State selection transitions

State selection transitions

These transitions are actioned by a user selecting a state in the workflow state dialog box.

The state selection transition can be configured to let the user choose:

All states

This is the default transition when a workflow editor adds a new state to a workflow, or when all transitions are removed from the state. A user can transition from the current state directly to any one of the other states. All other states in the workflow appear as destination state options in the workflow state dialog box.

All states default transition - All workflow states available as destination state

Setting any other type of transition, including a state select transition, removes this default.

This is a workflow with four states. All states have no configured transition and default to the All States transition. In each workflow state, a user can transition from any state to any other state using the workflow state dialog box.

{workflow:name=All states}
  {state:A}
  {state}
  {state:B}
  {state}
  {state:C}
  {state}
{workflow}

Any state can be transitioned to any other state in the workflow

Workflow state dialog box - All states transition - Select any state from the current state A

In workflow builder, the All states transition is displayed without a named transition.

Workflow builder - State transitions editor - Default All states transition

Although the destination states are listed in the transitions editor, you cannot set a destination state in the workflow builder for the All states transition.

See Edit transitions using workflow builder

From one or more states

This is a state select transition. A user can transition from the current state by selecting a state in the workflow state dialog box. The available destination states can be one or more of the states in the workflow.

cdmdc_workflowstatedialogbox_archivestate_select_fromtwostates_dropdownoptions.png

Select transition - Two options for the destination state

The choice of destination states is set by the workflow editor. The state can also include one or more of the content change transitions, updated, expired, or task completed. If these events occur, a change of state can occur.

A state with a select transition cannot include a submit transition or a content review transition.

The select from one or states transition uses the state-selection macro. This lists the states that can be transitioned to and in what order they are displayed in the workflow state dialog box.

{workflow:name=Specific state(s)}
  {state:A}
     {state-selection:states=C,B}
  {state}
  {state:B}
  {state}
  {state:C}
  {state}
  {state:D}
  {state}
{workflow}

State-selection transition from state A with destination state option to state B or state C

Workflow state dialog box - Destination state options

In workflow builder, you can add the state selection transition by

Choosing Select as the transition type
Select one or more options for the destination state from the dropdown menu

The order in which states are added is used to order their display in the workflow state dialog box.

A Select transition can be added to the state, together with

One or more conditions for the transition to occur
One or more additional transitions for the state

The additional state transitions can only be Updated, Expired and Tasks Completed. You cannot add an approval to a state with an existing state selection transition.

One state

This is the submit transition. A user can transition to the state displayed in the workflow state dialog box.

cdmdc_workflowstatedialogbox submit_nostateoptions.png

Submit transition - Single destination state option

The workflow editor sets the single destination state. The state can also include one or more of the content change transitions, updated, expired, or task completed. If these events occur, a change of state can occur.

A state with a submit transition cannot include a select transition or a content review transition.

The submit parameter limits the transition to just one state. The single option for the specified destination state appears in the workflow state dialog box.

{workflow:name=One state}
  {state:A|submit=C}
  {state}
  {state:B}
  {state}
  {state:C}
  {state}
{workflow}

Submit transition from state A to state C

Workflow state dialog box - Submit transition from state A to state C

You can the transition using the workflow builder. In the state transitions editor:

Choose the Submit transition in the state transitions editor and the single destination state

Workflow builder state transitions editor - Submit transition, one destination state
One or more additional state transitions can be added:

The additional state transitions can be updated, expired, and tasks Completed.

No state

A state can be configured so that a user has no options to manually transition from the state. When this is set, the workflow state dialog is displayed without any options to choose a destination state.

Workflow state dialog box - No state transitions

This occurs when the state includes one of the following:

A user manual select or submit transition, but the workflow editor has configured the state to hide these transitions so that only a user with administrator permission can see and use them
Only one or more of the updated, expired, or task-completed transitions. For example, in a workflow final state, it is good practice to only have an updated or expired transition

cdmdc_workflowstatedialogbox_finalstate_onlyupdatedtransition.png

Workflow state dialog box - Final state - No state transitions

The hideselection parameter in a state hides the default All states transition or any added submit or select transition.

If the state has an added select or submit transition, only an administrator is able to view and action the transition

{workflow:name=No state}
  {state:A|hideselection=true}
  {state}
  {state:B}
  {state}
  {state:C}
  {state}
{workflow}

If the state has the default All states transition

No state destination options are shown in the workflow state dialog box
An administrator can use the administrator state override option to transition the state

In workflow builder, this No State option can be set by editing the state, not in the state transition editor.

In the state editor

Check the Advanced option Hide selection

Workflow builder - State editor - Hide selection option - checked

You will also see the state dialog box without any transition options in a state that only has one or more of an updated, expired, and task completed transition.

The Hide selection setting does not affect a content review transition in the state.

State selection transitions