Creating flow for task group templates

When you define an advanced task group template, you can establish how the associated task group templates and task templates relate to one another. This is called flow. The flow determines the sequence in which task group templates and task templates are generated at runtime. If the task group template contains other task group templates, these likely already have flow established between the task group templates or task templates that they contain.

A task group template's flow consists of one or more flow relationship records. Each flow relationship record consists of a task group or task template, called the predecessor, which is linked to another task group or task template, called the successor.

To indicate the first steps of the flow, you can use the Start record that is provided by the system and link it to a successor task group or task template. This successor is the first task or task group that is generated when this task template is invoked.

All active task group and task templates listed in the Current Associations table that are not identified as successors also are generated as soon as the task group template is invoked at runtime. These tasks are not part of the advanced flow and can be fulfilled at any time. Multiple instances of the same task or task group template without predecessors generate multiple instances of tasks or task groups at runtime.

To have two tasks start at the same time, you can mark them both as Start.

To have tasks or task groups occur simultaneously, you can link the same predecessor to more than one successor. To have more than one task or task group completed before a successor can start, you can link two or more predecessors to the successor. All predecessors must be completed before the successor task or task group can start.

When defining flows, ensure that you do not create loops. Be especially careful if you are linking more than one instance of the same task or task group template within the flow. Check the instance number of the task or task group in the Instance Number column to make sure that you are not linking to the same one.

All predecessors must be completed before the successor task or task group can start (unless the setting is changed to Any Complete in the Flow to Successor when field in the Qualification tab of the Flow Template form).

You can also create a qualification that is used to determine how the flow should be generated. Qualifications use data supplied by input variables to determine the flow. Before you define a qualification, you must map variables to fields on the form. Then you can define the qualification against the fields.

For example, you can use the value retrieved from a question in a variable. The flow from the task loads the variable into a working field using the flow mapping on the flow details page. The qualification references the field.

All associated tasks and task groups that are built into a task group's flow follow the defined sequence at runtime.

To create flows among associations

1. On the Task Group Template form, click the Flow tab.
   The task and task group associations that were selected in the Association tab appear in both of the tables in the upper section of the tab. If any flow relationships have been defined, they appear in the Flow Relationships table. The first task usually follows the Start point.

   Tip

   To view any of the task groups or tasks in either of the tables in the upper section of the form, double-click the task group or task in the list. It is displayed in a dialog box. You cannot make any changes in this dialog box. You cannot open the Start record. You can double-click entries in the Flow Relationships table or select an entry and use the Edit button to open a Flow Template form where you can define properties for the flow.

2. Select Start from the From Task Group or Task table, then select which task template should be the starting point from the To Task Group or Task table, and then click Flow to.
   The flow relationship record appears in the Flow Relationships table.
3. Select a task or task group in the From Task Group or Task table.
4. In the To Task Group or Task table, select the successor task group or task to be generated when the previous task is completed.
5. Click Flow to.
   The flow relationship record is created and is displayed in the Flow Relationships table.
6. If appropriate, define a qualification on the flow to limit when the flow is followed.
   For more information, see Defining-qualifications.
7. Create as many flow relationships as needed to build the entire flow for the task group template, and then click Save.
   All associated tasks and task groups that are built into a task group's flow follow the defined sequence at runtime.
8. Continue creating the task group template by defining input and output variable mappings, as described in Mapping-input-and-output-variables.