Dialog Flow Browser
The Dialog Flow Browser lets you review and change all the functions for dialog flow in one diagram, with a minimum movement to other windows or dialog.
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You can use the Dialog Design tool to check the directions and completeness of dialog flows and then modify your choices in Dialog Flow Browser as you view all the dialog flow information.
The Dialog Flow Browser shows the dialog flow data of your model in a dialog, instead of a diagram format.
The following fields are available on this dialog:
- From Procedure Step
- Displays all procedure steps in the entire model in a drop-down menu, when you launch the Dialog Flow Browser from the main Design menu. From this list, you can see the dialog flows defined in the model. Once you select a procedure step, all procedure steps that it flows to are placed in the To procedure step drop-down. If you launch the Dialog Flow Browser from the Dialog Design menu or from Flow Maintenance, the From and To procedure steps are populated with the source and destination of the selected flow.
- To Procedure Step
- Displays all the procedure steps in the model to which the From procedure step flows. From this drop down list, select the To procedure step for which you want to display the dialog flow information.
- Links to/Transfer
- Specifies the dialog type. Select either link or transfer dialog type fro the drop-down menu. If the current setting is Link and you change it to Transfer, all the data returned, command returned, returns on exit state, return current exit state and display/execute upon return is disabled and the associated information is deleted. Select OK to apply the change.
- Flows On
- Displays a list of commands from which you select an Autoflow trigger. This trigger dictates what condition causes an autoflow from one procedure or procedure step to another. Autoflow commands set an exit state immediately. The associated dialog flow executes without screen field validation or invoking a procedure step action block. This lets the user exit a screen and return to a menu without entering required data on the current screen. When you define autoflows, you add an exit state to a dialog flow and assign a command to that exit state as an autoflow command. If the dialog flow is a link and inputs must be saved, autoflow updates the data views in the user profile without verifying user inputs. Autoflow also performs the indicated view matching and activates the destination procedure step. The input data is always verified immediately before execution of the destination procedure step. Assigning autoflow commands facilitates the use of the Prototyping Tool. As you assign autoflow commands, you can also assign the same commands to function keys and have the command display with its function key assignment on the screen. These steps ensure smooth operation during Prototyping.
- Returns On
- Specifies an autoflow command as the trigger for an exit state. Autoflow commands immediately set an exit state. The associated dialog flow executes without screen field validation or the invocation of a procedure step action block.
- Data Sent/Returned
- Defines the views, work sets, and entities for the data sent to an Import view if the Data Sent radio button is selected, or for the data that is returned to an Import view of the To procedure step if Data Returned of the From procedure step is selected.
- If Data Sent is selected and an item from the To Import Views is selected from one list, the possible From Export Views show in the other list.
- If Data Returned is selected and an item from the From Export Views is selected from one list, the possible To Import Views show in the other list.
- Match Data Sent/Data Returned
- Specifies whether to match a view in the top list to one in the bottom list. If two views are already matched, you can effectively rematch the views by selecting again. The original match is replaced by the new selection.
- Unmatch Data Sent and Data Returned
- Specifies whether to unmatch views in a procedure or procedure step in one list from a procedure or procedure step in the other list.
- At "To"/"From" PStep
- Specifies whether the Execute or Display action occurs in the To and From Procedure steps when a flow takes place. For more information, see At To/From PStep Radio Buttons.
- Command Sent Enterable Drop Down
- Specifies the command, if any, you want to be set when the destination or To procedure step executes.
- If the flow is between two business systems, all commands from both business systems display in this drop-down.
- Command Returned Enterable Drop Down
- Specifies the command, if any, you set in the From procedure step at execution.
- If the flow is between two business systems, all commands from both business systems display in this drop-down.
The following graphic shows data on the flow from procedure step CLIENT_MAINTAIN_DIVISION to procedure step CLIENT_DETAIL_DIVISION. Changes to any of the fields are reflected instantly across the dialog in all affected areas.
Dialog Flow Browser Overview

For information on the conditions that disable certain fields in the Dialog Flow Browser, see Conditions That Disable Individual Fields.
The Dialog Flow Browser lets you perform the following actions:
- Select From and To procedure steps and their resulting links or transfers.
- Review and change Flows On and Returns On exit states and autoflow commands
- Determine whether the current exit state is send or return
- Review and change view matching of data sent
- Review and change view matching of data that is returned
- Review and change the execute or display mode of the To and From procedure steps
- Review and change the Sent command or Returned command
Accessing the Dialog Flow Browser
You can access the Dialog Flow Browser by using the following methods:
- Select Dialog Flow Browser from the Design menu drop-down list.
- Double-click a flow, or select Window Navigation Diagram, select Detail, Properties.
- Double-click a flow, or select Dialog Design, then Detail, Properties.
- Double-click a flow, or select Flow Maintenance Diagram, then Detail, Properties.
Downstream Effects
To initiate Packaging in Construction, define the dialog flows between procedures and procedure steps for each business system. If the dialog flows in Dialog Design or Dialog Flow Browser are not complete, Packaging only displays the business system name.
Dialog Flow Browser Actions
The main actions in Dialog Flow Browser are as follows:
- Diagram
- Launches to other diagrams, runs consistency checks, saves the model, and closes the diagram.
- Edit
- Adds and removes Flows On and Returns On exit states and autoflows, and allows matching and unmatching of data that is sent and returned.
- Detail
- Defines the properties of Dialog Flow Browser views only, and describes relevant information about a dialog flow and the procedures or procedure steps which the flow connects.
- View
- Controls the display of the import and export views in Dialog Flow Browser.
- Window
- Arranges the display of all open secondary windows.
