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Process Nodes and Smart Services

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

Automation Smart Services


Workflow

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.png 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 Sub_Process.png 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.png 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.png 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.png 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.png 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.png 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.png 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.png 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.png 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.png 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.png 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.png 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.

Automation Smart Services

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] Deprecated.gif Create Case Management Page Smart Service [Deprecated] Not available for this smart service. 一Deprecated一
[Deprecated] Deprecated.gif Create Community Smart Service [Deprecated] Not available for this smart service. 一Deprecated一
[Deprecated] Deprecated.gif Create Department Smart Service [Deprecated] Not available for this smart service. 一Deprecated一
[Deprecated] Deprecated.gif Create Forum Smart Service [Deprecated] Not available for this smart service. 一Deprecated一
[Deprecated] Deprecated.gif Create New Version Smart Service [Deprecated] Not available for this smart service. 一Deprecated一
[Deprecated] Deprecated.gif Create Page Smart Service [Deprecated] Not available for this smart service. 一Deprecated一
[Deprecated] Deprecated.gif Create Team Smart Service [Deprecated] Not available for this smart service. 一Deprecated一
[Deprecated] Deprecated.gif Deactivate Community Properties Smart Service [Deprecated] Not available for this smart service. 一Deprecated一
[Deprecated] Deprecated.gif Delete Community Smart Service [Deprecated] Not available for this smart service. 一Deprecated一
[Deprecated] Deprecated.gif Delete Department Smart Service [Deprecated] Not available for this smart service. 一Deprecated一
[Deprecated] Deprecated.gif Delete Forum Smart Service [Deprecated] Not available for this smart service. 一Deprecated一
[Deprecated] Deprecated.gif Delete Message Smart Service [Deprecated] Not available for this smart service. 一Deprecated一
[Deprecated] Deprecated.gif Delete Page Smart Service [Deprecated] Not available for this smart service. 一Deprecated一
[Deprecated] Deprecated.gif Delete Team Smart Service [Deprecated] Not available for this smart service. 一Deprecated一
[Deprecated] Deprecated.gif Delete Topic Smart Service [Deprecated] Not available for this smart service. 一Deprecated一
[Deprecated] Deprecated.gif Edit Community Properties Smart Service [Deprecated] Not available for this smart service. 一Deprecated一
[Deprecated] Deprecated.gif Edit Department Properties Smart Service [Deprecated] Not available for this smart service. 一Deprecated一
[Deprecated] Deprecated.gif Edit Page Properties Smart Service [Deprecated] Not available for this smart service. 一Deprecated一
[Deprecated] Deprecated.gif Edit Team Properties Smart Service [Deprecated] Not available for this smart service. 一Deprecated一
[Deprecated] Deprecated.gif Export to Excel/CSV Smart Service [Deprecated] Not available for this smart service. 一Deprecated一
[Deprecated] Deprecated.gif HTTP File Download Smart Service [Deprecated] Not available for this smart service. 一Deprecated一
[Deprecated] Deprecated.gif HTTP File Upload Smart Service [Deprecated] Not available for this smart service. 一Deprecated一
[Deprecated] Deprecated.gif HTTP Query Smart Service [Deprecated] Not available for this smart service. 一Deprecated一
[Deprecated] Deprecated.gif Modify Community Security Smart Service [Deprecated] Not available for this smart service. 一Deprecated一
[Deprecated] Deprecated.gif Modify Forum Security Smart Service [Deprecated] Not available for this smart service. 一Deprecated一
[Deprecated] Deprecated.gif Move Community Smart Service [Deprecated] Not available for this smart service. 一Deprecated一
[Deprecated] Deprecated.gif Move KC Smart Service [Deprecated] Not available for this smart service. 一Deprecated一
