The Appian process modeler palette contains all of the nodes and Appian smart services that can be used to define a process workflow. These activities are broken into two main categories: workflow nodes and smart services. Workflow nodes consist of human tasks, BPMN activities, events, and gateways. Smart services are flow activities that integrate specialized business services, like sending e-mails or writing data to a database.
Refer to the following tables for more information about workflow nodes or smart services:
Workflow nodes consist of Human Tasks, Activities, Events, and Gateways. Human Tasks are human in the loop activities such as an activity used to assign a task to a user or group. Activities are used within process workflow to capture or process business data. Events allow designers to start, stop, or continue the progress of workflows. Gateway are used for workflow control.
| Sub Category | Icon | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Activities |  |
Script Task | The Script Task is used to perform an automated activity. Script Tasks are often used for data queries & transformation between other activities in a workflow |
| Activities |  |
Subprocess | The Subprocess Activity is used to launch child processes from within your parent process, allowing for data transfer between them. Subprocesses can be run either synchronously or asynchronously. |
| Events |  |
End Event | An End Event is used to denote the end of a process flow within a process model. The process remains active until all active paths in the process arrive at an end event. |
| Events |  |
Timer Event | Timer events can be added to the process flow to schedule a process activity, or to only continue the flow when certain conditions are met. |
| Events |  |
Receive Message Event | The Receive Message event can consume an action, in the form of a Java message or e-mail. When a receive message event is configured as a process node on the designer canvas, the event is activated when the process flow reaches the event. The process flow only proceeds once the event has completed execution. |
| Events |  |
Rule Event | Rule events can either be added to the process flow. They are used when there are certain conditions that need to be met before the process flow proceeds. Once an intermediate rule event is activated, it remains active until the rule evaluates to true. |
| Events |  |
Send Message Event | In a process, a Send Message event can be used to generate a message that is made available to all Receive Message events (which are actively listening for messages). Messages sent to events that are not active are discarded. |
| Events |  |
Start Event | A Start Event node denotes the beginning of a process in a process model, and is used to configure how a process is launched. |
| Gateways |  |
AND Gateway | The AND Gateway directs all incoming workflow(s) to all of the possible branches. If more than one incoming path is used, all incoming paths must reach the node before the process can continue. |
| Gateways |  |
Complex Gateway | This type of gateway allows you to selectively accept (or restrict) incoming paths and evaluate rules to determine outgoing paths. For example, you can restrict the node to accept only the first three out of four incoming paths, or require input from certain nodes before continuing. Outgoing paths can be configured in the same manner as other gateway nodes. |
| Gateways |  |
OR Gateway | An OR Gateway directs incoming flows to one of many possible output paths, based on the condition(s) you set. |
| Gateways |  |
XOR Gateway | The exclusive (XOR) gateway connects one incoming path with a single outgoing path. The outgoing path is chosen from a number of possible paths and determined by one or more conditions that you set. |
| Human Tasks |  |
User Input Task | The User Input Task activity is used to assign a task to a user and/or group. Interfaces are associated within a User Input Task to capture data from a form into a process. |
Smart services provide specialized business services. Smart services are, by default, unattended, meaning the activity will execute once activated. However, certain smart services can be configured as attended. Many of the attended smart services also have an associated smart service function available, which can be used in an Appian expression to invoke that smart service independent of a process model.
