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Continue Loop

Description:​

Loop Continue step is created automatically with a Loop Start step. This step continues to loop start step for further decision making. It will only contain the loop start step name. All the additional generated fields will be passed. Also the counter is incremented before the row is forwarded.

This step needs the following user input as listed in the Configurations table below,

  • Loop Start step name

Configurations:​

No.Field NameDescription
1Step NameName of the step. This name has to be unique in a single workflow.
2Loop NameIt automatically picks up a loop name based on the Loop Start step it is connected to.
3Button: OKClick OK button to accept configurations.
4Button: CancelClick CANCEL button to discard configurations.

Schematic representation of a Workflow with Loops​

Sample Workflows: Simple Loop​

Following is a demonstration to create a Simple Loop workflow.

  1. Create a new workflow and save it as SimpleLoop

  2. Add a Data Grid step with meta data as shown below.

  3. Add data in the data tab.

  1. Click Preview button to view the records.
  2. Always Drag and Drop Start Loop Step or double click Start Loop. When you do this automatically a Continue Loop step is also created for you in Process Studio. These steps always exist in combination.

  1. Add a Modified Java Script step between Start Loop and Continue Loop. Whenever you create a Hop from Start Loop it is terminated with ‘Condition: TRUE’ or ‘Condition: False’. No Hops are allowed from Continue Loop.

  1. Join Modified Java Script to Continue Loop as shown below.

  1. Configure Start Loop. All the fields of Start Loop have been explained in the Configurations table.

    In this example we do not have a condition, instead we have created an iterator

‘addition’ with number of iterations for each row equals to 1.

  1. Configure Modified Java Script as shown below to add two field values.

  1. Leave Continue Loop configurations as it is or alternately specify a Step name.

  1. Add a Text file output step. Draw a Hop with Condition: FALSE. This completes creating both Condition: TRUE and Condition: FALSE Hops.

  1. This is the complete workflow. You can now run the workflow.

This workflow introduced you to how to use Loop step in a workflow.

Sample Workflows: Nested Loop​

Nested Loop can be considered as a loop in a loop. The following picture depicts a Nested Loop. In the screen shot the parent loop steps are ‘Start Loop’ and ‘Continue Loop’ as seen below. The child workflow steps are ‘Start Loop2’ and ‘Continue Loop2’.

Validations for Workflow with Loop steps​

  • If the workflow is using switch case for path decisions inside loop or error handling, all of them must end with Loop Continue Step.
  • Both the steps must be present and connected properly in the workflow.
  • Infinite loop will not be verified.
  • Cannot have Blocking Steps in the loop
  • Steps like Merge Join, Join Rows which wait for all rows before execution start will not be allowed in the loop.
  • Row generating steps like Microsoft Excel Input are not allowed in a loop. However, Web Loop Table is allowed in a loop.
  • The following steps are also not allowed in a loop, Identify last row in a stream, Send Email, Intermediate Status and Exit Browser

Sample Workflows: Break Loop​

Nested Loop can be considered as a loop in a loop. The following picture depicts a Nested Loop. In the screen shot the parent loop steps are ‘Start Loop’ and ‘Continue Loop’ as seen below. The child workflow steps are ‘Start Loop2’ and ‘Continue Loop2’.

Validations for Workflow with Loop steps​

If the workflow is using switch case for path decisions inside loop or error handling, all of them must end with Loop.

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