[Deprecated] Deprecated.gif Move Topic Smart Service [Deprecated] Not available for this smart service. 一Deprecated一
[Deprecated] Deprecated.gif Page Security Smart Service [Deprecated] Not available for this smart service. 一Deprecated一
[Deprecated] Deprecated.gif Post Message Smart Service [Deprecated] Not available for this smart service. 一Deprecated一
[Deprecated] Deprecated.gif Publish Page Smart Service [Deprecated] Not available for this smart service. 一Deprecated一
[Deprecated] Deprecated.gif Reactivate Community Properties Smart Service [Deprecated] Not available for this smart service. 一Deprecated一
[Deprecated] Deprecated.gif SAP Smart Service [Deprecated] Not available for this smart service. 一Deprecated一
[Deprecated] Deprecated.gif Send Alert Smart Service [Deprecated] Not available for this smart service. 一Deprecated一
[Deprecated] Deprecated.gif Send Message to Process Model [Deprecated] Not available for this smart service. 一Deprecated一
[Deprecated] Deprecated.gif Set Global Home Page Smart Service [Deprecated] Not available for this smart service. 一Deprecated一
[Deprecated] Deprecated.gif Set Group Home Page Smart Service [Deprecated] Not available for this smart service. 一Deprecated一
[Deprecated] Deprecated.gif Set User Home Page Smart Service [Deprecated] Not available for this smart service. 一Deprecated一
[Deprecated] Deprecated.gif Set User Storage Space Smart Service [Deprecated] Not available for this smart service. 一Deprecated一
[Deprecated] Deprecated.gif Start Doc Extraction Smart Service [Deprecated] Not available for this smart service. 一Deprecated一
[Deprecated] Deprecated.gif Start Topic Smart Service [Deprecated] Not available for this smart service. 一Deprecated一
[Deprecated] Deprecated.gif Upload Document Smart Service [Deprecated] Not available for this smart service. 一Deprecated一
Automation Services AI Skills Classify_Documents.png Classify Documents Smart Service Not available for this smart service. Automation_Services
Automation Services AI Skills Classify_Emails.png Classify Emails Smart Service Not available for this smart service. Automation_Services
Automation Services AI Skills Execute_Prompt.png Execute Generative AI Skill Smart Service Not available for this smart service. Automation_Services
Automation Services AI Skills Extract_From_Document.png Extract from Document Smart Service Not available for this smart service. Automation_Services
Automation Services AI Skills Reconcile_Doc_Extraction.png Reconcile Doc Extraction Smart Service Not available for this smart service. Automation_Services
Automation Services Analytics Execute_Process_Report.png Execute Process Report Smart Service Not available for this smart service. Automation_Services
Automation Services Business Rules Increment_Constant.png Increment Constant Smart Service Not available for this smart service. Automation_Services
Automation Services Business Rules Update_Constant.png Update Constant Smart Service Not available for this smart service. Automation_Services
Automation Services Communication Send_Email.png Send E-Mail Smart Service Not available for this smart service. Automation_Services
Automation Services Communication Send_Push_Notification.png Send Push Notification Smart Service a!sendPushNotification() Automation_Services
Automation Services Data Services Delete_Records.png Delete Records Smart Service a!deleteRecords() Automation_Services
Automation Services Data Services Delete_Records.png Delete Records Smart Service (23.3) a!deleteRecords_23r3() Automation_Services
Automation Services Data Services Delete_From_Data_Store_Entity.png Delete from Data Store Entities Smart Service a!deleteFromDataStoreEntities() Automation_Services
Automation Services Data Services Execute_Stored_Procedure.png Execute Stored Procedure Smart Service a!executeStoredProcedureOnSave() Automation_Services
Automation Services Data Services Query_Database.png Query Database Smart Service Not available for this smart service. Automation_Services
Automation Services Data Services Sync_Records_from_Source.png Sync Records Smart Service a!syncRecords() Automation_Services
Automation Services Data Services Sync_Records_from_Source.png Sync Records Smart Service (22.2) a!syncRecords_22r2() Automation_Services
Automation Services Data Services Write_Records.png Write Records Smart Service a!writeRecords() Automation_Services
Automation Services Data Services Write_Records.png Write Records Smart Service (23.2) a!writeRecords_23r2() Automation_Services