Tip: Deprecated smart services are only accessible through Search.
| Category | Sub Category | Icon | Name | Function Name (for use in Appian expressions) | HiddenCategory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Deprecated] |  |
Add Attachment Smart Service [Deprecated] | Not available for this smart service. | 一Deprecated一 | |
| [Deprecated] | |
Create Case Management Page Smart Service [Deprecated] | Not available for this smart service. | 一Deprecated一 | |
| [Deprecated] | |
Create Community Smart Service [Deprecated] | Not available for this smart service. | 一Deprecated一 | |
| [Deprecated] | |
Create Department Smart Service [Deprecated] | Not available for this smart service. | 一Deprecated一 | |
| [Deprecated] | |
Create Forum Smart Service [Deprecated] | Not available for this smart service. | 一Deprecated一 | |
| [Deprecated] | |
Create New Version Smart Service [Deprecated] | Not available for this smart service. | 一Deprecated一 | |
| [Deprecated] | |
Create Page Smart Service [Deprecated] | Not available for this smart service. | 一Deprecated一 | |
| [Deprecated] | |
Create Team Smart Service [Deprecated] | Not available for this smart service. | 一Deprecated一 | |
| [Deprecated] | |
Deactivate Community Properties Smart Service [Deprecated] | Not available for this smart service. | 一Deprecated一 | |
| [Deprecated] | |
Delete Community Smart Service [Deprecated] | Not available for this smart service. | 一Deprecated一 | |
| [Deprecated] | |
Delete Department Smart Service [Deprecated] | Not available for this smart service. | 一Deprecated一 | |
| [Deprecated] | |
Delete Forum Smart Service [Deprecated] | Not available for this smart service. | 一Deprecated一 | |
| [Deprecated] | |
Delete Message Smart Service [Deprecated] | Not available for this smart service. | 一Deprecated一 | |
| [Deprecated] | |
Delete Page Smart Service [Deprecated] | Not available for this smart service. | 一Deprecated一 | |
| [Deprecated] | |
Delete Team Smart Service [Deprecated] | Not available for this smart service. | 一Deprecated一 | |
| [Deprecated] | |
Delete Topic Smart Service [Deprecated] | Not available for this smart service. | 一Deprecated一 | |
| [Deprecated] | |
Edit Community Properties Smart Service [Deprecated] | Not available for this smart service. | 一Deprecated一 | |
| [Deprecated] | |
Edit Department Properties Smart Service [Deprecated] | Not available for this smart service. | 一Deprecated一 | |
| [Deprecated] | |
Edit Page Properties Smart Service [Deprecated] | Not available for this smart service. | 一Deprecated一 | |
| [Deprecated] | |
Edit Team Properties Smart Service [Deprecated] | Not available for this smart service. | 一Deprecated一 | |
| [Deprecated] | |
Export to Excel/CSV Smart Service [Deprecated] | Not available for this smart service. | 一Deprecated一 | |
| [Deprecated] | |
HTTP File Download Smart Service [Deprecated] | Not available for this smart service. | 一Deprecated一 | |
| [Deprecated] | |
HTTP File Upload Smart Service [Deprecated] | Not available for this smart service. | 一Deprecated一 | |
| [Deprecated] | |
HTTP Query Smart Service [Deprecated] | Not available for this smart service. | 一Deprecated一 | |
| [Deprecated] | |
Modify Community Security Smart Service [Deprecated] | Not available for this smart service. | 一Deprecated一 | |
| [Deprecated] | |
Modify Forum Security Smart Service [Deprecated] | Not available for this smart service. | 一Deprecated一 | |
| [Deprecated] | |
Move Community Smart Service [Deprecated] | Not available for this smart service. | 一Deprecated一 | |
| [Deprecated] | |
Move KC Smart Service [Deprecated] | Not available for this smart service. | 一Deprecated一 | |
| [Deprecated] | |
Move Topic Smart Service [Deprecated] | Not available for this smart service. | 一Deprecated一 | |
| [Deprecated] | |
Page Security Smart Service [Deprecated] | Not available for this smart service. | 一Deprecated一 | |
| [Deprecated] | |
Post Message Smart Service [Deprecated] | Not available for this smart service. | 一Deprecated一 | |
| [Deprecated] | |
Publish Page Smart Service [Deprecated] | Not available for this smart service. | 一Deprecated一 | |
| [Deprecated] | |
Reactivate Community Properties Smart Service [Deprecated] | Not available for this smart service. | 一Deprecated一 | |
| [Deprecated] | |
SAP Smart Service [Deprecated] | Not available for this smart service. | 一Deprecated一 | |
| [Deprecated] | |
Send Alert Smart Service [Deprecated] | Not available for this smart service. | 一Deprecated一 | |
| [Deprecated] | |
Send Message to Process Model [Deprecated] | Not available for this smart service. | 一Deprecated一 | |
| [Deprecated] | |
Set Global Home Page Smart Service [Deprecated] | Not available for this smart service. | 一Deprecated一 | |
| [Deprecated] | |
Set Group Home Page Smart Service [Deprecated] | Not available for this smart service. | 一Deprecated一 | |
| [Deprecated] | |
Set User Home Page Smart Service [Deprecated] | Not available for this smart service. | 一Deprecated一 | |
| [Deprecated] | |
Set User Storage Space Smart Service [Deprecated] | Not available for this smart service. | 一Deprecated一 | |
| [Deprecated] | |
Start Topic Smart Service [Deprecated] | Not available for this smart service. | 一Deprecated一 | |
