Workflow Event Types

You can define workflows to initiate or execute actions and transitions on specific event types. You can direct workflows to initiate when records of the base record type are created, updated, or viewed with the On Create and On Update event types.

SuiteFlow includes additional event types with the Event Types field on the workflow definition, action, and transition definition pages. These events represent the user interface activity used to create, view, or update the record for a workflow.

Use these event types to further limit when workflows initiate or when actions and transitions execute. For a full list of all event types, see Event Types Reference.

The following screenshot shows the Event Types field on the workflow definition page:

A portion of the workflow definition page highlighting the Event Type field.

The Workflow Manager dynamically populates the event types you can select in the Event Types field. The following table describes the criteria for including an event type in the field:

Criteria	Description
Server trigger	The Workflow Manager displays different event types based on the server trigger, which includes Entry and Exit for actions and transitions in a state. For example, the Before Record Load trigger type and the View event type are compatible. The only time you can view a record is when it loads into the browser. However, if you set the workflow to initiate on the After Record Submit trigger, the View event type is not available as an event type. See Event Types Reference for information about the relationship between server triggers and event types.
Base record type	Some events are specific to a record type. For example, the Mark Complete event type will appear in the Event Types field only if the workflow base record type is Task or Phone Call. Other event types may appear depending on the features enabled in the account. For example, you must have the Pick, Pack, and Ship feature enabled to see Pack and Ship event types on an Item record such as Item Fulfillment.

Criteria

Description

Server trigger

The Workflow Manager displays different event types based on the server trigger, which includes Entry and Exit for actions and transitions in a state.

For example, the Before Record Load trigger type and the View event type are compatible. The only time you can view a record is when it loads into the browser. However, if you set the workflow to initiate on the After Record Submit trigger, the View event type is not available as an event type.

See Event Types Reference for information about the relationship between server triggers and event types.

Base record type

Some events are specific to a record type. For example, the Mark Complete event type will appear in the Event Types field only if the workflow base record type is Task or Phone Call.

Other event types may appear depending on the features enabled in the account. For example, you must have the Pick, Pack, and Ship feature enabled to see Pack and Ship event types on an Item record such as Item Fulfillment.

Rules and Guidelines for Event Types

Use the following general rules and guidelines with event types:

The Event Types field is not available for actions that execute on a client trigger or the Scheduled trigger for workflow initiation or action or transition execution.
The Workflow Manager does not limit all incompatible relationships between On Create and On Update and the corresponding events in the Event Types field.

For example, you can use the View event type for workflow initiation. However, the view event only occurs if the record opens in view (read-only) mode, rather than in edit mode. Consequently, if you define the workflow to only initiate on the creation of a record and select the View event type, the view event never occurs and the workflow never initiates.

More Information About Event Types

Use the following table to get more information about working with event types in a workflow:

Task	For more information
Specify the event type in a workflow definition	Creating a Workflow
Specify the event type in an action or transition	Creating an Action and Creating a Transition
Get a list of all event types and when they are available	Event Types Reference
Get examples of using the Print, Mark Complete, and Drop Ship event types	Examples of Event Types

Task

For more information

Specify the event type in a workflow definition

Creating a Workflow

Specify the event type in an action or transition

Creating an Action and Creating a Transition

Get a list of all event types and when they are available

Event Types Reference

Get examples of using the Print, Mark Complete, and Drop Ship event types

Examples of Event Types