Build and test a flow

Use the drag-and-drop interface in the Workflows Console to build your own flows. Each event and action in a flow works with a pre-built connector, which allows you to communicate with other applications without code or APIs. Simply connect your applications, specify the event and actions, and fill in the details.

• Before you begin

• Build a flow

• Test your flow

• Check execution history

Before you begin

Before you build a flow, perform these steps:

1. Learn about cards and fields in a flow. See Workflow elements.

2. Create a connection for the Okta connector. See Authenticate your Okta account.

3. Optionally, create connections for other applications in your flow.

Build a flow

This procedure covers the basic sequence of commands to build a flow. After you learn the mechanics, try building some flows for real-world use cases. See Okta Workflows use cases.

1. In the Admin Console, go to WorkflowWorkflows console.

2. In the Workflows Console, click New Flow.

3. In the first card, click Add Event.

4. Pick the app where the event occurs, and then select from its available events.

   • If you haven't connected to the app yet, click New Connection and enter the required information. Click Need help? to open app-specific help in this window.

   • If you've already connected to the app but you have multiple accounts, select the one that you want to use.

5. In the second card, click Add app action or Add function.

   • Action cards send a command to an application. Pick the app where the action occurs, and then select from its available actions. If you haven't connected the app yet, Okta prompts you to make the connection. Click the question mark icon to open action card-specific help.

   • Function cards act on the data from a card or branch into another logical flow. You can choose a logic function, like branching or error handling, or a function that manipulates data, like a compose card. You can also select advanced functions that make HTTP requests or parse JSON strings. Click the question mark icon for function-specific help in the console.

6. Use the Add Another menu to add more actions, functions, or notes to your flow.

7. If you need another instance of the same card in your flow, use the Duplicate option at the bottom of the card to add a copy.

8. Map the data between cards. Drag the output from one card and drop it in the input of another card. Be sure that the field types match.

   

   While you're building a flow, you can test any card by clicking . Testing individual cards is a good way to ensure that your mappings work.

9. Click Save or use the keyboard shortcut CTRL+S (Windows) or ⌘+S (macOS) to save the flow. If you haven't named your flow yet, you can do so here.

   Optionally, if you want to manually test your flow, click the Save and Test option from the Add Another menu.

Test your flow

There are two ways to test a flow: you can manually enter data into the event card, or you can trigger the event in the app itself. If you chose the Save and Test menu option, proceed to step 2 of the manual method.

Manually enter data

1. In the Workflows Console, click Test Flow.

2. In the Check for new data window, manually enter test data into the card fields.

   

3. Click Test. The console view displays the progress of the flow. A check mark appears in the name field of each successfully executed card.

4. If the flow encounters an error, check the details and then click Back to Flow to make corrections.

Trigger the flow in the app

1. In the Workflows Console, toggle Flow is OFF to ON.

2. You can click the Run button, or use the keyboard shortcuts CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER (Windows) or ⌘ +SHIFT+ENTER (macOS) to run the flow.

   If your flow is triggered through an event card, you can create a test event to activate the flow.

   • If your event occurs in Okta, use your Admin Console to perform the action that triggers the flow. For example, if your flow runs whenever a user is assigned to the Salesforce app, go to ApplicationsApplications, and assign a test user to Salesforce.

   • If your event is triggered through another application, you need to go to the app and trigger a test event there.

3. Return to the Workflows Console to view the progress of the flow. A check mark appears in the name field of each successfully executed card.

4. If the flow encounters an error, check the details and then click Back to Flow to make corrections.

Related topics

Workflow elements

Connect your applications

Use case tutorials