's PromptSet elements: &CHILD#
To pass the workflow values on to the task, click on the blue text of the PromptSet element with the variable &CHILD# and enter &PARENT in the text field. Examples include:

- &textfield1#
- text_&textfield1#
- &textfield1#_text
- &date1#_&date2#

To show the variable names and values of the workflow's PromptSet elements, select the menu item "Parent PromptSets" and click on the text next to it. The variable name is shown on the left and the corresponding value is shown next to it.

You can also use predefined variables as values for object and PromptSet variables. To use predefined variables as values of PromptSet elements, click on the element text. You can open the dialog for variable selection via the button at the right lower edge.

In this tab, you cannot add new PromptSet elements and object variables.

Note that the prompts of objects that have been activated through the Else conditions in the workflow properties are not displayed (for example: Dependencies tab - Else - Execute). The same applies if EXECUTE OBJECTaction is used in the Preconditions and Postconditions tab.

General Options for the PromptSets of a Workflow Task 

By default, the PromptSets of workflow tasks do not appear. When your start a workflow, only its own PromptSets will be displayed. The PromptSet values that are specified for the individual tasks (default values) are used. No user input is required.

To change this behavior, you switch to the General tab. In "Task Prompts", you will see two different options which you can use to manipulate the PromptSet behavior of the related workflow task.

Restarting a workflow has the effect that the PromptSet dialog of this workflow displays the values of its last run. The PromptSet dialogs of the workflow's tasks display the default values that have been specified in the properties or the object definitions. 

Note that both options are grayed out if no PromptSet objects are assigned to the task.

Option Description
Show Prompts of task

Calls the PromptSets of the particular workflow task.

The point in time depends on the task's generation time or the option Resolve Prompt values on generating workflow (see table below).

Resolve Prompt values on generating workflow

The PromptSets of the workflow task are resolved when the workflow is generated. This option overrides the object setting "Generate at runtime".

 

 

The PromptSet input dialog is called when PromptSets are resolved provided that the option Show Prompts of task is activated. Otherwise, the PromptSet variables are created by using the specified values (default values). If predefined variables are used within PromptSet values, they are replaced by the corresponding value when they are resolved.

Task PromptSets that should be called when the workflow is generated are displayed after the workflow's PromptSets (if available) in the particular order in which the tasks are available in the workflow. In this case, you cannot return to previously confirmed Prompt dialogs. Canceling a PromptSet dialog has the effect that the complete workflow's generation process is canceled.

The following table lists the various PromptSet behaviors of workflow tasks depending on the above options and the setting "Generate at runtime".

Workflow properties Object - Generate at runtime Behavior
Show Prompts of task Resolve Prompt values on generating Workflow
      The task's PromptSets are not displayed.
PromptSet values are resolved when the workflow is generated.
    The task's PromptSets are not displayed.
PromptSet values are resolved when the workflow starts.
    The task's PromptSets are displayed when the workflow is generated.
  PromptSets are only displayed when the workflow task starts.
    The task's PromptSets are not displayed.
PromptSet values are resolved when the workflow is generated.
  The task's PromptSets are not displayed.
PromptSet values are resolved when the workflow is generated.
  The task's PromptSets are displayed when the workflow is generated.
The task's PromptSets are displayed when the workflow is generated.

 

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