Flowchart-style diagramming tool to build automated workflows
View Patent ↗Systems and methods described herein provide an automated workflow tool that automatically and efficiently creates an executable workflow while preventing or reducing the introduction of errors into the workflow. The tool receives a selection of a start tile. In response, the tool presents a number of selectable items to configure an action to detect that initiates execution of the start tile as the first step in the workflow. Responsive to saving a configuration of the start tile including the action, the tool determines that the configuration of the start tile instructs the tool to add a second tile connected to the start tile on the canvas of the workflow. The tool presents a number of selectable items to configure the second tile as a next step in the workflow. The tool executes the workflow configured with the start tile and the second tile responsive to detecting the action configured in the start tile.
1. A method comprising:
receiving, by an application configured to create a workflow, a request to create the workflow using a start tile placed on a user interface provided by the application;
presenting, by the application, a list of selectable items for which to configure an action of the start tile to detect to initiate execution of the start tile for the workflow, the list of selectable items managed by one or more other applications and enabled to be opened by selection via the application;
detecting, by the application, completion of configuration of the start tile with at least a selection from the list of selectable items, the configuration of the start tile being saved;
creating, by the application responsive to the detection, a subsequent tile connected to the start tile on the user interface provided by the application, wherein the subsequent tile is selectable to open and present a second user interface to configure the subsequent tile as a subsequent step in the workflow and to be executed responsive to the configuration of the start tile; and
storing, by the application, the workflow comprising at least the start tile and subsequent tile, the workflow executable responsive to detection of the action configured for the start tile.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing, by the application, the user interface in a form of a canvas upon which at least the start tile and the subsequent tile are placeable.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying, by the application, a tile completion detection process to detect completion of configuration of the start tile.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising using, by the application, a template for configuring the start tile.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining, by the application, to add the subsequent step to the workflow responsive to the detection.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the configuration of the start tile includes the action selected to perform on an item, from the list of selectable items, managed by an application of the one or more applications.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising causing, by the application, execution of the workflow responsive to detection of the action configured for the start tile.
8. A system comprising:
an application on one or more processors, coupled to memory, the application configured to create a workflow and to:
receive a request to create the workflow using a start tile placed on a user interface provided by the application;
present a list of selectable items for which to configure an action of the start tile to detect to initiate execution of the start tile for the workflow, the list of selectable items managed by one or more other applications and enabled to be opened by selection via the application;
detect completion of configuration of the start tile with at least a selection from the list of selectable items, the configuration of the start tile being saved;
create, responsive to the detection, a subsequent tile connected to the start tile on the user interface provided by the application, wherein the subsequent tile is selectable to open and present a second user interface to configure the subsequent tile as a subsequent step in the workflow and to be executed responsive to the configuration of the start tile; and
store the workflow comprising at least the start tile and subsequent tile, the workflow executable responsive to detection of the action configured for the start tile.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the application is further configured to provide the user interface in a form of a canvas upon which at least the start tile and the subsequent tile are placeable.
10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the application is further configured to apply a tile completion detection process to detect completion of configuration of the start tile.
11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the application is further configured to use a template for configuring the start tile.
12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the application is further configured to determine to add the subsequent step to the workflow responsive to the detection.
13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the configuration of the start tile includes the action selected to perform on an item, from the list of selectable items, managed by an application of the one or more applications.
14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the application is further configured to cause execution of the workflow responsive to detection of the action configured for the start tile.
15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause an application configured to create a workflow on the one or more processors to:
receive a request to create the workflow using a start tile placed on a user interface provided by the application;
present a list of selectable items for which to configure an action of the start tile to detect to initiate execution of the start tile for the workflow, the list of selectable items managed by one or more other applications and enabled to be opened by selection via the application;
detect completion of configuration of the start tile with at least a selection from the list of selectable items, the configuration of the start tile being saved;
create, responsive to the detection, a subsequent tile connected to the start tile on the user interface provided by the application, wherein the subsequent tile is selectable to open and present a second user interface to configure the subsequent tile as a subsequent step in the workflow and to be executed responsive to the configuration of the start tile; and
store the workflow comprising at least the start tile and subsequent tile, the workflow executable responsive to detection of the action configured for the start tile.
16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , further comprising instructions configured to cause the application to provide the user interface in a form of a canvas upon which at least the start tile and the subsequent tile are placeable.
17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , further comprising instructions configured to cause the application to apply a tile completion detection process to detect completion of configuration of the start tile.
18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , further comprising instructions configured to cause the application to use a template for configuring the start tile.
19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the configuration of the start tile includes the action selected to perform on an item, from the list of selectable items, managed by an application of the one or more applications.
20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , further comprising instructions configured to cause execution of the workflow responsive to detection of the action configured for the start tile.