In general terms of parameters in WF4.5, there are three main concepts: Variables, Arguments and Expressions. The definitions for each are that Variables are used to store data within a workflow workflow, Arguments are used to passing data and Expressions are used for manipulating data inside a workflow. In workflow Designer panel there is a custom panel for Variables, Arguments and Imports.
Variables
Variables can be defined at different scopes (sequence, flowchart etc.).
A new variable for the workflow workflow can be created in 2 different ways:
- from the Variables tab: click on the “Variables” button in workflow Designer -> Variables panel, after you have selected an activity to set the scope of the variable(for example: main Sequence activity of the workflow):
- from the activity: in the text editor insert the desired name for the new variable and click the + button. A new variable with the needed type will be automatically added and will be visible in the Variables tab:
If the workflow has predefined variables, they will be visible in the Variables panel. In order to edit existent variables, click on the correspondent variable row and perform desired editing.
An existing variable can be binded to a property of an activity by clicking the button (Quick Binding). A list with all defined variables will be displayed:
To define a new variable, click on "Create variable" row and choose proper values for "Variable Type", "Scope" and "Default" columns.
Arguments
Arguments are used to define the flow of data in and out of a specific activity. Arguments may be: In, Out, In / Out or Property. When building a workflow workflow, arguments are defined to allow data to be passed into the workflow workflow when it is executed outside Designer Basic (for example, Flowster Studio - Portal) . The arguments are defined in the same manner as variables in workflow Designer->Arguments panel.
If the workflow has predefined arguments, they will be visible in the Arguments panel. In order to edit existent arguments, click on the correspondent argument row and perform desired editing.
To define a new argument, click on "Create argument" row and choose proper values for "Direction", "Argument Type" and "Default values" columns.