Automation Services Data Services Write_Records.png Write Records Smart Service (23.4) a!writeRecords_23r4() Automation_Services
Automation Services Data Services Write_To_Data_Store_Entity.png Write to Data Store Entity Smart Service a!writeToDataStoreEntity() Automation_Services
Automation Services Data Services Write_To_Multiple_Data_Store_Entity.png Write to Multiple Data Store Entities Smart Service a!writeToMultipleDataStoreEntities() Automation_Services
Automation Services Document Generation Export_Process_Report_To_CSV.png Export Process Report to CSV Smart Service a!exportProcessReportToCsv() Automation_Services
Automation Services Document Generation Export_Process_Report_to_Excel.png Export Process Report to Excel Smart Service a!exportProcessReportToExcel() Automation_Services
Automation Services Document Generation Export_Data_Store_Entity_to_CSV.png Export Data Store Entity to CSV Smart Service a!exportDataStoreEntityToCsv() Automation_Services
Automation Services Document Generation Export_Data_Store_Entity_to_Excel.png Export Data Store Entity to Excel Smart Service a!exportDataStoreEntityToExcel() Automation_Services
Automation Services Document Generation HTML_Doc_From_Template.png HTML Doc From Template Smart Service Not available for this smart service. Automation_Services
Automation Services Document Generation Open_Office_Doc_From_Template.png Open Office Writer Doc From Template Smart Service Not available for this smart service. Automation_Services
Automation Services Document Generation PDF_Doc_From_Template.png PDF Doc From Template Smart Service Not available for this smart service. Automation_Services
Automation Services Document Generation Text_Doc_From_Template.png Text Doc From Template Smart Service Not available for this smart service. Automation_Services
Automation Services Document Generation Word_Doc_From_Template.png MS Word 2007 Doc from Template Smart Service Not available for this smart service. Automation_Services
Automation Services Document Management Create_Folder.png Create Folder Smart Service a!createFolder() Automation_Services
Automation Services Document Management Create_KC.png Create Knowledge Center Smart Service a!createKnowledgeCenter() Automation_Services
Automation Services Document Management Create_KC.png Create Knowledge Center Smart Service (17.4) a!createKnowledgeCenter_17r4() Automation_Services
Automation Services Document Management Delete_Document.png Delete Document Smart Service a!deleteDocument() Automation_Services
Automation Services Document Management Delete_Folder.png Delete Folder Smart Service a!deleteFolder() Automation_Services
Automation Services Document Management Delete_kc.png Delete KC Smart Service a!deleteKnowledgeCenter() Automation_Services
Automation Services Document Management Edit_Document_Properties.png Edit Document Properties Smart Service a!editDocumentProperties() Automation_Services
Automation Services Document Management Edit_KC_Properties.png Edit KC Properties Smart Service a!editKnowledgeCenterProperties() Automation_Services
Automation Services Document Management Lock_Document.png Lock Document Smart Service a!lockDocument() Automation_Services
Automation Services Document Management Modify_Folder_Security.png Modify Folder Security Smart Service a!modifyFolderSecurity() Automation_Services
Automation Services Document Management Modify_KC_Security.png Modify KC Security Smart Service a!modifyKnowledgeCenterSecurity() Automation_Services
Automation Services Document Management Move_Document.png Move Document Smart Service a!moveDocument() Automation_Services
Automation Services Document Management Move_Folder.png Move Folder Smart Service a!moveFolder() Automation_Services
Automation Services Document Management Rename_Folder.png Rename Folder Smart Service a!editFolderProperties() Automation_Services
Automation Services Document Management Unlock_Document.png Unlock Document Smart Service a!unlockDocument() Automation_Services
Automation Services Identity Management Add_Group_Members.png Add Group Admins Smart Service a!addAdminsToGroup() Automation_Services
Automation Services Identity Management Add_Group_Members.png Add Group Members Smart Service a!addMembersToGroup() Automation_Services
Automation Services Identity Management Add_User.png Create User Smart Service a!createUser() Automation_Services
