Understanding workflow structure
Published: May 12, 2008
You can use workflows in Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online to automate tasks so that you don't need to remember to do them. You don't need to be a programmer to create a workflow: you just need to understand your department's business processes.
To help get you started, this article provides a diagram to illustrate the components of a workflow.
Each workflow includes two components:
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Properties. A collection of options that defines the scope of the workflow and how people can use the workflow.
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Logic. The logic you add to your workflow determines the specific actions that the workflow will take upon records. The following terms relating to workflow logic are useful to know when getting started:
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Stages. Group steps together to make a workflow easier to read. Stages can also be used to define business processes, and then pipeline reports can be used to monitor the business processes.
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Steps. Each step includes the conditions to run the step, and the actions the workflow takes when the conditions are satisfied. Each step can have multiple sub-steps.
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Conditions. Criteria for running specific actions.
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Actions. Automated tasks such as e-mailing a user, updating the status of a record, or assigning a record.
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The following diagram illustrates the components of a workflow.
