Step 5 : Configure start options

Configure a workflow to start automatically or manually as described below:

  • Start a list workflow automatically when a list or library item is created or modified.
  • Start site workflows automatically at a scheduled time.
  • Start list workflows manually when the manual start option is configured for list workflows.
  • Start from another workflow using component workflows.

Configure start options

Depending on the type, a workflow can be configured to start automatically or manually.

A list workflow can be configured to start manually or automatically through Workflow Settings or when publishing the workflow.

  1. Open the required list workflow and do one of the following:
    • From the toolbar, select Settings. The Workflow Settings window opens.

      • Use this option if you want to save the workflow settings but the workflow is not ready to be published yet.

    • From the toolbar, click Publish. The Publish window opens.

      • Use this option only if you have configured all the actions and the workflow is ready to be published.

  2. Select the required Start options.
    • Start manually: Allows the list workflow to be started manually. For more information, see Start a workflow manually.
    • Start when items are created: Start the workflow automatically when a new item is created in the SharePoint list or document library.
      • Click Add condition and specify conditions to define a conditional start to the relevant item. The workflow will start when the item meets the specified condition. For information about the Add condition configuration, see Add conditions fields, buttons and settings.
    • Start when items are modified: Start the workflow automatically when an item is modified in the SharePoint list or document library.
      • Click Add condition and specify conditions to define a conditional start to the relevant item. The workflow will start when the item meets the specified condition. For information about the Add condition configuration, see Add conditions fields, buttons and settings.

Site workflows that are configured as a component workflow can be started by another workflow or by an HTTPS-capable application.

  1. Open the required site workflow and do one of the following:
    • From the toolbar, select Settings. The Workflow Settings window opens.

      • Use this option if you want to save the workflow settings but the workflow is not ready to be published yet.

    • From the toolbar, click Publish. The Publish window opens.

      • Use this option only if you have configured all the actions and the workflow is ready to be published.

  2. Select the required Enable Component workflow checkbox.

  3. Specify the Call Component workflow from options as required. For more information, see Component workflows

You can use the Schedule option to schedule a site workflow to run automatically at a date and time specified.

  1. Do one of the following to open the Workflows page for site workflows:
    • On a SharePoint Site Contents page, click the Nintex Workflow for Office 365 app.

    • If you are on a different page of the Workflow Gallery, click Workflows on the left menu.

  2. On the right of the workflow you want to schedule, click and select Schedule.

    3. The Schedule Configuration window opens.

  1. Specify the date, time and time zone for Schedule start.
  2. Select a Recurrence option.
  3. Select a Schedule end option.
  4. Click Save.

For more information on the Schedule Configuration fields, buttons and settings, see Step 5 : Configure start options.

Next step:

Step 6 : Publish the workflow