Decision Flow

Decision Flow is the Author Studio modeling tool that allows you to visually model a flow for a decision and generate the logic and rule set structures in Author Studio.

Navigate to Decision Flow

1. Select a Rule Application and click on the Decisions tab in the navigation pane.
   
   
   
2. Click on New Decision. Decision Flow is not available on existing decisions. 
   
   
   
3. Decision Flow is located inside the Decision under the Parameters section. 
   
   
   

Enable or Disable Decision Flow

To turn on or off Decision Flow, click on the box next to Decision Flow in the top right corner of the Decision workspace. 

When you turn on Decision Flow, you will see a warning for Overwrite Risk.

If you click on Confirm, anything you have created in the DecisionStart Rule Set will be deleted.

Decision Flow Overview

1. Decision Flow Features

This section explains the different features located in the Decision Flow toolbar.

• Expand canvas tool
  You can use the expand canvas tool to add or remove space in your flow. If you would like to add additional symbols somewhere in the middle of the flow, use the expand tool to move the symbols to the side to create space. The tool can also be used to remove space if you would like to narrow the space between your symbols in the flow. 
  
  
  
• High contrast mode
  High contrast mode makes the flow easier to view when there is a poor color rendition, for example when you view the flow via a screen or projector.
  
  
  
• Fit to page
  The Fit to page function will readjust the zoom and position of the flow so you can see the entire Decision Flow. 
  
  
  
• Zoom
  The Zoom level feature will let you zoom in and out of the Decision Flow using the mouse wheel. Clicking on the Zoom icon will reset the Decision Flow to 100%. If zooming with the mouse wheel does not work, the Scroll to pan feature might be active. 
  
  
  
• Scroll to pan
  The Scroll to pan function lets you scroll in the Decision Flow using your mouse wheel instead of zooming. You can still zoom in to the flow by holding down the ALT key while using the mouse.
  

2. Decision Flow Tools

Decision Flow tools are found on the left side of Decision Flow. These are the building blocks of flows.

• Start Event
  All flows must start with a start event.
  
  
  
• Rule Set
  This symbol represents the Rule Sets in your flow.
  
  
  
• Conditional Block
  Conditional blocks allow you to add logic to your flow. 
  
  
  
• End Event
  All flows must end with an end event.
  
  
  
• Annotation Box
  This feature lets you add metadata to your flow without impacting execution.
  
  
  
• Transition
  You can click on a transition to open the configuration panel for it.
  

3. Decision Flow Actions 

• Clipboard
  This menu gives the option to copy and paste flows from one Decision's Decision Flow workspace to another.
  
  
  
• Save
  The Decision Flow does not save automatically, so remember to save your changes.
  If the button is blue, it means not all of your changes have been saved. Click on the button to save the changes.
  
  
  If the button is grey, it means all changes are saved. 
  
  
  
• Apply
  Click on Apply to generate the logic and rule set structures in Author Studio.
  
  If the button is greyed out it is because you need to save your flow before applying it. 
  
  
  
• Keyboard Shortcuts
  Clicking on this button opens a list of keyboard shortcuts that work in the Decision Flow.
  

4. Configuration Panel

When you select an element in your Decision Flow, the configuration panel displays the editable elements for that item. 

Creating a Decision Flow

1. Begin modeling your flow by dragging a start event onto the workspace. 
   
   
   
2. Model your Decision Flow by adding your desired rule sets and conditional blocks. 
   
   
   
3. To add the conditions, click on the transitions connected to the conditional blocks. In the Configuration Panel you can make the following customizations: 
   
   
   1. Title - Here you can name the condition.
   2. Description - This is where you can write a description of the condition. 
   3. Is default transition - Turn this on if you want this path to be the default transition. 
   4. Sequence number - This allows you to select if you would like the conditions to be checked in a specific sequence. If you want this condition to be checked first, enter "1" for this condition and "2" for the second condition. 
   5. Condition - This is where you can enter the parameters for the condition. Conditions are written in the same syntax here as in Author Studio and irAuthor. When writing conditions in a Decision Flow, you must use the Input parameters set up in the Parameters section of the Decision. For more information on writing conditions, see the article Working with Calculations.
4. Once you are satisfied with your flow and all elements have been given a proper name, save the flow and select Apply. 
   
   
   
5. Your newly created Decisions will appear below the Decision Flow editor. Rule Sets created in the Decisions section are not accessible via the Rule Sets section. 
6. After you Apply the Decision Flow, you can continue to use the Decision Flow tool, once you select Apply again, the existing rule sets will be updated. Changing the name of the rule sets in the rule set list in Author Studio will not change the name of the rule set in the Decision Flow editor.

Current Decision Flow Limitations

• There is no Decision Flow available for existing Rule Applications. You must create the Decision Flow on your own.
• If you have created and applied a Decision Flow, Changing the name of the rule sets in Author Studio will not change the name of the rule set in the Decision Flow editor. 
• You can not call existing rule sets from the Decision Flow editor.

Validating Decision Flows 

Decisions created via Decision Flow are validated in the same way as other decisions. See the article Validate here for information on validating your decisions.