Automation Services Identity Management Change_User_Type.png Change User Type Smart Service a!updateUserType() Automation_Services
Automation Services Identity Management Add_Group_Members.png Create Group Smart Service a!createGroup() Automation_Services
Automation Services Identity Management Deactivate_User.png Deactivate User Smart Service a!deactivateUser() Automation_Services
Automation Services Identity Management Delete_Group.png Delete Group Smart Service a!deleteGroup() Automation_Services
Automation Services Identity Management Add_Group_Members.png Edit Group Smart Service a!editGroup() Automation_Services
Automation Services Identity Management Add_Group_Members.png Join Group Smart Service Not available for this smart service. Automation_Services
Automation Services Identity Management Leave_Group.png Leave Group Smart Service Not available for this smart service. Automation_Services
Automation Services Identity Management Modify_User_Security.png Modify User Security Smart Service a!modifyUserSecurity() Automation_Services
Automation Services Identity Management Reactivate_User.png Reactivate User Smart Service a!reactivateUser() Automation_Services
Automation Services Identity Management Remove_Group_Members.png Remove Group Admins Smart Service a!removeGroupAdmins() Automation_Services
Automation Services Identity Management Remove_Group_Members.png Remove Group Members Smart Service a!removeGroupMembers() Automation_Services
Automation Services Identity Management Change_User_Type.png Rename Users Smart Service a!renameUsers() Automation_Services
Automation Services Identity Management Add_Group_Members.png Set Group Attributes Smart Service a!setGroupAttributes() Automation_Services
Automation Services Identity Management Change_User_Type.png Update User Profile Smart Service a!updateUserProfile() Automation_Services
Automation Services Integrations & APIs Call_Integration.png Call Integration Smart Service Not available for this smart service. Automation_Services
Automation Services Integrations & APIs Call_Web_Service.png Call Web Service Smart Service Not available for this smart service. Automation_Services
Automation Services Integrations & APIs Invoke_SAP_BAPI.png Invoke SAP BAPI Smart Service a!sapInvokeWithCommit() Automation_Services
Automation Services Process Management Cancel_Process.png Cancel Process Smart Service a!cancelProcess() Automation_Services
Automation Services Process Management Cancel_Process.png Cancel Process Smart Service (17.3) a!cancelProcess_17r3() Automation_Services
Automation Services Process Management Complete_Task.png Complete Task Smart Service a!completeTask() Automation_Services
Automation Services Process Management Modify_Process_Security.png Modify Process Security Smart Service Not available for this smart service. Automation_Services
Automation Services Process Management Start_Process.png Start Process Smart Service a!startProcess() Automation_Services
Automation Services Robotic Processes Execute_Robotic_Process.png Execute Robotic Task Smart Service (23.4) Not available for this smart service. Automation_Services
Automation Services Robotic Tasks Execute_Robotic_Process.png Execute Robotic Task Smart Service Not available for this smart service. Automation_Services
Automation Services Social Follow_Records.png Follow Records Smart Service Not available for this smart service. Automation_Services
Automation Services Social Follow_Users.png Follow Users Smart Service Not available for this smart service. Automation_Services
Automation Services Social Post_Comment_To_Feed.png Post Comment to Feed Entry Smart Service Not available for this smart service. Automation_Services
Automation Services Social Post_Event_To_Feed.png Post Event to Feed Smart Service Not available for this smart service. Automation_Services
Automation Services Social Post_Hazard_To_Feed.png Post Hazard to Feed Entry Smart Service Not available for this smart service. Automation_Services
Automation Services Social Post_System_Event_To_Feed.png Post System Event to Feed Smart Service Not available for this smart service. Automation_Services
Automation Services Test Management Start_Rules_Test_All.png Start Rule Tests (All) a!startRuleTestsAll() Automation_Services
Automation Services Test Management Start_Rules_Tests_Application.png Start Rule Tests (Applications) a!startRuleTestsApplications() Automation_Services

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