Parallel State Transitions

You can have many workflow state transitions between two states. This is useful, for example, to specify many automatic transitions based on different criteria. For information about creating state transitions, see Adding State Transitions to a Workflow.

Example: Creating a Workflow with a Parallel State Transition

Let's say that we want to edit an existing sample vault workflow, such as Reviewing drawings. The goal is to have an object automatically moved to the Rejected state if no one moves it from the Listed for approval state to the Approved (or Rejected) state within 10 days.



The workflow moves an object to the Rejected state automatically if no one moves it to the Approved state.

To edit the workflow:

  1. Open M-Files Admin.
  2. In the left-side tree view, expand a connection to M-Files server.
  3. Expand Document Vaults.
  4. Expand a vault.
  5. Select Workflows.
    Result:The Graphical Workflow Designer is opened.
  6. In the list of workflows, select a workflow. For example, Reviewing drawings.
    Result:The workflow opens in the graphical workflow designer.
  7. Click New State in Tools.
    If you already have a Rejected state in your workflow, skip this and the next step, and go to step 9.
    Result:The State Properties dialog opens.
  8. In the Name field, enter Rejected and click OK.
  9. In the designer, place your cursor on the border of the Listed for approval state.
    Result:The cursor changes to a crosshair.
  10. Hold the primary mouse button and drag the crosshair to the Rejected state.
    Result:A state transition arrow is added between the workflow states.
  11. Do the steps 9 and 10 again to draw one more state transition.
  12. Select one of the state transition arrows and select Edit Transition in Tools.
    If you see only one arrow between the states, it is possible that the arrows are on top of each other. Click the topmost arrow and drag the handles to reshape the arrow.
  13. Go to the Trigger tab.
  14. Select the Trigger the state transition after option, and enter 10 in the days field.
  15. Click OK to close the State Transition dialog.
  16. In the designer, click Save.
You now have a workflow with two parallel state transitions from the Listed for approval state to the Rejected state. One state transition is initiated by users and another is triggered automatically if users did not initiate the parallel state transition in 10 days.