Cloning Workflows

• Cloning is the act of creating a new workflow definition by copying an existing workflow definition.
• Cloning can save considerable time if the new workflow definition will share common characteristics with its clone source.
• Once created a clone is a completely separate editable entity from its source.
• Like a brand new definition, a cloned workflow definition is initially created in an inactive state.
• Clones can be created from existing workflow definitions or from global read-only templates.
• A clone of an existing workflow will copy its draft edits if they exist, otherwise. its published diagram.
• The cloned diagram becomes the draft of the new workflow definition.

The Clone Command

Here we describe the clone command for an existing workflow definition;  the process for cloning a template is very similar and is described in Workflow Templates.

• Popup menu for "New Employee Onboarding" workflow definition (1).

To clone a workflow definition, locate its entry on the "Active" or "Inactive" tab and click the pop up menu at its right hand end (1).

Select the "Clone" option from the resulting popup menu

• Pick the "Clone" option (2).

 An input modal dialog appears, confirming the operation and source workflow name :

• Enter a name for the new workflow (3).
• Click "OK" (4).

The new workflow will be created and you will be taken to the workflow definition editor to start editing the workflow to design the activities, conditions and transitions that make up the workflow.  See Edit Workflows

When you have finished editing the cloned workflow definition, Save the model and click the '<back' link (Top Left).  You will be returned to the Inactive Tab where the newly cloned workflow definition will appear at the bottom of the list.

• The tool has automatically switched to the Inactive tab (1). 
• The new cloned workflow definition has been added to the bottom of the "Inactive" list (2).
• The new definition has automatically been locked for its creator (Alan Byrne) to edit (3).
• The definition has a draft workflow diagram containing a copy of the diagram from the clone source with any additional edits applied after it was created (4).
• The draft has not yet been published (5).