Workflow Steps Reference
Last Updated: May 14, 2026
The Workflow Designer is a no-code drag-and-drop canvas for building Business Process workflows. Use this reference to identify the available step types, connectors, and canvas controls.
Workflow Triggers
Workflow Triggers are the entry points or beginning steps to workflows. Select a trigger from the Choose an Event modal to choose your trigger.
|
Trigger Type |
Description |
Initiation |
Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Manual Start |
A workflow that is started by a user. |
Start the workflow from the Workflow app. See Start a Workflow. |
A injury report needs to be filed. The workflow is assigned to the injured party. |
|
Form Submission |
A form trigger happens when the selected form is completed by a user. |
The selected form is completed. |
An address needs to be updated in multiple places by HR. The user submits the new information. |
Basic Steps
Basic steps are the building blocks of a workflow. Drag a step from the Basic Steps panel onto the canvas to add it to your workflow.
|
Step |
Description |
Examples |
|---|---|---|
|
Form |
Requires an assigned user to complete and submit a form. Select the form and the name of the assignee. As the assignee, the same user receives the form every time the workflow runs. If the assigned user leaves the organization or changes roles, use Make a Copy to create a new workflow with the updated assignee. |
Compliance submissions, IT access requests, finance approvals. |
|
Approval |
Requires an assigned user to review and either approve or reject the workflow. When the assignee approves the step, the workflow advances to the next step. When the assignee rejects the step, the workflow follows the Reject connector. The Source menu is populated by Form steps that precede the Approval step in the workflow. If the Source dropdown is empty, add a Form step earlier in the workflow before configuring this step. |
Manager approval, finance approval. |
|
Signature Approval |
Requires an assigned user to review and sign a signature field on a form. Signature Approval steps must correspond one-to-one with the signature fields on the selected form. |
Signed authorization for a purchase order, countersignature on an HR document. |
|
Storage |
Send a workflow source to Vasion Storage. |
After an accounting approval, a copy is filed in Vasion Storage for document retention. |
|
End |
Marks the end of a workflow branch. Every branch in a workflow must connect to an End step. Select an end type from the End Type menu: End Branch ends the current branch while other branches continue; Terminate Workflow ends the entire workflow regardless of the status of other branches. |
Closing an approved request, terminating a workflow when a rejection occurs. |
Advanced Steps
Advanced steps control how the workflow routes work between multiple paths. Drag a step from the Advanced Steps panel onto the canvas to add it to your workflow.
|
Step |
Description |
Examples |
|---|---|---|
|
Conditional Branch |
Routes the workflow to different steps based on the value of a form field. Configure one or more conditions and connect each numbered branch connector to the appropriate next step. |
Routing a request to different approvers based on a department, escalating a request based on a dollar amount. |
|
Split Branch |
Splits the workflow into multiple parallel paths. Use when multiple approvals must occur simultaneously or when any one of several people can complete the approval. Connect the plus "+" button on the Split Branch step to each parallel path. |
Simultaneous review by HR and legal, parallel approval by two department managers. |
|
Merge Branch |
Combines multiple parallel paths back into a single path. Select a merge type from the Merge Type menu: All requires all connected steps to complete before the workflow advances; Any advances the workflow when any one connected step completes. |
Signed authorization for a purchase order, countersignature on an HR document. |
Connectors
Each step node includes connector points that link steps together on the canvas. Drag from a connector point on one step to the connector point on the next step to create a path.
|
Step |
Description |
Examples |
|---|---|---|
|
Approve |
Routes the workflow to different steps based on the value of a form field. Configure one or more conditions and connect each numbered branch connector to the appropriate next step. |
Routing a request to different approvers based on a department, escalating a request based on a dollar amount. |
|
Reject |
Splits the workflow into multiple parallel paths. Use when multiple approvals must occur simultaneously or when any one of several people can complete the approval. Connect the plus "+" button on the Split Branch step to each parallel path. |
Simultaneous review by HR and legal, parallel approval by two department managers. |
|
Send Back |
Returns the form to the original submitter for revision. This connector is available when you turn on the Allow send back to submitter option on an Approval step. This option is not available for anonymous submissions. |
The submitter can update the form and resubmit without starting a new workflow. |
Canvas Controls
|
Control |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Toggle Grid |
Shows or hides the alignment grid on the canvas.. |
|
Zoom |
Scroll up on the mouse wheel to zoom in and scroll down to zoom out. |
|
Step types Panel Display |
Use the X on the top-right of the panel to hide the panel from view and view the entire workflow canvas. Select the Workflow button |
|
Pan |
Select and drag an empty area of the canvas to move the view in any direction. |
to open the Step types panel again.