How Events are Used in Workspace and Script Rules

Events are defined by adding event fire actions. This topic describes how to use events in workspace and script rules using the various event types.

Script rules, workspace rules, and workflow connectors can be triggered by actions taken by staff members, such as changing a field value or saving a record. However, they can also be triggered by other rules using rule-defined events. Events are defined by adding event fire actions, which vary by event type.

• Named Event—Named events are defined by adding the Fire a Named Event action to a script rule or workspace rule and specifying a name for the event.
• Exit Script Event—Exit script events are defined by adding the Fire Exit Script Event action to a script rule. (Exit script events are also fired automatically when a staff member clicks Exit in a script.)
• Finish Script Event—Finish script events are defined by adding the Fire Finish Script Event action to a script rule. (Finish script events are also fired automatically when a staff member clicks Finish in a script.)

Note: Although exit script events and finish script events perform similar roles, they are intended to serve slightly different purposes. Exit script events usually occur before the script has reached a final page for the branch, while finish script events usually occur after the script has reached a final page. In this way, you can distinguish between an early exit from the script and a case where the script was followed to completion.

After an event is defined as a rule action, the event can be used to trigger other rules. Any workspace rule or script rule configured for the workspace that uses the event as a trigger is run immediately after the event is fired—conditions are evaluated and, if they are matched, the rule actions are run. Events can also be used to trigger any workflow connector that is connecting from the workspace.

Exit and finish script events can be fired only in script rules. However, named events can be fired in either script or workspace rules. Therefore, while you can use a named event, exit script event, or finish script event to trigger a workspace rule from a script rule, only a named event can be used to trigger a script rule directly from a workspace rule. (A workspace rule could take other non-event actions that result in a script rule being fired indirectly.)