Metis Workflow Editor
The Metis workflow editor is used to create and edit Metis Workflows. Metis workflows specify the order in which Metis events must occur to complete a particular activity.
The home page of the workflow editor is shown below.
A new workflow can be created by entering its name and clicking the Create Workflow button. An existing workflow can be edited by selecting its name and clicking the Edit Workflow button. Workflows can also be duplicated, renamed, and deleted.
Creating and Editing Workflow
Creating and editing a workflow are handled by the same tool. The tool displays the workflow in a tabular form.
Structure nodes (such as the root node, sequences, forks, and loops) are displayed in blue and have a menu displayed next to them. The menu provides the ability to add a child to the node. In the figure below, we see a workflow with just a single node, the root node, and its associated menu.
Simply select the type of child that you want to add to the node, and click the Add button. The items in the menu may be different depending on the valid children types for a particular node. For instance, Fork nodes may only have Branch nodes as children.
Event nodes are displayed in red and do not have a menu located next to them. Event nodes are the leaves of a workflow's tree structure and therefore do not have children.
Next to every non-root node are buttons that allow that node to be deleted or rearranged. To delete a particular node, simply click its associated Delete button. To rearrange a node, simply click its Up or Down buttons. The Up button causes a node to be arranged earlier in a node's list of children, while the Down button does the opposite. As shown below, the first child of a node can only be moved "down" the list of children, and the last child can only be moved "up".
The Save Workflow button saves any changes made to the current workflow and returns to the home page of the workflow editor. The Abandon Changes button also returns to the home page but it cancels any editing operations performed on the workflow.
Duplicating a Workflow
A copy of an existing workflow can be created by selecting it and clicking the Duplicate Workflow button. The copy is given the same name as the selected workflow plus the string "(copy)". In the example below, a copy of the admin-workflow has been created.
Renaming a Workflow
An existing workflow can be renamed by selecting it and clicking the Rename Workflow button. A page is displayed (see below) that allows a new name to be specified. The workflow's name will be changed, as long as the new name does not conflict with an existing workflow's name.
Deleting a Workflow
An existing workflow can be deleted by selecting it and clicking the Delete Workflow button. Currently, the workflow is deleted without asking the user for confirmation. As such, use this feature carefully!