Form Chaining Introduction

Form Chaining (also known as Flow Chain or Multiform) allows you to create sequences of forms and datagrids that execute in order. Each step can pass its output as input to the next step, enabling complex multi-step workflows and data collection processes.

What is Form Chaining?

Form Chaining enables you to:

Chain Multiple Steps: Link workflows (forms) and datagrids together in a sequence
Pass Data Between Steps: Use output from one step as input to the next step
Create Multi-Step Processes: Build complex workflows that require multiple user interactions
Combine Forms and Grids: Mix form-based steps with datagrid steps in a single chain
Configure Lookup Fields: Set up lookup fields for datagrid steps to filter related data

How Form Chaining Works

Step Types

Each step in a form chain can be one of two types:

FLOW: A workflow (MFlow) that displays a form for data entry or processing
GRID: A datagrid (MDataGrid) that displays records in a table format

Step Configuration

Each step includes:

Step Name: A descriptive name for the step
Step Type: FLOW or GRID
Target: The specific workflow or datagrid to execute
Use Previous Output: Whether to use the previous step's output as input
Lookup Field: For GRID steps, a lookup field to filter records (optional)
Display Order: The order in which steps are executed

Data Flow

When steps are configured to use previous output:

Step 1 executes and produces output data
Step 2 receives the output from Step 1 as input
Step 2 processes the input and produces its own output
Step 3 receives the output from Step 2, and so on

This enables data to flow through the chain, allowing each step to build upon the previous step's results.

Use Cases

Multi-Step Data Collection

Collect data across multiple forms:

Step 1: Customer information form
Step 2: Order details form (pre-filled with customer ID from Step 1)
Step 3: Payment information form

Form Followed by Data Review

Submit a form and then review related records:

Step 1: Create order form
Step 2: View order items datagrid (filtered by order ID from Step 1)

Sequential Approvals

Multi-step approval processes:

Step 1: Submit request form
Step 2: Manager approval form
Step 3: Final approval form

Data Entry and Verification

Enter data and verify in a grid:

Step 1: Data entry form
Step 2: Verification datagrid showing entered records

Form Chain Structure

Each form chain consists of:

Name: Unique identifier for the form chain
Description: Optional description explaining the chain's purpose
Configuration: Array of steps that define the sequence
Component Type: Set to "FLOW_CHAIN" to identify it as a form chain

Using Form Chaining

Form chains can be:

Created: Define a new form chain with multiple steps
Edited: Modify existing form chains and their step configurations
Executed: Run form chains to guide users through multi-step processes
Used in Pages: Display form chains as widgets in Builder pages
Triggered from Datagrids: Execute form chains as actions from datagrid rows

Getting Started

Creating Form Chains: Learn how to create form chains with step-by-step instructions
Configure Steps: Add FLOW and GRID steps to your chain
Set Data Flow: Configure how data passes between steps
Test Execution: Test your form chain to ensure proper data flow

Workflows Introduction - Learn about workflows used as form chain steps
Datagrids Introduction - Understand datagrids used as form chain steps
Builder Introduction - Learn how to use form chains in Builder pages

Form Chaining Introduction

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