5.5.1

Key Concepts of Workflows
Workflows consist of a schema, attributes, and parameters. The workflow schema is the main component of
a workflow as it defines all the workflow elements and the logical connections between them. The workflow
attributes and parameters are the variables that workflows use to transfer data. Orchestrator saves a
workflow token every time a workflow runs, recording the details of that specific run of the workflow.
Workflow User Permissions
Orchestrator defines levels of permissions that you can apply to groups to allow or deny them access to
workflows.
View
The user can view the elements in the workflow, but cannot view the schema
or scripting.
Inspect
The user can view the elements in the workflow, including the schema and
scripting.
Execute
The user can run the workflow.
Edit
The user can edit the workflow.
Admin
The user can set permissions on the workflow and has all other permissions.
The Admin permission includes the View, Inspect, Edit, and Execute permissions. All the permissions
require the View permission.
If you do not set any permissions on a workflow, the workflow inherits the permissions from the folder that
contains it. If you do set permissions on a workflow, those permissions override the permissions of the
folder that contains it, even if the permissions of the folder are more restrictive.
Workflow Parameters
Workflows receive input parameters and generate output parameters when they run.
Input Parameters
Most workflows require a certain set of input parameters to run. An input parameter is an argument that the
workflow processes when it starts. The user, an application, another workflow, or an action passes input
parameters to a workflow for the workflow to process when it starts.
For example, if a workflow resets a virtual machine, the workflow requires as an input parameter the name
of the virtual machine.
Output Parameters
A workflow's output parameters represent the result from the workflow run. Output parameters can change
when a workflow or a workflow element runs. While workflows run, they can receive the output
parameters of other workflows as input parameters.
For example, if a workflow creates a snapshot of a virtual machine, the output parameter for the workflow
is the resulting snapshot.
Using the VMware vCenter Orchestrator Client
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