Forms

Forms

Forms offer components that enable users to input information into a workflow, which can subsequently be collected and utilized throughout the workflow. Workflow Studio incorporates form data into a workflow through a compilation and publication process, creating a specific type of activity called a "Form activity." Upon publication, Form activities can be integrated into workflows, where Workflow Studio's drag-and-drop property binding capabilities facilitate the transfer of form data to and from other workflow objects during runtime.

Form Objects

Form Objects in Workflow Studio are divided into two categories: Primitives and RBAC Components. Primitives enable the inclusion of simple objects, such as drop-downs, calendar controls, and fields, on a form. Conversely, RBAC Components allow for the incorporation of properties from objects bound to EmpowerID-protected resources on a form. Each of these RBAC components can be employed to retrieve the properties of protected resources for use within a workflow.

For instance, if you need to capture data specific to a Person, you can add an RBAC Component for a Person object to a form. This allows you to integrate only the relevant properties (person attributes) into your form design, according to your data requirements.

Form Types

Workflow Studio offers two types of forms for workflow usage: User Input forms and User Decision forms. The choice of form depends on the desired functionality at a specific point in the workflow.

1. User Input forms – These forms allow users to input information and submit the data back to the workflow for use in subsequent activities. User Input forms appear to any user running the workflow at the point in the process where the form is placed. They can be used anywhere within a workflow and are often the first form encountered. For example, in a workflow that enables users to request resources or other actionable events, you can add a shape derived from a User Input form, allowing users to enter and submit their request details back to the workflow. The workflow then moves to the next step as dictated by the business requirements.

2. User Decision forms – These forms appear within a workflow when the process requires further user input or approval to proceed. User Decision forms should be used when a form needs to be routed to someone to provide information or make a decision. These forms offer routing options, create a workflow task for any "approvers" at that stage in the workflow, and send email notifications to the users when the form is routed to an approver for a decision.

Form Designer: The Form Designer enables you to visually design forms by dragging and dropping user interface components and controls onto the canvas. No coding is necessary, and you can create forms for various data types, from primitive types like strings to more complex types based on registered RBAC components. Once a form is published, a "Form activity" is generated and published to the EmpowerID Identity Warehouse, allowing you to use the form within a workflow.

Workflow Studio Form Designer Commands

Commands	Descriptions	Image
New Tab	Adds a new tab to the form that is actively being edited.
New Section	Adds a new section to the form that is actively being edited.
Mask	Opens the Add New Mask dialog, which allows you to add a new Mask to the Components tree of the form that is actively being edited.
Validation	Opens the Add New Validation dialog, which allows you to add a new Validator to the Components tree of the form that is actively being edited. Validators force users to enter data in the format specified by the Validation Expression of the Validator.
Data Source	Opens the Add New Data Source dialog, which allows you to add a new Data Source object to the Components tree of the form that is actively being edited. Data Source objects allow you to bind form controls to objects in the EmpowerID Identity Warehouse.
Add Object	Opens the Add Object dialog, which allows you to add Primitives (Strings, Booleans, DateTime, etc) and Rbac Components (Account, AccountStore, Person, etc) to the Components tree of the form that is actively being edited. Once added to the Components tree, these objects can be dropped onto a form as properties for use in data binding.

Form Components

Form Data: Primitives (Other Objects) – primitive properties defined for use in a form. It allows you to place simple objects such as booleans, datetime controls, and string-based objects (i.e., fields, labels, etc.) on a form.

Form Data: RBAC Objects – EmpowerID component objects added to a form in order to drag their properties onto the designer.

Data Sources – EmpowerID objects and methods defined for use as data sources for form controls such as dropdown lists.

Validators – regex expressions that can be applied to form fields to validate data input – e.g., email format.

Masks – defined to allow masking values from view.

Approval Decisions – the decision buttons to enable for the form activity.

Adding Fields to the Form

You can place the Primitive or RBAC Objects onto the form by dragging them from the Components tree and dropping them onto the form within the Form Designer. By default, all the fields you place on a form will render as textbox field.

Form Field Options

• EmpowerID ships an ever-growing list of control types.

• Each control type has different settings / standard properties.

• Many control types support data sources such as dropdown lists and auto-completes.

• Forms fields can apply complex logic to determine the conditions when they should be shown or hidden.

As a matter of default, the fields integrated within a form are initially set as text fields. To transform these fields into alternative controls, such as dropdown menus or radio buttons, follow these steps: right-click on the designated text field and proceed to select the Edit option. This action will prompt the emergence of the Field Configuration dialog box. Within this dialog box, navigate to the Control Types tab, whereupon you can opt for the desired control type. Certain controls are compatible with external data sources, exemplified by the dropdown control. When binding the dropdown control with a data source, it is imperative to establish its Standard Properties, which can be accomplished by accessing the Standard Properties tab.

Likewise, if you'd like to connect your control to a datasource, you can achieve this by heading to the Datasources tab. If you wish to put validation on your control, you can accomplish that by going to the Validators tab.

Type Of Data Sources

There are three types of data sources.