Action Tool

The Action tool updates the configuration of a workflow with values provided by interface questions, when run as an app or macro.

The Action tool has two incoming connection anchors:

The Input Connector accepts the output connections of Interface tools that use the same graphic. This Input connector accepts multiple inputs. It is the value from the incoming tool that will be applied to the Action and sent to update the downstream tool.

The Condition Anchor accepts the output of a Condition tool.

The Action tool has one outgoing connection anchor:

- The Lightning Bolt Anchor will connect to the Lightning Bolt input of a workflow tool. The connection between these anchors contains the user's value from the interface tool and the method of how it will update the connected workflow tool with that value.

Configuration Properties

The action tool has many possible configurations but only those actions that make sense based on the incoming and outgoing connections will be visible, therefore taking the guesswork out of which options to pick.

  1. Before configuring an Action tool, make sure it is connected - ensure it has an incoming and outgoing connection.
  2. If you draw a connection from a Question tool to a workflow tool, a configured Action tool will be placed automatically in between the tools.

  3. Select an Action Type. If the tool is connected to an incoming and outgoing tool, the list of available action types will be pared down.
  4. Based on the Action Type and tool you are updating, click the element of the tool configuration to be updated.
  5. Complete the configuration as necessary.

Action types:

Action Type Description Example Flow
Delete tool from workflow Removes a tool from a workflow - it is preferred to use Detour/Detour End tools to bypass sections of the workflow, but the Detour/Detour End tools do not remove input tools. Condition-> Action()-> Input Data()
Enable/Disable Container from Condition

Updates the Tool Container's 'Disable' checkbox based on the connected Condition tool.

Use a Condition when you want to account for a true and a false outcome of the Condition.

Radio Button-> Condition (T)-> Action()-> Tool Container()
Enable/Disable Container from Question

Updates the Tool Container's 'Disable' checkbox based on the connected Question tool.

Radio Button-> Action()-> Tool Container()
Update Cell Updates the value of a single cell of a Text Input. Text Box-> Action()-> Text Input()
Update Detour direction from Condition

Updates a Detour tool.

Use a Condition when you want to account for a true and a false outcome of the Condition.

Radio Button-> Condition (T)-> Action()-> Detour()
Update Detour Direction from Question Updates a Detour tool. Radio Button-> Action()-> Detour()
Update Directory with Folder Browse Updates the directory string of a folder path. Folder Browse-> Action()-> Directory()
Update Field List Updates a tool that has a simple fields list. Drop Down-> Action()-> Dynamic Select()
Update Input Data tool Updates an Input Data tool with results of a file browse question. File Browse-> Action()-> Input Data()
Update Map Input with Map Question Updates the Map Input tool. Map-> Action()-> Map Input()
Update Output Data Tool Updates an Output Data with the results of a file browse. File Browse-> Action()-> Output Data()
Update Password Updates a password. Text Box-> Action()-> Download()
Update Raw XML with Formula Allows the underlying XML to be changed in almost any way possible. Proper use of this Action requires proficiency in proper XML syntax.

Text Box-> Action()-> Output Data()

(Just about any Question tool-> Action-> Just about any Workflow tool)

Update Select with multi-select List Box Updates a Select tool with the results of a user's field selection. Multiple field selection is supported. List Box-> Action()-> Select()
Update Select with Reverse Field Map Updates a Select tool with the results of a user's field selection when a field map is used while maintaining the user's original field names. Macro Input-> Action()-> Select()
Update Sort Order Updates the sort order of a Sort tool.

Action-> Sort()

The Action tool doesn't require any input.

Update Trade Area Radius Updates the radius of the Trade Area tool. Numeric Up Down-> Action()-> Trade Area()
Update Value Updates any part of a tool's configuration in the underlying workflow based on the user's answers.

Text Box-> Action()-> Filter()

(Just about any Question tool-> Action-> Just about any Workflow tool)

Update Value with a Formula Updates any part of a tool's configuration in the underlying workflow based on the user's answers and a formula.

Variables refer to in-coming connections and will be of the naming convention: #Connection Number: (Interface Tool Name) Description

You can reference multiple connections in a formula as long as they are all connected to the Action tool. See Expression Editor.

Numeric Up Down-> Action()-> Formula()

(Just about any Question tool-> Action-> Just about any Workflow tool)

 

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