I am trying to create a workflow that would be manually activated asking the user for certain information such as should I use data from 2 DBs or just one of them, then take different paths per the answer? Not sure if this is possible, so I figured I would ask.

Thanks!

------------------------------
Nick Mumaw
------------------------------

If undderstand right:

1. If you want manually activate a workflow you need to use Rule (type: 'menu item') and additionally use 'Activity Fields' where you can add a question for users about DBs which will be used.
2. The second way is using 'Exclusive Gateway' in workflow where you should specify a condition depended on the certain field. Value of the field have to be selected by user: '2DBs' or 'only one'

------------------------------
Igor Talankin
------------------------------

Hey Igor,

Sorry for the late response. I didn't see the response. Your understanding is correct. The problem I am having though is more in the second part. I want to create a loop basically in the workflow. My understanding in talking with IBM was that this is not possible. I need to take the DT that the user selected and then iterate through that list to send one email at a time until I hit the end of the list, then finish the rest of the workflow. Basically the beginning of the workflow would use the Exclusive Gateway to read from either or both of the DTs at hand, then the second part would, based on the users input, would either send one big email with everyone included or send 1 email at a time per line from the DT.

I know the rest of this was not included in the initial request/question, but figured I would explain my situation more.

Thanks!

------------------------------
Nick Mumaw
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: Mon December 16, 2019 10:29 AM
From: Igor Talankin
Subject: Attempting to Make a Workflow that has Multiple Paths

If undderstand right:

1. If you want manually activate a workflow you need to use Rule (type: 'menu item') and additionally use 'Activity Fields' where you can add a question for users about DBs which will be used.
2. The second way is using 'Exclusive Gateway' in workflow where you should specify a condition depended on the certain field. Value of the field have to be selected by user: '2DBs' or 'only one'

------------------------------
Igor Talankin
------------------------------

Actually I faced to similar issue recently (I needed to add/update/process each cell and avoid duplicates) and I decided that using function is the best way to process DTs.
You can use 'Data Table Helper Functions' to understand how to work with DTs then develop own function - that was my way.
I found out - in any unclear situation use function:)

------------------------------
Igor Talankin
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: Tue February 25, 2020 11:56 AM
From: Nick Mumaw
Subject: Attempting to Make a Workflow that has Multiple Paths

Hey Igor,

Sorry for the late response. I didn't see the response. Your understanding is correct. The problem I am having though is more in the second part. I want to create a loop basically in the workflow. My understanding in talking with IBM was that this is not possible. I need to take the DT that the user selected and then iterate through that list to send one email at a time until I hit the end of the list, then finish the rest of the workflow. Basically the beginning of the workflow would use the Exclusive Gateway to read from either or both of the DTs at hand, then the second part would, based on the users input, would either send one big email with everyone included or send 1 email at a time per line from the DT.

I know the rest of this was not included in the initial request/question, but figured I would explain my situation more.

Thanks!

------------------------------
Nick Mumaw
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: Mon December 16, 2019 10:29 AM
From: Igor Talankin
Subject: Attempting to Make a Workflow that has Multiple Paths

If undderstand right:

1. If you want manually activate a workflow you need to use Rule (type: 'menu item') and additionally use 'Activity Fields' where you can add a question for users about DBs which will be used.
2. The second way is using 'Exclusive Gateway' in workflow where you should specify a condition depended on the certain field. Value of the field have to be selected by user: '2DBs' or 'only one'

------------------------------
Igor Talankin

I agree that is what I am seeing too. I just find that it is strange that basic functionality like doing a check for something then moving back to a previous point on a workflow is not capable. I would like to see this change as I don't think I should have to build another function to send emails when the capability should already be in the platform.

Thanks and hopefully you resolved our issue as well!

------------------------------
Nick Mumaw
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: Wed February 26, 2020 01:20 AM
From: Igor Talankin
Subject: Attempting to Make a Workflow that has Multiple Paths

Actually I faced to similar issue recently (I needed to add/update/process each cell and avoid duplicates) and I decided that using function is the best way to process DTs.
You can use 'Data Table Helper Functions' to understand how to work with DTs then develop own function - that was my way.
I found out - in any unclear situation use function:)

------------------------------
Igor Talankin
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: Tue February 25, 2020 11:56 AM
From: Nick Mumaw
Subject: Attempting to Make a Workflow that has Multiple Paths

Hey Igor,

Sorry for the late response. I didn't see the response. Your understanding is correct. The problem I am having though is more in the second part. I want to create a loop basically in the workflow. My understanding in talking with IBM was that this is not possible. I need to take the DT that the user selected and then iterate through that list to send one email at a time until I hit the end of the list, then finish the rest of the workflow. Basically the beginning of the workflow would use the Exclusive Gateway to read from either or both of the DTs at hand, then the second part would, based on the users input, would either send one big email with everyone included or send 1 email at a time per line from the DT.

