> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.dingtalk.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Advanced Workflow

> This page introduces the feature iteration plan of the advanced workflow designer, its availability across different editions, and the specific function areas and node types of the advanced workflow designer. It covers the start node, human node, and automatic node, and also provides information about workflow attributes such as workflow variables and signature settings.

<Note>
  📌 The advanced workflow designer is scheduled to stop feature iteration and updates. It is currently in the feedback collection period. If feature iteration and updates are officially stopped, an announcement will be made at least 2 months in advance.
  📌 If feature iteration and updates are stopped, you cannot create new advanced workflow versions, but the enabled advanced workflow forms will continue to run normally and will not be affected.
</Note>

| **Feature**       | **Free plan** | **Basic edition** | **Professional edition** | **Dedicated edition** |
| ----------------- | ------------- | ----------------- | ------------------------ | --------------------- |
| Advanced workflow | Not supported | Not supported     | Supported                | Supported             |

To meet workflow requirements, YiDA provides an advanced workflow designer. It supports almost all features of the standard designer and enhances several capabilities on top of that. For example, it adds branch and aggregation components, enhances component features and settings by distinguishing basic and premium settings, lets you customize approver rules and completion policies, and supports upgrading a standard workflow editor to an advanced workflow editor.

<Note>
  Once you upgrade a standard workflow editor to an advanced workflow editor, you cannot revert to the standard workflow editor.
</Note>

## Workflow Designer

**The designer is divided into 5 function areas:**

* Area ①: Node area
* Area ②: Quick action area
* Area ③: Workflow design area
* Area ④: Attribute settings area
* Area ⑤: Save and Help

### Node Area

The node area provides all function nodes supported by the advanced workflow designer. Drag nodes into the workflow design area as needed.

| [**Start node**](/yida/process/ek8q11)       | The start node initiates the advanced workflow. When a workflow is initiated, formula validation or association actions may be triggered. Node submission rules use formula validation to determine whether the user can perform the action when submitting the workflow or when the approver processes it. |
| -------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [**Human node**](/yida/process/ves9o4)       | Lets you customize approver rules based on your needs.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| [**Automatic node**](/yida/process/ctns3l)   | The automatic node is mainly used to make callbacks through third-party service options. Register the third-party service first, and then select it.                                                                                                                                                        |
| [**Branch node**](/yida/process/hhw27w)      | The advanced workflow supports branch node configuration. When the workflow reaches a branch node, the rules configured on the branch node determine which branch the workflow proceeds to next, enabling conditional logic such as "if... then...".                                                        |
| [**Aggregation node**](/yida/process/ee2mei) | When a workflow has multiple parallel branches that must all complete before continuing, use an aggregation node. The workflow continues only after all nodes on the incoming lines of the aggregation node have finished, achieving a waiting effect.                                                      |
| [**CC node**](/yida/process/ghkqiq)          | Used when an approval process has been initiated and the corresponding users need to view or be informed of the approval form, but no approval action is required.                                                                                                                                          |
| [**End node**](/yida/process/gkmvl4)         | The end node marks the end of the entire workflow. A correctly configured workflow proceeds step by step until it reaches this node, indicating that the workflow is complete.                                                                                                                              |

### Quick Action Area

The quick action area provides common shortcuts for designing workflow diagrams:

* Undo: Undoes the current addition or deletion of nodes and lines on the workflow design page.
* Cut: Places the selected node or line on the clipboard. Use the paste shortcut to quickly copy the corresponding node and line.
* Copy: Copies lines and approval nodes.
* Zoom in: Enlarges the entire workflow diagram.
* Zoom out: Shrinks the entire workflow diagram.
* Grid: When enabled, grid dots appear on the designer page. When disabled, the designer page shows a plain gray background.
* Bring forward: When multiple nodes overlap, brings the required node to the front.
* Send backward: When multiple nodes overlap, sends the less-used node to the back.

### Workflow Design Area

This is the main area for designing the workflow diagram. Freely drag nodes into it and connect them with lines to build the workflow.

### Attribute Settings Area

The attribute area displays the attribute settings supported by each type of node. Here, you can perform personalized and functional settings for the node.

### Save and Publish Workflow

After configuring workflow nodes and node rules, save and publish the workflow promptly. Otherwise, newly submitted data will still use the old workflow.

## Workflow Attributes

### Workflow Variables

The basic attributes of the workflow provide all form items on the page corresponding to the workflow for use in the workflow designer. To add extra attributes, add fields in the form design corresponding to the workflow, and the workflow variables load automatically, as shown below:

### Configure Signature

YiDA supports the signature feature for approver nodes in the workflow approval process. Users can set their signature on the mobile app for display during approval.

<Note>
  Signature results from electronic signatures are not CA-certified and have no legal effect.
</Note>

### Merge Rules

By configuring merge rules, you can control the merge action of certain nodes. The workflow automatically executes or skips nodes that meet the conditions based on the merge settings.

For example, to have the system automatically execute node 2 when node 1 is executed, configure merge rules to select the actions to skip and the default actions to execute.

Note: Tier-by-tier approval means that when a node has multiple approvers, tasks are assigned to these approvers one by one in order, and the task passes to the next approver only after the previous one has completed the action.

### Plain Message

Plain message refers specifically to "Notification rules based on the date field in the workflow".

**Path**: Add a date component to the workflow form first >> Advanced workflow editor >> Click a blank area >> Premium settings >> Plain message >> Date rules >> Select the date component on the form >> Save