Input Operator

The Input operator serves as the beginning of your Data Workflow, with a single output port. The Input operator lets you retrieve data from a component and bring it into your Data Workflow.

You can use an Input operator to:

• Bring in end-user data from another component in your module.

• Set dynamic variables in a Data Table component by using the Binded Table setting.

You can use an Input operator to easily reference an end-user's name in a Text Field component. Or, retrieve an email address from an Email component. Then, use other Data Workflow operators to process those pieces of data.

You'll find the Input operator under the I/O group to the left of the Data Workflow canvas.

About the Info Window

And here's a breakdown of each setting in the Info window:

Manually-Defined Inputs

In some cases, you might want to reference an input that does not display in the Info window's Component drop-down. For example, the Property ID of components in imported modules.

To reference an input that does not display in the Component drop-down:

1. Select your Input operator.

2. In the operator's Info window, select any Property ID from the Component drop-down. The Property ID displays below the Input operator as a label.

3. On the Data Workflow canvas, double-click the Input operator's label. The field becomes editable.

4. Enter the Property ID to use as an input.

5. Click outside the field to save your manually-defined input.

   Reopening the Data Workflow component might not display your manually-defined input on the canvas, though the connection still exists. Consider using the Data Workflow component's Comment field to note the input.

Adding an Input Operator

To demonstrate an Input operator, you'll use it to retrieve data from a Data Table component.

These instructions assume you have a new module open, saved, and with a title.

Configure the Data Table Component

First, configure a Data Table component to store some sample data.

1. In the Module Builder, drag and drop a Data Table component onto your canvas.

2. In the Property ID and Canvas Label Text fields, enter dtDogs.

3. To the left of the component's configuration window, click Data.

4. In the data table, enter the following:

   #	A	B	C
   1	name	breed	color
   2	Baxter	Beagle	Brown
   3	Scar	Puggle	Brown
   4	Pickles	Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier	Yellow
   5	Holly	Golden Retriever	Golden

   

5. Click Save & Close.

Configure the Hidden Component

Next, configure a Hidden component to store the Data Workflow's output data.

1. Drag and drop a Hidden component onto your canvas, placing it below your dtDogs Data Table component.

2. In the Property ID and Canvas Label Text fields, enter dwfOutput.

3. Click Save & Close.

Configure the Data Workflow Component

Now, add a Data Workflow component to process the data.

1. Drag and drop a Data Workflow component onto your canvas, placing it between your dtDogs Data Table and dwfOutput Hidden components.

2. In the Canvas Label Text and Property Name fields, enter dwfDogs.

Configure the Input Operator

1. Drag and drop an Input operator onto your Data Workflow canvas.

2. Configure the operator's Info window as follows:

   Setting	Value
   Category	Input
   Component	dtDogs
   Required	Yes
   Source	Default

Configure the Output Operator

1. Drag and drop an Output operator onto your Data Workflow canvas.

2. Configure the operator's Info window as follows:

   Setting	Value
   Category	Output
   Component	dwfOutput
   Action	value

3. Connect the output port (right) of the Input operator to the input port (left) of the Output operator.

4. Click Save.

Here's how the completed Data Workflow looks:

Configure the Button Component

Lastly, add a Button component to trigger the Data Workflow.

1. Drag and drop a Button component onto your canvas, placing it below your dwfDogs Data Workflow component.

2. In the Property ID field, enter btnTrigger.

3. In the Label Text field, enter Trigger Data Workflow.

4. To the left of the component's configuration window, click Actions.

5. Set the Action Type as Event.

6. From the On Click drop-down, select dwfDogs.

   

7. Click Save & Close.

8. Save your module.

Your completed module looks like the following:

Preview your module in Express View. Open the DevTools Console and click Trigger Data Workflow. Run the Angular command and expand the data: tab. You can see the dog data in both the dtDogs (your Data Workflow input) array and the dwfOutput (your Data Workflow output) array.