How to use precondition to bypass state in Workflow

Overview

Usually, workflow is a straightforward process going from state 1 to state 2 and so on until reaching the final state to complete the workflow. Sometimes it is desired to bypass one or more states if a given property has, or does not have, a specific value. This example shows how to do this.

 

Solution

In this example, the goal is to make it possible to bypass 3. Third state and go directly from 2. Second state to 4. Fourth state in a scenario where Keywords property does not have the value "HOLD".

 

To make this possible, we need to add another state between 2. Second state and 4. Fourth state. We will call this state 4. Check. This state will check if the Keyword value allows the transition and if it is allowed, then it will automatically trigger transition to 4. Fourth state.

1. Open the Properties window of 4. Check state.

2. Open the Conditions tab and select Property conditions under the Preconditions heading.

3. Click the Define button.

4. In the Define Filter window, set the filter as show below:

   

1. Double-click the transition arrow between 4. Check and 4. Fourth state (the one with blue dot with i-character in the workflow visualization screenshot above) 

2. Go to the Trigger tab.

3. Select "Trigger the state transition after" and set its value to 0 (zero).

When an object is in state 2. Second state they can choose between 3. Third state or 4 Check. This could be confusing so you may give 4. Check state the same name as 4. Fourth state to make it fully transparent to users.