Using the Flows V2 System

If you have used the original flows system (V1) in the admin website, you’ll be familiar with much of the V2 version, which serves many of the same basic purposes of the V1 but also has added functionality. A flow is a set sequence of various component-types that can be created, edited, and enabled at the portal level. If you don’t know what a flow is and want to read more details, see this article: What is a Flow?

Please note that the Flows V2 is still the BETA version and that there are known issues that we are working on fixing. To see a list of known issues, see the bottom of the article.

What is Flows V2 and how does it differ from the original flows manager tool?

Flows V2 is an improved version of flows V1. Here are the main upgrades available using Flows V2:

• Improved access and integrations with automations which can now be triggered directly in the flow wherever you want.


• More components with greater versatility.


• Structurally improved component listings (grouped by type of component) and color-coding and icons for quick recognition.


• Updates to the component editors for ease-of-use.


• A stand-alone branching component that has a more expansive branching capability—you can branch based on member attributes (gender and age) and you can branch off of components that exist at any previous point in a flow.


• A gridded background in the flow-maker


• A template catalog that you can search through from the CREATE screen; this catalog lists all the templates for you to choose from


• Auto-saving as you create, draft options to save without publishing, and version history to view changes made throughout the editing process

Locating the Flows 2.0 Manager

The flows 2.0 manager can be accessed in the Portal Management module of the Settings section in the admin. After choosing the portal (if there is more than one), select "Try Flows 2.0 BETA" from the left-side menu in the CONTENT section.

Now you are on the flows V2 page where you will see a table listing any V2 flows currently existing in the portal. You can view flows and edit/delete custom flows using the actions menu on the left side of the row for each flow.

How to Create a V2 Flow

Click the “CREATE” button above the table.

The window that appears allows you to either choose a pre-existing template (to us as-is or to customize; you can view details about templates in this article) OR you can create your own flow from scratch by clicking the “CREATE NEW” button in the upper right. For the purposes of this article, we are going to explain how to create a flow from scratch, which will cover all the components, using the editor, and publishing a new flow.

Once you hit the “CREATE NEW” button, you will be in the main flow creation and editor tool. This page is divided into three main sections:

1. This is the component column, in which all components are organized in groups. Components can be dragged and dropped into the flow-maker field in the middle of the screen. Component groups can be collapsed by clicking the arrow next to the group header.


2. This is the flow-maker field where you can sequence the components that make up your flow. Moving the screen (which is usually necessary for larger flows) is done by right-clicking and holding as you move.


3. This is the component editor where you can set the content of the component. (For instance, for a question component, you insert the question and distractors here, which we’ll discuss in this article.)

When you begin to create a new flow, click into the "Start Flow" component that is in the flow-maker field; this opens the fields on the right where you can set basic details for the flow.

1. Enter a title for the flow.


2. Enter a summary of the flow.


3. Enter a description of the flow.


4. Enter keywords you want to associate with the flow for organization and searching.


5. Upload a thumbnail image for the flow. Accepted file types are .png and .jpg, with a size of 300 x 200.


6. Enter the estimated length the flow will take to complete for a member.


7. Enable the usage properties you want for the flow. 

To build the flow, select a component from the left column by clicking on it and holding, then dragging it into the flow-maker field in the middle. The editor on the right will open up, allowing you to add details for the component (for instance, putting in question text and distractors for a question or putting in content text for a page component). Any time you want to edit a component after you have dragged into the flow-maker, you can click its tile and access its editor.

• To view a listing of all components available in flows V2, see this article.


• To read about the branching component in flows V2, see this article.
  

Publishing a Flow V2

During the process of creating a flow, your work is automatically saved. In the upper right corner, you can see multiple options for saving, previewing, and publishing the flow.

1. View a history of flow drafts with the option to restore the flow to a previous version.


2. Save a draft of the flow without publishing (meaning the current published version of the flow will remain as is, with an updated saved draft).


3. Preview the flow and experience it as a member would.


4. Publish the flow.


5. Unpublish the flow.

Known Issues with Flows V2

Since this is a BETA version you may experience some bugs while using the functionality. Please be patient as we continually work to make it better every day. Here's a list of some of the issues we're currently working on. Have additional thoughts? We want to hear them, click here to submit your feedback.

Flow 2.0 Editor

• Validation messages when publishing 2.0 might not appear user friendly.


• On larger Flows, the screen may lock when clicking away from the browser and back.


• Flows based upon templates may not display thumbnail correctly.

Branching

• The branching component may not function as expected when using the ‘Unknown’ operator.


• Nested branching components may not function as expected.

Member Experience

• Marking a To-Do as "complete" that references a Flow does not function as expected.

Templates

• The recently released Flow templates are being recreated in Flows 2.0 so you can utilize the latest functionality.