--- title: "Using the \"Wait on External System Step" slug: "using-the-wait-on-external-system-step" updated: 2026-08-07T18:00:18Z published: 2026-08-07T18:00:18Z canonical: "documentation.decisions.com/using-the-wait-on-external-system-step" --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://documentation.decisions.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Using the "Wait on External System Step Example Lab ArticlesThe following example may contain dated references/screenshots/features as new versions are released.  ## Overview This example shows how the **Wait On External System** step can monitor an external database for newly added records. The Flow captures the current state of the entity_account table, periodically checks for changes, and automatically resumes execution when a new account is detected. The newly added record is then returned to the parent Flow and used to trigger a notification email. --- ## Example 1. From a **Designer** **Project**. Select the CREATE FLOW button from the **Global** **Action** **Bar**. Then, select **Flow**, provide a **Name**, and click CREATE. 2. From the **Flow** **Designer**, in the **Toolbox** tab, attach a **Get all from dbo.entity_account** step from the INTEGRATION > DATABASE > LOCAL CONNECTION (DATABASE) > DBO.ENTITY_ACCOUNT (TABLE) category, to the Start step. Connect the **Failed** path to the **End** step. 3. Select the **Get** **all** step to navigate to its Properties tab; under **INPUTS > Limit** count, change the mapping to **Ignore**. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2021-03-12_16h34_57.png) 4. Under **Toolbox > INTEGRATION**, attach a **Wait On External System** step to the **Done** path of the Get all from dbo.entity_account step. The Wait On External System is an Assignment that is assigned to the External System, and functions as such. 5. Navigate to the Wait On External System step's Properties and under ASSIGNMENT provide the desired **Assignment** **Name** and **Assignment** **Action** **Name**.![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2021-03-15_12h55_58.png) 6. Under SERVICE DEFINITION, uncheck **Generate** **Service**. Then, under **Expose Data On Service**, click **Add New**. This definition will allow the Wait On External System step to operate via data from the Flow.  ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2021-03-12_16h40_52.png) 7. From the **Add Expose Data on Service** window, provide the Name "Accounts" and under **Type** select **LOCALCONNECTION_dboentity_account [TableDefinition.Types]** from the dropdown menu. Check **Is** **List**, Can **Be** **Null**, and click click OK. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2021-03-12_16h48_26.png) 8. Set up the TIMER SETTINGS; first, click Add New under **Scenarios [Additional Outcomes for AutoComplete]**.![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2021-03-15_08h48_50.png)Note on Check Time Span Setting Check Time Span to any time below 5 seconds is not recommended as it may affect system performance depending on the overall system load. Establishing this will trigger a warning message and highlight the Check Time Span settings in yellow.  ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2021-05-03_12h26_19.png) 9. In the resulting **Scenarios** window, Name the **Scenario** "AccountAdded". Then, under **Parameters** click ADD NEW.Each of these Scenarios will be an **End** step in the **AutoComplete Flow** for this step.![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2021-03-15_08h52_46.png) 10. From the **Add** **Parameters** window, Name the INPUT DATA Account, then select LOCALCONNECTION_dboentity_account  [TableDefinition.Types] from the Type dropdown menu. Then click OK to save and close the window. This Parameter will represent when a single Account is added to the Account database.  ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2021-03-15_09h11_26.png) 11. Back in the Wait On External System step's Properties, define **Check Time Span**. For the example, set the Time Span to monitor the database every 15 seconds. 12. Map **entity_account_Result** to **INPUTS > Accounts**; then click EDIT WAIT ON EXTERNAL SYSTEM AUTO COMPLETE FLOW.This Flow will monitor the External System and evaluating which outcome path the Flow should take; AccountAdded or StepNotComplete. 13. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2021-03-15_10h37_16.png) From the Flow Designer for the Auto Complete Flow, attach a Get all from dbo.entity_account from step from Toolbox > INTEGRATION > DATABASE > LOCAL CONNECTION (DATABASE)> DBO.ENTITY_ACCOUNT, to the Done path of the Start step. Then, from the Get All step's Properties, set Limit count to Ignore. Then, under ADVANCED, rename the **Output** **Variable** **Name** "Accounts_Results_New."![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2021-03-15_11h22_25.png) 14. Connect the Failed path to **Step** **Not** **Complete**, then attach a **Greater Than (Number)** step from **Toolbox > DATA > NUMBERS** to the Done path. 15. Navigate to the Greater Than (Number) step's Properties and map **NewAccountsResults** to **Value1** and **entity_account_Result**.**Count** to **Value2**.![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2021-03-15_11h27_07.png) 16. Attach the **False** path to Step Not Complete; then, from **Toolbox > ITERATION**, attach a **ForEach** **Step** to the **True** path. 17. Navigate to the ForEach Step's Properties and under INPUTS, map **NewAccountsResults** to **Collection**. 18. Attach a **String** **is Not in List** step from **Toolbox > DATA > TEXT**, to the **Next** path, then navigate to its Properties tab. 19. From the Properties tab under INPUTS, **Constant** map **Case** **Insensitive** as True, map **entity_account_Result.All account_id** to **List**, and **Item.account_id** to **Value**. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2021-03-15_11h43_58.png) 20. On the True path for the String is Not in List step, attach **Create** **Data** step from the FAVORITE STEPS category of the Toolbox. Navigate to the step's Properties then click SHOW EDITOR. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2021-03-15_11h51_44.png) 21. From the Data Definitions screen, Name the data Account, select **LOCALCONNECTION_dboentity_account** from the Type dropdown, and map **[Item]** to **Input**. Click CLOSE to exit and save the configuration. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2021-03-15_11h58_35.png) 22. Connect the Done outcome from the Create Data step to **AccountAdded**. Then, navigate to AccountAdded's Properties and map **Account** to its respective Input. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2021-03-15_12h03_09.png) 23. Connect the rest of the Outcome paths as follows, then Save and close the Flow. Connect the False path from the String is Not in List step to the ForEach step. Connect the Done from the ForEach step to the Account Added step. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2021-03-15_12h31_33.png) 24. Back in the **Main** **Flow**, attach a **Send** **Email** step from **Toolbox > FAVORITE STEPS**, to the AccountAdded path. 25. Select the Send Email step to navigate to its Properties and define the EMAIL values; Constant map the desired **From** and **To** addresses. Then, Constant map the value, "Account Added," to the **Subject**. Set the mapping for **Body** to **Merge** **Plain** **Text** then click SHOW EDITOR. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2021-03-15_12h44_29.png) 26. In the Merge Text Editor, use the Properties from the Account data on the left to compose the message, then click SAVE. Define the message as Account: [Account_account_id][Account_account_type] was added in the Database. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2021-03-15_12h50_24.png) 27. Connect the **Sent** path back to the Get all from dbo.entity_account step. Then, Save the Flow, and if desired close via **X**. This configuration allows the Flow to continue monitoring the External Database. --- ## Debug 1. From the **Flow** **Designer**, select the **Debug** link from the top action bar. 2. Click START DEBUGGING. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2021-03-15_13h04_57.png) 3. Once the **Flow** reaches the **Wait On External System** step, navigate to the **External** **Database** and add a new record **Accounts Database**.Back in the Flow Debugger, the **Wait On External System** step detects that the new Account was added to the Database and continues Flow Execution. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2018-03-08_151926(2).png) 4. Navigate to the email address of the **To** **Input** and verify that the new Account email sent.![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2021-03-15_13h14_20.png) 5. Repeat the process again to ensure that the Wait On External System step and the Flow function as intended.