Branching and Merging Flows

Overview

Branching and Merging allows the ability to process multiple Flow steps at the same time, rather than one after the other. If an Assignment needs three Approvals at the same time, Branching and Merging allows the option to create three separate Outcome Paths that can run those Assignments simultaneously, as opposed to one after the other, thereby assigning three different Flow activities to three different Assignees.

When the execution of a Branch and Merge is complete, a Merge Step will wait for all of the threads of execution to complete before moving on to the next step in the process.

The following document demonstrates how to use the Branch and Merge steps in a Flow. 

Example

1. From the Flow Designer, navigate to Toolbox > FLOW MANAGEMENT > BRANCHING. Then, attach a Branch Step to the Start step, and a Merge Step to the End step. 
   
2. However over the Branch step to expose its Outcome Paths; then, attach a Show Form step from Toolbox > FAVORITE STEPS to Path 1. 
3. From the Properties tab of the Show Form step, either create a new Formor pick a preexisting one. 
   Attaching Forms 

   The Form attached to a Branch and Merge Step may be any Form that results in an Outcome Path. For this example, a Form containing a single "Submit" Button component is used. 
4. Hover over the Branch Step once more to reveal Path 2. Attach another Show Form step to newly revealed Outcome Path; then, via PICK OR CREATE FORM, PICK the same Form that was attached to Path 1. 
5. Repeat the same process demonstrated in step 4 for the Branch Step's Path 3. 
6. Save the Flow, then if desired close via X.

Debug

1. From the Flow Designer, select Debug in the top Action Bar.
2. Select START DEBUGGING.
3. Complete each instance of the Show Form step in the order that they are reached. 
4. Verify that the Outputs of the Forms Merge at the Merge Step and complete the Flow.