A workflow runs according to a logical flow of events.

When you run a workflow, each schema element in the workflow runs according to the following sequence.

1

The workflow binds the workflow token attributes and input parameters to the schema element's input parameters.

2

The schema element runs.

3

The schema element's output parameters are copied to the workflow token attributes and workflow output parameters.

4

The workflow token attributes and output parameters are stored in the database.

5

The next schema element starts running.

This sequence repeats for each schema element until the end of the workflow.

When a workflow runs, each schema element is a check point. After each schema element runs, Orchestrator stores workflow token attributes in the database, and the following schema element starts running. If the workflow stops unexpectedly, the next time the Orchestrator server restarts, the currently active schema element runs again, and the workflow continues from the start of the schema element that was running when the interruption happened. However, Orchestrator does not implement transaction management or a roll-back function.

The workflow ends if the current active schema element is an end element or if an element has no outgoing connection. Validating a workflow with no end element returns a warning, but the workflow will run successfully. After the workflow reaches an end element, other workflows or applications can use the workflow's output parameters.