| [Deprecated] | |
Upload Document Smart Service [Deprecated] | Not available for this smart service. | 一Deprecated一 | |
| Automation Services | Analytics |  |
Execute Process Report Smart Service | Not available for this smart service. | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Business Rules |  |
Increment Constant Smart Service | Not available for this smart service. | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Business Rules |  |
Update Constant Smart Service | Not available for this smart service. | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Communication |  |
Send E-Mail Smart Service | Not available for this smart service. | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Communication |  |
Send Push Notification Smart Service | a!sendPushNotification() | Automation_Services |
| Integration Services | Data Services |  |
Delete Records Smart Service | a!deleteRecords() | Integration_Services |
| Automation Services | Data Services |  |
Delete from Data Store Entities Smart Service | a!deleteFromDataStoreEntities() | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Data Services |  |
Execute Stored Procedure Smart Service | a!executeStoredProcedureOnSave() | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Data Services |  |
Query Database Smart Service | Not available for this smart service. | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Data Services |  |
Sync Records Smart Service | a!syncRecords() | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Data Services | |
Sync Records Smart Service (22.2) | a!syncRecords() | Automation_Services |
| Integration Services | Data Services |  |
Write Records Smart Service | a!writeRecords() | Integration_Services |
| Automation Services | Data Services |  |
Write to Data Store Entity Smart Service | a!writeToDataStoreEntity() | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Data Services |  |
Write to Multiple Data Store Entities Smart Service | a!writeToMultipleDataStoreEntities() | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Document Generation |  |
Export Process Report to CSV Smart Service | a!exportProcessReportToCsv() | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Document Generation |  |
Export Process Report to Excel Smart Service | a!exportProcessReportToExcel() | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Document Generation |  |
Export Data Store Entity to CSV Smart Service | a!exportDataStoreEntityToCsv() | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Document Generation |  |
Export Data Store Entity to Excel Smart Service | a!exportDataStoreEntityToExcel() | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Document Generation |  |
HTML Doc From Template Smart Service | Not available for this smart service. | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Document Generation |  |
Open Office Writer Doc From Template Smart Service | Not available for this smart service. | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Document Generation |  |
PDF Doc From Template Smart Service | Not available for this smart service. | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Document Generation |  |
Text Doc From Template Smart Service | Not available for this smart service. | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Document Generation |  |
MS Word 2007 Doc from Template Smart Service | Not available for this smart service. | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Document Management |  |
Create Folder Smart Service | a!createFolder() | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Document Management |  |
Create Knowledge Center Smart Service | a!createKnowledgeCenter() | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Document Management | |
Create Knowledge Center Smart Service (17.4) | a!createKnowledgeCenter_17r4() | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Document Management |  |
Delete Document Smart Service | a!deleteDocument() | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Document Management |  |
Delete Folder Smart Service | a!deleteFolder() | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Document Management |  |
Delete KC Smart Service | a!deleteKnowledgeCenter() | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Document Management |  |
Edit Document Properties Smart Service | a!editDocumentProperties() | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Document Management |  |
Edit KC Properties Smart Service | a!editKnowledgeCenterProperties() | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Document Management |  |
Lock Document Smart Service | a!lockDocument() | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Document Management |  |
Modify Folder Security Smart Service | a!modifyFolderSecurity() | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Document Management |  |
Modify KC Security Smart Service | a!modifyKnowledgeCenterSecurity() | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Document Management |  |
Move Document Smart Service | a!moveDocument() | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Document Management |  |