I know the rest of this was not included in the initial request/question, but figured I would explain my situation more.

Thanks!

------------------------------
Nick Mumaw


Original Message:
Sent: Mon December 16, 2019 10:29 AM
From: Igor Talankin
Subject: Attempting to Make a Workflow that has Multiple Paths

If undderstand right:

1. If you want manually activate a workflow you need to use Rule (type: 'menu item') and additionally use 'Activity Fields' where you can add a question for users about DBs which will be used.
2. The second way is using 'Exclusive Gateway' in workflow where you should specify a condition depended on the certain field. Value of the field have to be selected by user: '2DBs' or 'only one'

------------------------------
Igor Talankin

Nick, we are tracking this need here as an RFE/Idea: Step-back in workflow
https://2e4ccba981d63ef83a875dad7396c9a0.ideas.aha.io/ideas/R-I-107

It is certainly a gap in the workflow feature, which is why I tend to not to use them for process. The Workflow always wants to move forward to completion. You could try and mesh all of the Tasks, however one of the main issues there is facing infinite loops.

If possible I would evaluate using Rules for this particular part of your Playbook, as they add more flexibility as they can add and mark Tasks inactive on an Incident.

Approaching this with a Workflow, if you were able to either:

1. Terminate the Workflow, set the "new path" condition values, then re-trigger the Workflow, then it should work as desired.
2. Terminate the Workflow, in this case re-open the Task where the user makes the Field value choice that sets the Exclusive Gateway condition (before the exclusive gateway), then it should work as desired.

Keep in mind, I haven't tested the above (1/2) nor am recommending it as a solution. This should be addressed as a core feature enhancement to Workflows.

Note, all Tasks added to an Incident by a Workflow will persist. They will not be removed from the Incident as if they were added by the Rule.

------------------------------
Brenden Glynn
CISSP, GCIH
Incident Response Business Consultant
IBM Resilient
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: Thu February 27, 2020 10:28 AM
From: Nick Mumaw
Subject: Attempting to Make a Workflow that has Multiple Paths

I agree that is what I am seeing too. I just find that it is strange that basic functionality like doing a check for something then moving back to a previous point on a workflow is not capable. I would like to see this change as I don't think I should have to build another function to send emails when the capability should already be in the platform.

Thanks and hopefully you resolved our issue as well!

------------------------------
Nick Mumaw
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: Wed February 26, 2020 01:20 AM
From: Igor Talankin
Subject: Attempting to Make a Workflow that has Multiple Paths

Actually I faced to similar issue recently (I needed to add/update/process each cell and avoid duplicates) and I decided that using function is the best way to process DTs.
You can use 'Data Table Helper Functions' to understand how to work with DTs then develop own function - that was my way.
I found out - in any unclear situation use function:)

------------------------------
Igor Talankin


Original Message:
Sent: Tue February 25, 2020 11:56 AM
From: Nick Mumaw
Subject: Attempting to Make a Workflow that has Multiple Paths

Hey Igor,

Sorry for the late response. I didn't see the response. Your understanding is correct. The problem I am having though is more in the second part. I want to create a loop basically in the workflow. My understanding in talking with IBM was that this is not possible. I need to take the DT that the user selected and then iterate through that list to send one email at a time until I hit the end of the list, then finish the rest of the workflow. Basically the beginning of the workflow would use the Exclusive Gateway to read from either or both of the DTs at hand, then the second part would, based on the users input, would either send one big email with everyone included or send 1 email at a time per line from the DT.

I know the rest of this was not included in the initial request/question, but figured I would explain my situation more.

Thanks!

------------------------------
Nick Mumaw


Original Message:
Sent: Mon December 16, 2019 10:29 AM
From: Igor Talankin
Subject: Attempting to Make a Workflow that has Multiple Paths

If undderstand right:

1. If you want manually activate a workflow you need to use Rule (type: 'menu item') and additionally use 'Activity Fields' where you can add a question for users about DBs which will be used.
2. The second way is using 'Exclusive Gateway' in workflow where you should specify a condition depended on the certain field. Value of the field have to be selected by user: '2DBs' or 'only one'

------------------------------
Igor Talankin