Create a Workflow Template

In Spectrum, you can use workflows to track and manage the creation and modification of label templates and layer objects, while automating the approval and publishing process.

A workflow template is a collection of steps The states an item goes through when applied to a workflow. and possible progressions The transitions between the steps in a workflow. defined by XML that can be used to progress a label template or layer object through an instance of the workflow in Label Design . The workflow template can call Event integrations (for example, an Event Email Producer) to extend the capabilities of workflow outside of Spectrum.

Tip: It is recommended that you write a workflow template in a text editor intended for use with extensible markup language (XML), and then copy and paste the workflow template into Spectrum.

To add a workflow template to Spectrum, do the following.

1. In Process Design , click > Workflow to create a new workflow template.
2. In the Properties pane, enter a Description for the workflow template, including its purpose.
3. In the text editor in which you created the workflow template, copy the workflow template.
4. In Spectrum, select the text of the placeholder workflow template that you are going to replace, right click, and select Paste.
5. To neaten the indentation and spacing of the workflow template, click Format XML.
6. To check whether the XML is properly formatted, click Validate Workflow XML.
7. Click File > Save or click the Save button in the toolbar.
8. In the left pane of the Save dialog box, click the folder in which you want to save the workflow template. You can click a folder to display subfolders.
   1. Enter a name for the workflow template in the Name box.
      Characters permitted in names

      The following characters are permitted in the name: letters, numbers, parentheses, square brackets, ampersands, plus signs, commas, semi-colons, and tildes. Additionally, the following characters are permitted but cannot begin or end the name: spaces, double quotation marks, single quotation marks, hyphens, underscores, periods, and grave accents. For letters, the case that you specify is displayed, but case is ignored when Spectrum interprets a name. If you will be installing the Spectrum application on a computer running Windows Server, and transferring data between Spectrum instances, see the "Transferring Spectrum Data in a Compressed File" section of the Loftware Spectrum Data Transfer Guide.

      Note: If users who print labels are expected to select the process, use a name that will have meaning for them. The description is not displayed to a Data Provider Person or process that enters data into a form or other data entry view for a label that was configured by a Designer. A user acting as a Data Provider requires the DOCUMENT_PRINTER role or equivalent permissions. in Print , only to administrators who have access to Process Design  or Access Control .

   2. Click OK to save the workflow template. If you have omitted any items for which default values exist, they are automatically added to the workflow template when you save it.

Note: The first time you save a workflow template to a version-controlled folder, the workflow template is automatically checked out. When you are finished editing it, be sure to click File > Check In to save and check in your version, and make it available for others to check out.

Tip: Because default values may be added to a workflow template when you save it in Spectrum, after saving the workflow template it is recommended that you copy and paste it back into the text editor that you used to create it so that you have the most recent version available in the editor if you need to make changes.

Next Steps

Create event integrations for the steps and progressions. For more information, see Event Integration.