Creating and Linking Steps

The steps in a workflow and the links between those steps indicate all the possible paths than an item can take through a workflow.

Every step in a workflow has the same name as an enumerated value in the workflow control property. Normally every enabled enumerated value appears as a step in the workflow, but this is not enforced.

You can:

• Create steps manually by drawing them in the workspace.
• Create steps automatically by listing them in the Next Steps tab of the Edit Step dialog box.
• Use standard graphical features such as aligning, resizing, and repositioning to give steps an acceptable look.

You link two steps to show that items can transition from the first step to the second in the direction of the link. When an item’s workflow control property is set to the value represented by the first step, the user who is editing the item can select the value represented by the second step. For example, suppose the workflow control property contains steps named “1. New” and “2a. Open”. If you link the step “1. New” to the step “2a. Open”, then when an item has the value “1. New”, the user can select “2a. Open” as the next value.

You can:

• Create links from an entry step to other steps. You cannot reenter the step designated as the entry step.
• Create links between any two non-entry steps in either direction.
• Change the step to which the link points.
• Delete the link.
• Reposition the link so that you can more easily see its path in the workspace. This includes adjusting the location where the ends of the link contact the steps as well as adding link points to bend the link as it travels from one step to the other.
• Apply a color to the link.

There are no alignment and sizing features available for links.