Move Folder Smart Service | a!moveFolder() | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Document Management |  |
Reconcile Doc Extraction Smart Service | Not available for this smart service. | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Document Management |  |
Rename Folder Smart Service | a!editFolderProperties() | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Document Management |  |
Start Doc Extraction Smart Service | Not available for this smart service. | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Document Management |  |
Unlock Document Smart Service | a!unlockDocument() | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Identity Management |  |
Add Group Admins Smart Service | a!addAdminsToGroup() | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Identity Management | |
Add Group Members Smart Service | a!addMembersToGroup() | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Identity Management |  |
Create User Smart Service | a!createUser() | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Identity Management |  |
Change User Type Smart Service | a!updateUserType() | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Identity Management | |
Create Group Smart Service | a!createGroup() | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Identity Management |  |
Deactivate User Smart Service | a!deactivateUser() | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Identity Management |  |
Delete Group Smart Service | a!deleteGroup() | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Identity Management | |
Edit Group Smart Service | a!editGroup() | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Identity Management |  |
Join Group Smart Service | Not available for this smart service. | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Identity Management |  |
Leave Group Smart Service | Not available for this smart service. | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Identity Management |  |
Modify User Security Smart Service | a!modifyUserSecurity() | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Identity Management |  |
Reactivate User Smart Service | a!reactivateUser() | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Identity Management |  |
Remove Group Admins Smart Service | a!removeGroupAdmins() | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Identity Management | |
Remove Group Members Smart Service | a!removeGroupMembers() | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Identity Management | |
Rename Users Smart Service | a!renameUsers() | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Identity Management | |
Set Group Attributes Smart Service | a!setGroupAttributes() | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Identity Management | |
Update User Profile Smart Service | a!updateUserProfile() | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Integrations & APIs |  |
Call Integration Smart Service | Not available for this smart service. | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Integrations & APIs |  |
Call Web Service Smart Service | Not available for this smart service. | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Integrations & APIs |  |
Invoke SAP BAPI Smart Service | a!sapInvokeWithCommit() | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Process Management |  |
Cancel Process Smart Service | a!cancelProcess() | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Process Management | |
Cancel Process Smart Service (17.3) | a!cancelProcess_17r3() | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Process Management |  |
Complete Task Smart Service | a!completeTask() | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Process Management |  |
Modify Process Security Smart Service | Not available for this smart service. | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Process Management |  |
Start Process Smart Service | a!startProcess() | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Robotic Processes |  |
Execute Robotic Task Smart Service | Not available for this smart service. | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Social |  |
Follow Records Smart Service | Not available for this smart service. | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Social |  |
Follow Users Smart Service | Not available for this smart service. | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Social |  |
Post Comment to Feed Entry Smart Service | Not available for this smart service. | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Social |  |
Post Event to Feed Smart Service | Not available for this smart service. | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Social |  |
Post Hazard to Feed Entry Smart Service | Not available for this smart service. | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Social |  |
Post System Event to Feed Smart Service | Not available for this smart service. | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Test Management |  |
Start Rule Tests (All) | a!startRuleTestsAll() | Automation_Services |
| Automation Services | Test Management |  |
Start Rule Tests (Applications) | a!startRuleTestsApplications() | Automation_Services |
Process Nodes and Smart Services
