4.0

Table Of Contents
6 Left-click inside the right side of the decision element, hold down the left mouse button, and move the
pointer to the target element.
A dotted red arrow appears between the two elements and the target element turns green.
7 Release the left mouse button.
The dotted red arrow remains between the two elements. You have defined the path the workflow takes
when the decision element receives unexpected input.
You have defined two possible true or false paths for the workflow to take, depending on the input parameter
or attribute the decision element receives.
What to do next
The decision element is linked to two other elements, but you did not define how the workflow determines
which path to take. You must define the decision statement.
Create Workflow Branches Using Decisions
Decision elements are simple Boolean functions that you use to create branches in workflows. Decision
elements determine whether or not the input received matches the decision statement you set. As a function
of this decision, the workflow continues its course along one of two possible paths.
Prerequisites
You must have a decision element linked to two other elements in the schema in the workflow editor before
you define the decision.
Procedure
1 Click the decision element.
2 Click the Decision tab in the element properties tabs at the bottom of the Schema tab.
3 Click the Not Set (NULL) link to select the possible source input parameter for this decision.
A dialog box appears, which lists all the attributes and input parameters you defined in this workflow.
4 Select an input parameter from the list by double-clicking it.
5 (Optional) If you did not define the source parameter to which to bind, you can create it by clicking the
Create attribute/parameter in workflow link in the parameter selection dialog box.
6 Select a decision statement from the drop-down menu.
The statements the menu proposes are contextual, and differ according to the type of input parameter
selected.
7 Add a value for the statement to match.
Depending on the input type and the statement you select, you might see a Not Set (NULL) link in the
value text box. Clicking this link gives you a predefined choice of values. Otherwise, for example for
Strings, this is a text box in which you provide a value.
You defined a statement for the decision element. When the decision element receives the input parameter, it
compares the value of the input parameter to the value in the statement and determines whether the statement
is true or false.
What to do next
You must set up how the workflow handles exceptions.
Chapter 2 Developing Workflows
VMware, Inc. 37