Modify string

Use the Modify string action A tool for building the processes, logic, and direction within workflows. to perform basic string operations, such as trimming strings, and extracting, finding, and replacing substrings.

For example, you can use the Modify string action and select the string operation called Replace substring in string to change the source string "Hello, it's a nice day!" to "Hello, it's a beautiful day!".

If you change the string operation to Extract substring from string index with length, set the index to 7, and set the number of characters to extract to 4, the result should be "nice".

Note: This action is available only in engine v2. For more information on engine v2, see Upgrade workflows to engine v2.

Before you start

How do I handle files in my workflow?

You can start a workflow whenever a new or updated file is detected (example: Box - New file), upload files on start or at any point in the workflow, generate documents from tagged templates, send and receive files via email, and manipulate files. File handling can be set up in your workflow start event The connector and event for triggering the workflow to run, including required configuration. An example is Box - New file, which triggers the workflow to run when a new file is uploaded to the specified folder. and actions A tool for building the processes, logic, and direction within workflows..

Note: Your tenancy's default file storage location must be configured to hold files for later reference by the workflow. This location is used for uploaded files and for files stored as output from actions.

Handle files in your workflow start event

Start your workflow when a new or updated file is detected in a service; for example, see Box - New file and Connectors
- Store a file reference for use later in the workflow (file share connector start events)
  File share connector start events, such as Box - New file, require you to add each start event variable that you want to reference later in the workflow. The variables provided vary by start event. See Connectors.
  In the Designer page:
  1. On the canvas, click Start event.
    The configuration panel for Start event appears.
  2. Select a connector, from the Start from drop-down list.
  3. Select an event from the Event drop-down list.
    The Source section is displayed.
    Note: The Source section is available only for some events.
  4. Click Add variables.
  5. Select the predefined variables that you want to add to your workflow.
    Note:
    To select all variables, click Select All.
    If you know the variable and you want to find it faster, type the variable name in the Filter options field.
  6. Click Add.
    The Variables dialog box appears, displaying the variables you have selected.
    Note: If you want to edit the selection of variables, hover over the variable, click , and then click Show Details. Edit the variable name in the Name field or click .
Upload files when filling in a form from:
- Salesforce, using Nintex Drawloop DocAutomation for Salesforce
- The web or an app
Note: Your tenancy's default file storage location must be configured to hold files for later reference by the workflow.
Programmatically upload files for a Component workflow A workflow that can be started from outside the tenancy; the workflow uses the "Component workflow" start event.; see Nintex - Component workflow

Note: Your tenancy's default file storage location must be configured to hold files for later reference by the workflow.

Handle files in your workflow actions

Generate documents from tagged templates using Generate document
Send and receive files via email; for example, see Assign a task
Manipulate files in services (see Connectors):
- Get, store, move, copy, or delete files using file share connector actions A workflow action that performs a basic operation through a connected system, such as Salesforce or Box., such as Box - Move a file
- Get and attach files in Salesforce
- Get and store files in SharePoint
- Signatures: Get and store signed documents using DocuSign or Adobe Sign.
Store a file for use later in the workflow
For example, store any email attachments received by the task assignee.

In the Designer page:
1. On the design canvas, click the action you want to configure.
2. Find the output field for storing the file or set of files.
  
  For example, to store attachments received in task assignee email replies when they may attach multiple files, use the Assign a task Multiple file attachments option for the Store output field.
3. In the output field, do one of the following:
  - Select a variable.
    For output storing multiple files, select a collection variable. For output storing a single file, select a file variable.
    Note: Your tenancy's default file storage location must be configured to hold files for later reference by the workflow.
  - Specify a file path.
    You can use any combination of text and variables, beginning with the root folder. If available, use the folder browse icon on the right of the path field to navigate to the folder and any subfolders that you want, and then edit the path as desired to include variables and different text.
  Availability of variable or path options for storing files varies by action. See Connectors and Workflow actions.
Reference a stored file
For example, reference the new Box file that started the workflow to attach it to a task email notification or reference an image received by the task assignee to generate an invoice document.

Note: Your tenancy's default file storage location must be configured to hold files for later reference by the workflow. This location is used for uploaded files and for files stored as output from actions.

In the Designer page:
1. On the design canvas, click the action you want to configure.
2. Find the field where you want to reference the stored file.
3. In this field, do one of the following:
  - Select the file variable associated with the stored file.
    For example, select the variable for the new Box file that started the workflow or select the variable storing Multiple file attachments output from a task action.
  - Specify the file path where the file is stored.
    You can use any combination of text and variables, beginning with the root folder. If available, use the folder browse icon on the right of the path field to navigate to the folder and any subfolders that you want, and then edit the path as desired to include variables and different text.
    View example
    Both a file variable and a file path are used in the example image below for the Dropbox Business - Copy a file action. A file variable is selected for Source and a file path is specified for Destination.
    The variables "CountryVariable" and "Program" insert the values into the file path as determined by earlier workflow logic (in this case, fields in a submitted form). For example, if the person submitting the form selects Australia for country and specifies Inspire2017 for program, then the resulting file path is "/SpecialProgramNDAs/Australia/Inspire2017NDA.docx."
  Availability of variable or path options for referencing files varies by action and field. See Connectors and Workflow actions.

Configure the Modify string action

The steps required to configure the action are given below. The Modify string action fields, buttons, and settings table describes all the required and optional configuration fields.

In the Designer page:

Add the action to the workflow and open the configuration panel.
1. Find the action in the Operations action group in the action toolbox.
1. Drag the Modify string action to the designer canvas.
2. Click the action to open the configuration panel.
From the String operation drop-down list, select a String operation.

Note: The fields that appear depend on the string operation you select.

In the Source string field, specify the Source string.
Do one of the following:
- To extract a substring from the start or end of a string , specify the Number of characters to extract.
- To extract a substring from a string index, specify the Index.
- To extract a substring from a string index with length, specify the Index and Number of characters to extract.
- To find a substring in a string, specify the Substring.
- To replace a substring in a string, specify the Substring and Replacement substring.
In the Result field, select or add a variable where you want to store the result of the string operation.

Modify string action fields, buttons, and settings

Section	Field	Description	Variable types
Unlabeled	String operation	A list of string operations. Extract substring from start of string - Copies a specified number of characters starting from the beginning of a string and stores the output in a variable. Extract substring from end of string - Copies a specified number of characters starting from the end of a string and stores the output in a variable. Extract substring from string index - Copies a substring starting at a specified index in the string and stores the value in a variable. Extract substring from string index with length - Copies a substring comprising a specified number of characters, starting at a specified index in the string, and stores the value in a variable. Find substring in string - Finds a particular substring inside a string and returns the index of the substring's starting position. Replace substring in string - Replaces a particular substring with another substring. Trim string - Removes white spaces from the beginning and end of a string. Note: The fields that appear depend on the string operation you select.	n/a
	Source string	The string from which the substring that you want to copy or modify is extracted.	Text
	Number of characters to extract	The number of characters contained in a substring that you want to extract.	Integer
	Index	The character index within the source string that marks the beginning of the substring.	Integer
	Substring	The string that you want to find or extract from a source string to be copied or modified.	Text
	Replacement substring	The new string that you want to replace the substring with.	Text
Output	Result	A variable where you can store the result of the string operation.	Text