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nameWhatIsAnActionflow

What is an Actionflow?

diagrams that represent

An Actionflow is a diagram that represents a sequence of actions and data flows within an application

control

. It controls the interactions users have with an application and its data, e.g. opening a new screen to edit data

belong to an application or package, and can be reused in multiple locations within your application but with different inputs, e.g

.

address cleansing/finder

Actionflows are composed of individual

actions (represented as nodes) that 

actions nodes that each perform a specific task, e.g. opening a screen or saving data

, and have input and output connections to screens, buttons, tables or

tables
  • are designed to be composable, e.g. can be combined and are "data agnostic"
  • are represented

    other Actionflows.

    Actionflows belong to an application or package, and are represented by the Image Modified icon

    COMPOSABLE DEFINITION: Composable architecture is a microservices approach to building your tech stack, combining a constellation of different reusable technologies to create one unified system that can communicate via APIs. This breaks down complex ecosystems into more manageable chunks for better oversight, flexibility, and adaptability

    .




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    nameExample

    Example Actionflow

    This is an

    For this example Actionflow

    where a

    , the user clicks

    to save data.

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    a button to trigger the Actionflow that saves a new record containing the text "New".

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    Tip

    Click on any image to see it in a larger window.



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    nameWhyAreActionflowsUsed

    Why are Actionflows used in PhixFlow?

    Actionflows make PhixFlow applications interactive. They convert a static screen into a user interface

    ,

    by combining

    simple

    individual actions into

    complex

    advanced functionality. This enables

    the

    an application user to interact with the screens and data.

    Reusability ...

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    The Principles of Actionflows (put in own page)

    1. All Actionflows require an input, this can be data or an input action (user interaction or scheduled task/task plan)
    2. To use data within an action node it must be mapped into an input parameter for that node
    3. Action nodes return data to the Actionflow as Output Attributes
    4. Actionflows only require minimal data to be mapped in for it to run, e.g. just the primary key, because we can look the data up using a unique identifier (UID)
    2. Getting to Know Actionflows

    Actionflows are composable and reusable across an application but with different inputs connected, making Actionflows "data agnostic" and flexible, and ultimately saving time and effort. 




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    nameSimpleOverview

    Actionflow Simplified Overview  

    The following diagram illustrates a simplified view of an Actionflow that is being used by two different applications.

    The Actionflow is set up to take in a value, Area Code, and return an value, Normalised Area Code, in the form of an Output value. The Contact App maps a Postcode onto the Area Code, this is then processed by the Actionflow to produce a Normalised Area Code, and the Actionflow returns a normalised version of the Postcode. The Logistics App also uses the Actionflow, which is a different instance, and this time a Zip Code is mapped in.

    The returned Output can be used by the applications, for example, mapping the output onto a form field on a screen to display it.   

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    How to Create Actionflows

    On a screen, any component that has an 

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     tab can be configured to trigger an Actionflow to run. 

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    On a screen, click a component to display its properties. Components that can have Actionflows are:

    • buttons
    • grid views
    • card/containers
    • areas
    • form fields

    Create via Buttons

    Right click on a button and select Add Actionflow.
    Adding an actionflow by right-click on a buttonImage Added

    Create via Event Handler

    In the component properties →

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     Settings, in the Event Handler section, click 
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    .

    1. Event Type: select an event type
    2. Action Method: select Actionflow
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    4. Actionflow: click 
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    Create via Action Settings

    Add via an action directly.

    1. Action Method: select Actionflow
    2. Actionflow: click 
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