- Help
- Describes general and specific help, explains contents of and tasks that are performed in the application window for help, lists key assignments, and lists all help topics in alphabetical order.
Some users find it helpful to understand the conditions that disable fields on a dialog. For more information, see Conditions That Disable Individual Fields.
At To/From PStep Radio Buttons
At "To"/"From" PStep Radio Buttons
This radio button specifies which of the following actions occurs when a flow takes place:
Option | Description |
Execute | The generated system executes the logic of the destination procedure step first, which results in either the display of the destination step's screen or the execution of a dialog flow. |
Display | The generated system displays the screen for the destination step first and waits for operator input before executing the logic of the procedure step. |
The guideline for determining which option to choose is whether the destination procedure step requires user input before it can execute. If user input is required, choose Display. If the source procedure step provides all the information that is required by the destination procedure step, choose Execute.
In a client/server application, the link from a client procedure to a server procedure must be set to Execute.
When commands are passed along a dialog flow using a Display action, the value of the command that is specified on the flow appears on the screen of the destination procedure step. When you set a command (including <Current>) in a flow, set the properties of the dialog flow to Execute.
Conditions that Disable Individual Fields
Use the following list to determine why a button, menu item, checkbox, or drop-down is not available for you to select. If necessary, correct the condition to gain access to a given field.
Control/Menu Item | Option | Reason Disabled |
Menu item | Properties | No view selected |
Description | No flow displayed | |
Flows on Autoflow | No flow, no flows on exit state selected, or subsetting conflict | |
Returns on Autoflow | No flow, no returns on exit state selected or subsetting conflict | |
Remove Flows On | No flow, no flows on exit state selected, or subsetting conflict | |
Remove Returns On | No flow, no returns on exit state selected, or subsetting conflict | |
Match | No flow, sent/returned radio button selected, or invalid match | |
Unmatch | No flow, sent/returned radio button selected, valid view that is not selected in top listbox. | |
Contract | Valid view not selected in either view listbox | |
Launch to Dialog Design. | No flow | |
Check | No flow | |
Push button | Forward | Only one "To" Procedure step, not in "join" mode, or no flow |
Back | Have not selected Forward push button yet | |
Reset | Same as Back | |
OK | No flow, or subset protection | |
Flows on | No flow, or subsetting conflict | |
Returns On | No flow, or subsetting conflict | |
Checkbox | Return Current Exit State | Link type=Transfer Display first at "From" Pstep radio button is selected. |
Send Current Exit State | Display first at "To" Pstep radio button is selected. | |
Data Returned | Link type=Transfer | |
Display first at "To" Pstep radio button | Link type=transfer or "To" Pstep=nonscreened | |
Display first at "From" Pstep radio button | "From" Pstep=nonscreened | |
Drop-down | Dialog Type | "From" Pstep's procedure is batch rather than online. |
Return command | Link type=transfer or subsetting conflict | |
Send Command | Subsetting conflict |
Specifying Type of Dialog Flow
You can specify the type of dialog flow as Transfers to or Links to.
Transfers and links pass control from one procedure step to the next procedure step. Optionally, data can be passed from the source to the destination procedure step.
Dialog flows that are links can return control and data to the source procedure step. Any data available when the source procedure step originally executes also is available after the destination procedure step is complete and returns control.
Dialog flows that are transfers cannot return control or data to the source procedure step.
The default value is Transfers to.
In applications with a graphical user interface (GUI), the type of dialog flow you choose determines whether a window remains open or closes when control passes to the next procedure step.
If you want a window to remain open when the next procedure step executes, select Links to. If you want a window to close before the next procedure step executes, select Transfers to.
Links to makes it possible to have more than one window open at a time. As a result, Links to is used most often in GUI applications.
On the Dialog Flow Diagram, a link appears as an arrow with a loop circling the source procedure step and the arrow pointing to the destination procedure step. A transfer appears as an arrow pointing to the destination procedure step. There is no loop at the end of a transfer dialog flow.
The Dialog Flow Diagram for a client/server application illustrates the passing of control from the client to the server, and back to the client. The guidelines below must be followed when joining procedures or procedure steps in a client/server application.
- Client procedures can flow to other client procedures or server procedures
- Flows from client procedures to server procedures must be links
- A flow cannot originate from a server procedure
Links and transfers control whether windows remain displayed.
The following example shows the different types of internal flows:
- A transfer between two online procedure steps (Proc Steps 1 and 3)
- A link between two online procedure steps (Proc Steps 2 and 3)
- An online procedure with a self-referencing transfer (Proc Step 3)
- An online procedure with a self-referencing link (Proc Step 4)
- A batch procedure with a self-referencing transfer (Proc Step 6)
Specifying Type of Dialog Flow

At "From" PStep (Execute/Display) Radio Buttons
These radio buttons specify which of the following actions executes when a link flow returns to the source procedure step:
Action | Description |
Execute First | The generated system executes the logic of the destination procedure step, which results in either the display of the destination screen of the step or the execution of a dialog flow. |
Display First | The generated system displays the screen for the destination step and waits for operator input to begin the logic of the procedure step. |
The guideline for determining which option to choose is whether upon completion of the link flow the source procedure step requires extra user input before it can execute. If user input is required, choose Display First. If all the information that is required by the source procedure step is retained or is provided by the destination procedure upon return, choose Execute First.
In a client/server application, the return flow from a server procedure to a client procedure generally is set to Execute First. This allows the client procedure to test the data being returned before the data is displayed to the user.
When commands are passed along a dialog flow using a Display First action, the value of the command that is specified on the flow appears on the screen of the destination procedure step. When you set a command (including <Current>) in a flow, set the properties of the dialog flow to Execute First.
More information:
How to in Dialog Flow Browser