Labguru’s workflow editor is a powerful tool that can automate any process or task performed manually within the system. Automation can be tailored to your specific needs and can be used across the system utilizing the various functions Labguru has.
Automated processes can be built to simplify data management, lab management tasks, email notifications, alerts, and more.
Use case 1 - Stock expiry notification
Use case 2 - calculations in forms
Watch the full webinar about automation and the Workflow Editor here
General concepts:
Flows - You can create as many flows as needed to run on your account. Each flow starts with a trigger (either a webhook or a triggerless trigger). When a flow is activated, it uses its own temporary database of variables as defined by the steps in it. The flow communicates (pull or push data) with the account's database with API.
Webhook - Labguru user-triggered events can be used to activate workflows. Each flow will have its webhook, with a unique ID. All existing webhooks can be viewed from the Labguru app by adding "/admin/webhooks" to the URL. (multiple flows can have the same trigger, and each will be a different webhook)
Triggerless triggers - There are flow triggers that do not depend on user activity in the Labguru application. Currently, there are 3 types:
Manual (can be activated by a button in the 'Logs' tab on the flow page)
Periodic (set a time cycle for the flow to be activated automatically)
External - Trigger by creating a POST request to a specific API endpoint. You can send parameters/files and they will be available as variables. To access the parameter you sent, add a scripter step and add this variable
request_param = variable('item').This trigger can be activated by a button within the user interface's form element.
Runs - Each time the flow is activated it counts as a single run. All runs are documented in the flow 'Logs' tab. Runs can be archived, re-run, or deleted from the log.
Variables - It is possible to define global variables in the 'Variables' tab and reference them in the code using the following in your code. These variables are static throughout the code.
variable('variable_name')Variables can be created in other ways as well. Variables can take on different data types, such as numbers, strings, or JSON files of Labguru pages (such as experiments or projects). You can create variables in steps, like a 'Get experiment' or 'Create report' step, or in Lab scripters. Once you create a variable, you can use it in the following steps. However, keep in mind that variables only exist within the flow environment. Changes made to variables within the flow will not affect pages in Labguru unless you specify otherwise in a step. You can see all the variables available in a flow in the 'Variables' box located at the top right corner of the 'Editor' tab.
Steps - Flows consist of sequential steps that mark the chronological progression of the flow, one step at a time. Flows can also branch out, allowing multiple steps to run simultaneously. Additionally, steps can be conditions that help specify when the flow needs to be activated, continued or stopped.
Lab scripter - Lab scripter allows the addition of Python or Ruby code blocks or the upload of code files.