Creating Workflow Tasks

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The default Single Approver Definition offers a simple introduction to workflow tasks. It has only two task nodes: Review and Update. The workflow enters the Review node when a content creator submits an asset for review. In review, the asset can be accepted or rejected. If it’s rejected, the process moves to the Update task. The submitter can then modify the asset and resubmit it for review.

The single approver definition has two task nodes.

Task nodes are often the most complex parts of a workflow definition. They can have Assignments which can assign the task to users or a Resource Action (see Assigning Task Nodes).

Task nodes also contain Notifications and Actions–both of which support workflow scripts. See Configuring Workflow Actions and Notifications.

Task nodes can also use task timers to trigger an action after a specified time period passes. Timers are useful for ensuring a task does not go unattended for a long time. Available timer actions include sending an additional notification, reassigning the asset, or creating a timer action.

When the review is finished and the approved transition is triggered, the workflow advances to the next node. In the Single Approver process, it moves to the Approved nd node.

Creating the Single Approver Workflow

You’ll create the workflow in 4 steps:

Create the workflow and give it a name
Create the Review node
Create the Update node
Configure the End node

Creating the Workflow

Go to the Global Menu → Applications → Process Builder.
Click the Workflows tab.
Click Add ().
Give your workflow a descriptive name, like My Single Approver.

Creating the Review Node

In the workflow designer Canvas, if there’s a transition connecting the Start node and End node, delete it: select it with your mouse and hit the Delete key on your keyboard.
Drag and drop a Task node onto the canvas.
Connect the Start node to the Task node by making sure no nodes are selected and then moving your pointer to the edge of the start node. When the cursor changes shape, you can click and drag a transition from the Start node to the Task node.
Select the transition and rename it Review.
Click the Task node to begin updating its properties.
Give the node a name: Review.
Add a Notification:
- Name: Review Notification
- Template Language: Freemarker
- Template: Enter this Freemarker notification: ${userName} sent you a ${entryType} for review in the workflow.
- Notification Type: Select Email and User Notification in the multiple select field.
- Execution Type: On Assignment
- Recipient Type: Task Assignees
Add another notification:
- Name: Review Completion Notification
- Template Language: Freemarker
- Template: Enter this Freemarker notification: Your submission was reviewed<#if taskComments?has_content> and the reviewer applied the following ${taskComments}</#if>.
- Notification Type: Email
- Execution Type: On Exit
- Recipient Type: Asset Creator
Click the back arrow () or Save (if using an earlier version of the Workflow Designer) when finished with the notifications.
Add the Assignments. You can assign the review task to a Role, Role Type, a specific User, or a Resource Action. In this example, assign the review Task to a Role Type. Select these Roles, clicking New Section each time you must add a new Role:
- Asset Library Role Type:
  - Asset Library Administrator
  - Asset Library Content Reviewer
  - Asset Library Owner
- Organization Role Type:
  - Organization Administrator
  - Organization Content Reviewer
  - Organization Owner
- Regular Role Type:
  - Administrator
  - Portal Content Reviewer
- Site Role Type
  - Site Administrator
  - Site Content Reviewer
  - Site Owner
If you select Auto Create, a Role that doesn’t currently exist will be auto-created when the workflow is saved. For more information about Roles and Permissions, see Understanding Roles and Permissions and Assigning Users to Roles.
Click the End node and rename it to Approved.
Connect the Review node to the Approved End node. Name the connector approve.

This Task node is now configured; it sends a notification that a submission is ready for review to those Users assigned to a specific Role.

You can also assign the Task node to a Resource Action instead of another user or a Role Type. To learn more see Assigning Task Nodes.

Create the Update Node

Drag and drop another Task node onto the canvas.
Connect the review node to the new Task node by making sure no nodes are selected and then moving your pointer to the edge of the start node. When the cursor changes shape, you can click and drag a connector from the review node to the new Task node.
Select the connector and rename it reject.
Click the Task node to begin updating its properties.
Give the node a name: Update.
Now add a Notification.
- Name: Creator Modification Notification
- Template Language: Freemarker
- Template: Enter this Freemarker notification: Your submission was rejected by ${userName}; please modify and resubmit.
- Notification Type: Select Email and User Notification in the multiple select field.
- Execution Type: On Assignment
- Recipient Type: Task Assignees
Click the back arrow () or Save (if using an earlier version of the Workflow Designer) when finished with the notification.
Click on Assignments. Select Asset Creator.
Click the back arrow () or Save (if using an earlier version of the Workflow Designer) when finished with the assignment.

Now add Actions:

Name: reject

Template (Groovy):

 import com.liferay.portal.kernel.workflow.WorkflowStatusManagerUtil;
 import com.liferay.portal.kernel.workflow.WorkflowConstants;

 WorkflowStatusManagerUtil.updateStatus(WorkflowConstants.getLabelStatus("denied"), workflowContext);
 WorkflowStatusManagerUtil.updateStatus(WorkflowConstants.getLabelStatus("pending"), workflowContext);

Leave the rest of the defaults (e.g., Execution type On Entry).

Click the back arrow () or Save (if using an earlier version of the Workflow Designer) when finished with the action.
Make sure nothing is selected on the palette; move your mouse pointer to the edge of the update node. Drag a connector from the update node back to the review node.
Name the new connector resubmit.
Save the workflow definition.

Your workflow is taking shape. All that's left is to connect the end node.

Click the Publish button to publish the workflow.

Now that you’ve walked through a workflow creation and learned how to use the workflow designer, look into adding node types that can take your workflow processes to the next level; such as Forks and Joins or Conditions.