Create a connection flow

Background information

• Connector: Connects different systems and applications, allowing data to flow between them. A connector includes authentication settings, triggers, and actions.

• Trigger: A condition or event that starts a workflow. It can be a time-based schedule or another system event.

• Action: A specific operation in a workflow, such as calling an external system API to complete a business task.

• Connection flow: A visual orchestration of triggers and actions from multiple connectors. It connects different application systems to automate business processes.

Procedure

1. Log on to the AppFlow console.

2. In the navigation pane on the left, click Connection Flow, and then click Create a connection flow.

3. On the Create a connection flow page, enter the basic information for the flow, and then click Next step.

   Field Name	Description
   Connection Flow	Enter a name for the connection flow. This helps you distinguish it from other flows.
   Connection Flow Description	Enter a description of the function that the connection flow performs.

   

4. On the new page, configure the trigger, and then click Complete and Go to Next Step.

   1. Select a trigger and its corresponding triggering event.

      

   2. (Optional) If the connector has input parameters, configure them.

5. Select an action node. Then, click Complete and Save Flow.

   Configuration Item	Description
   Connector and action	Each connector has several actions. Select the appropriate action node to complete your business process.
   Link Credential	Credentials are used to authorize the connector for the current action node. Select an existing credential or create a new one.
   Input parameter settings	Input parameters are divided into required and optional items. For each parameter, you can manually enter a static field or click the insert variable button to automatically reference the output from an ancestor node.

   Note

   To configure multiple action nodes, click the button to add an action node.

   

What to do next

1. Test the connection flow.

   After you create a connection flow, find the flow on the Connection Flows page and click Run once in the Operation column to verify that the flow runs correctly.

2. View and publish the connection flow.

   1. View connection flow details.

      In the Operation column, click Details. On the flow details page, you can view information about the flow and a list of its versions.

   2. Edit or publish the connection flow.

      • Edit the connection flow.

        On the flow details page, click the Modification button to reconfigure the flow nodes.

      • Publish the connection flow.

        On the flow details page, click the Publish button to publish the flow.

        Important

        After a connection flow is published, it cannot be edited. To make changes, click Create a new version.

        

Run the connection flow

Your connection flow runs automatically when its trigger conditions are met.

Common connector triggers

This section describes the trigger conditions for common triggers. For information about other triggers, see their respective documentation.

Timed scheduling: Recurring scheduled event

When you add a timed scheduling trigger, you must enter a cron expression. The connection flow is automatically triggered at the time specified by the cron expression. For more information about how to create a cron expression, see Use cron expressions.

Webhook: When a Webhook message is received

If your connection flow is triggered by a Webhook, AppFlow generates a Webhook URL. To view this URL, save the connection flow and then reopen its edit page.

Sending a message to this Webhook URL triggers the connection flow. AppFlow does not parse the message content. The flow is triggered by the receipt of a message, regardless of its content.

Custom connector: Custom triggering event

If your connection flow is triggered by a custom connector, AppFlow generates a Webhook URL. To view this URL, save the connection flow and then reopen its edit page.

Sending a message to this Webhook URL triggers the connection flow.