Displaying Flow Data on Forms

Overview

Flow Data contains default variables that are made available to users at design time such as the 'InitiatingAccount' of an instance, the 'CurrentAccount' logged in, etc. Flow Data is system-generated data and does not contain user created data. 

Assuming there exists no custom SDK changes in the Decisions configuration, then the same Flow Data variables will be available in every Designer but the data values may differ. 

For example, the variable 'CurrentUserEmail'  changes depending on which user is currently logged into the system. This type of data can be leveraged in many use cases including user context-relevant Forms and Flow Run time calculations.

Flow Data Breakdown 

To view Flow Data selections on a Form control, change the control's mapping type to Select From Flow.

Each FlowData entry displays in the following format:

Bolded Text: The name and type of FlowData.

Blue Text: The current value of the FlowData Type. This changes depending on which account is logged in, in what browser, from what IP Address, etc.

[Bracketed Text]: The Decisions Data Type of the FlowData. Examples may include Account, String, Int32, user-created Data Types, etc.

Icon: A visual representation of the FlowData's Data type. If a FlowData contains nested FlowData, it displays a the tree hierarchy symbol as shown in the image above.

Mapping Flow Data with Select From Flow

In this example, a Form containing Labels, Textboxes, and an outcome Button Form controls will demonstrate mapping Flow Data into the Textboxes as inputs.  

1. In a Designer Project, create a Flow. It will automatically open in the Flow Designer.

2. In the Flow Designer, drag a Show Form step into the workspace. Create a Form. It will automatically open in the Form Designer.

3. In the Form Designer, drag four Textboxes and one outcome Button on the Form. For each, enter the following data names with SHIFT+CTRL+ENTER to automatically create Labels on the left column: 'Current Flow Name', 'Flow Start Time', 'FolderId', and 'Current User Machine Name'. 

4. Set their outcome scenarios to Optional. 

   

   
   

5. Save and close the Form to return to the Flow Designer.

6. In the Flow Designer, connect the outcome path to the end step.

7. Select the Form to view its Inputs, select the 'Select From Flow' input mapping for the 'CurrentFlowName' input. 

8. Click the FlowData category to expand it and select the 'CurrentFlowName' Flow Data.

   

   
   

9. Repeat steps 8-9 to map each input to its corresponding Flow Data.

   

Debug

Click Debug located at the top of the Designer to see the Flow Data values passed into the Form.

Mapping Flow Data with the Data Tab

Flow Data may also be accessed via the Data tab in the Form Designer.

1. In the Form Designer, expand the Data tab on the right side of the screen underneath the Toolbox tab.

2. Notice the tab populate with Flow Data, System Constants, and then any other User Defined lookup data. Expand Flow Data.

3. Drag the CurrentUserEmail Flow Data from the Data tab onto an empty space in the Form.

4. Once placed, a radio button list of controls to contain the Flow Data appear. This list changes upon the Flow Data's Data Type. Select Label Of Data Value and press Enter to confirm. 

5. Save and exit the Form to return to the Flow Designer.

6. In the Form's Properties under Inputs, map the new 'Current User Email' input to Flow Data.CurrentUserEmail via Select From Flow.

Debug

1. Select the Debug action in the orange Action Bar.

2. Select START DEBUGGING.

Once the Form appears, the Label will automatically populated with the email of the currently logged in user.