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Version: 8.1

Signal start event

Level: beginner

Use the Signal start event (Fig. 1) to run a process automatically, as opposed to being started by a user directly. Use this element to initiate the following types of processes:

  • Processes run through a signal from another process (triggered by a Throw signal event)
  • Processes run upon changes in Creatio records (when adding, editing or deleting records in a specified object).
note

Start events trigger business processes and enable the execution of all other process elements. No process element can be triggered before the start element.

Important

By default, all diagrams contain a Simple start event as an initial event of a business process. If you want to start your business process with a Signal start event, delete the default Simple start event from the diagram first.

Fig. 1 The “Score new Opportunity” business process run through a signal
Fig. 1 The “Score new Opportunity” business process run through a signal

For example, you can use the Signal start event in the “Score new Opportunity” business process that starts automatically when a new opportunity is added in Creatio.

Signal start event operation

Activation

Depending on its mode, the element is triggered in one of the following cases:

  • A corresponding signal is generated by the Throw signal event in any other business process.
  • A corresponding Creatio object record is added, modified or deleted.

Execution

When triggered, the event activates its outgoing flows, which enables the execution of the other actions in the business process flow. If the element has been triggered by an added/modified/deleted Creatio record, the Id of that record will be passed in the element outgoing parameter.

Signal start event common parameters

The Signal start event parameters depend on the type of the received signal, which determines the Signal start event mode. The common element parameters include:

Which type of signal is received?

Choose which event activates the signal:

  • Select “Custom signal” if this process is activated by a Throw signal intermediate event in a different process
  • Select “Object signal” if the process is activated whenever a certain type of record is created, modified or deleted in Creatio.

The selected option determines what following parameters will appear in the element setup area.

Run following elements in the background

Select this checkbox, if you want any “User action” elements activated with the outgoing flows of the current element to run “in the background.” When process elements are executed in the background, their loading mask is not displayed, no windows pop up for the user, etc. The user will be able to interact with the elements via the Business process tasks tab of the communication panel.

The remaining parameters in the element setup area differ depending on the values in the Which type of signal is received? and Which event should trigger the signal? fields.

Custom signal mode parameters

The parameters in the element setup area differ depending on the values in the Which type of signal is received? and Which event should trigger the signal? fields:

Signal

Enter the name of the signal event that will activate this element. Make sure that the custom signal name matches the one specified in the Which signal is generated? field of the Throw signal element (Fig. 2 and Fig. 3) in the corresponding process(es).

Fig. 2 Specifying the name of the signal that activates the Signal start event in the Custom signal mode
Fig. 2 Specifying the name of the signal that activates the Signal start event in the Custom signal mode
Fig. 3 Example of a Throw signal element that generates the corresponding signal
Fig. 3 Example of a Throw signal element that generates the corresponding signal

Object signal “Record added” mode parameters

Object signal in the “Record is added” mode activates a process when a record is added in a specified Creatio object. The signal creates a new business process instance upon each added record.

Object

Adding a new record in this object will activate the Signal element

Which event should trigger the signal?

Select the “Record added” event from the drop-down list. Whenever a record is added in the specified object, the Signal element will activate.

The added record must meet the filter conditions

If the added record does not match the filter conditions, the process will not start. For example, the process must start each time an account of the “Customer” type is added. In this case, the process will not start if different type of account is created. Leave the filter empty, if you need the process to start whenever any type of record is added in the object.

Object signal “Record modified” mode parameters

Object signal in the “Record is modified” mode activates a process when a record is modified in a specified Creatio object. The signal creates a new business process instance upon each modified record.

Object

Editing or otherwise modifying a record in this object will activate the Signal element.

Which event should trigger the signal?

Select the “Record modified” event from the drop-down list. Whenever a column value changes in the specified object, the signal will be generated and the process will start.

Changes expected

You can start business process on any changes in the target object, or monitor only specific fields for changes:

  • Select “In any field” to run business process automatically, upon changes in any field of the selected object
  • Select “In any of the selected fields” to run business process automatically, upon changes in specific fields only. Click +Add column and select the needed fields. For example, a business process can run only if an activity status is modified. If a change occurs in a different column (e.g. activity assignee is changed), the process will not start.

The modified record must meet the filter conditions

If the modified record does not meet the filter conditions, the process will not start. For example, you can run a process only if the status of an activity is changed to “Closed.”

Object signal “Record deleted” mode parameters

Object signal in the “Record is deleted” mode activates a process when a record is deleted in a specified Creatio object. The signal creates a new business process instance upon each deleted record.

Object

Deleting a record in this object will activate the Signal element.

Which event should trigger the signal?

Select the “Record deleted” event from the drop-down list. Whenever a record is deleted in the specified object, the signal will be generated and the process will start.

The record must meet the filter conditions

If the deleted record does not meet the filter conditions, the process will not start. For example, you can trigger the signal each time a record of the “Call” type is deleted from the “Activity” object. If the filter parameters are not set, then adding, modifying or deleting any record in the object will trigger the signal.

Signal start event outgoing parameters

The Signal start event outgoing parameters include:

Unique identifier of record

The parameter contains the identifier of the added/modified/deleted record that triggered the signal. Note that the data of a deleted record can only be read if the process is not run in the background mode.


See also

Use events in a business process