Create the Schema of the Complex Workflow Example

You can create a workflow's schema in the workflow editor. The workflow schema contains the elements that the workflow runs, and determines the logical flow of the workflow.

Prerequisites

Complete the following tasks.

■	Create the Complex Workflow Example.
■	Create a Custom Action for the Complex Workflow Example.
■	Open the workflow for editing in the workflow editor.

Procedure

Click the Schema tab in the workflow editor.

Add the following schema elements to the workflow schema.

Element Type	Element Name	Position in Schema
Scriptable task	`Initializing`	Below the Start element
Decision	`VMs to Process?`	Below the Initializing scriptable task element
Scriptable task	`Pool Has No VMs`	Below the VMs to Process? custom decision element, linked with a red arrow
Custom decision	`Remaining VMs?`	Right of the VMs to Process? custom decision element, linked with a green arrow
Action	getVMDiskModes	Right of the Remaining VMs? custom decision element, linked with a green arrow
Custom decision	`Create Snapshot?`	Right of the getVMDiskModes action element, linked with a blue arrow
Workflow	Create a snapshot	Above the Create Snapshot? custom decision element, linked with a green arrow
Scriptable task	`VM Snapshots`	Left of the Create a snapshot workflow, linked with a blue arrow
Scriptable task	`Increment`	Left of the VM Snapshots scriptable task element, linked with a blue arrow
Scriptable task	`Set Output`	Right of the Pool Has No VMs scriptable task element, linked with a blue arrow

Add a Log Exception scriptable task element.

a	Create an exception handling link from the Create a snapshot workflow to an End element.
b	Drag a scriptable task element to the red dashed arrow that links the Create a snapshot workflow to an End element.
c	Double-click the scriptable task element and rename it to `Log Exception`.
d	Move the Log Exception scriptable task element to above the VM Snapshots scriptable task element.

Unlink all End elements except the End element that is at the right of the Set Output scriptable task element.

Link the remaining elements as described in the following table.

Element	Link to	Type of Arrow	Description
getVMDiskModes action element	Log Exception scriptable task element	Red dashed	Exception handling
Create Snapshot? custom decision element	Increment scriptable task element	Red	`False` result
Log Exception scriptable task element	Increment scriptable task element	Blue	Normal workflow progression
Increment scriptable task element	Remaining VMs? custom decision element	Blue	Normal workflow progression
Remaining VMs? custom decision element	Set Output scriptable task element	Red	`False` result

Click Save at the bottom of the Schema tab.

The following figure shows what the linked elements of the Take a Snapshot of All Virtual Machines in a Resource Pool workflow should look like.

Linking of the Take a Snapshot of All Virtual Machines in a Resource Pool Example Workflow

Linking of the Take a Snapshot of All Virtual Machine in a Resource Pool workflow.

What to do next

You can optionally define workflow zones by using workflow notes.

Previous topic: Create a Custom Action for the Complex Workflow Example

Next topic: Create the Complex Workflow Example Zones