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Martini Workflows Invoke Workflow Node

Overview

The Invoke Workflow Node lets you call other existing Martini workflows directly from your workflow. This makes it easy to reuse workflows within multiple workflows, helping you build modular, maintainable solutions without duplicating logic.

What You Will Learn

  • How to add Invoke Workflow Nodes to your workflow
  • How to use the Invoke Workflow Data Mapper Panel for property mapping and transformation
  • How to create and map properties visually
  • How to troubleshoot common issues

Prerequisites

Getting Started

Adding Invoke Workflow Nodes

To add an Invoke Workflow Node to your workflow:

  1. Open your Martini package in the Navigator and double-click your workflow to open the Workflow Designer.
  2. Locate the workflow(s) you want to invoke in your workflow from the same package.

    Workflows are marked with a icon.

  3. Drag the workflow onto the Workflow Designer canvas.
  4. The workflow becomes an Invoke Workflow Node.
  5. Connect it to a trigger and other nodes using workflow edges.

Important

Ensure that the invoked workflow's nodes have edges connecting to the Start Trigger Node. The workflow can't be invoked within another workflow without it.

Quick Add via Edge

To quickly add an Invoke Workflow Node using the content assist popup:

  1. Drag an edge from any node and drop it onto a blank area of the Workflow Designer canvas.
  2. In the popup, type to search for the desired workflow name.
  3. Double-click the workflow in the results or press Enter.
  4. The Invoke Workflow Node is added and automatically connected by the edge.

Expected result: An Invoke Workflow Node appears in your workflow, ready for property mapping and transformation in the Invoke Workflow Data Mapper Panel.

Using the Invoke Workflow Data Mapper Panel

The Invoke Workflow Data Mapper Panel uses Martini's standard Data Mapper Panel to connect and transform data between your current workflow and the workflows you invoke. It allows you to see all available properties, map your current workflow's inputs to the invoked workflow's inputs, and route output from the invoked workflow back into your current workflow. You can also declare new properties and set custom expressions.

What makes it specific to Invoke Workflow Nodes:

  • Input Mapper (left): Map current workflow properties to the invoked workflow's inputs.
  • Output Mapper (right): Map outputs from the invoked workflow to the current workflow's properties and output.

For complete details on using the Data Mapper Panel, including creating map lines, set expressions, and property management, see the Data Mapping Guide.

Getting Started

  1. Click the expand icon on your Invoke Workflow Node to open the Data Mapper Panel.
  2. The panel appears in the lower half of the Workflow Designer.

Expected result: The Data Mapper Panel opens showing your current workflow properties and the invoked workflows's input/output parameters.

Input Mapper Layout For Invoke Workflow Nodes

When you open the Data Mapper Panel on an Invoke Workflow Node, the Input Mapper appears on the left side and has a specific layout for connecting your current workflow to the invoked workflow.

Here's what the Input Mapper looks like for Invoke Workflow Nodes:

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| Current Workflow Properties      | Mapping Lines | Invoked Workflow Input Properties |
|----------------------------------|---------------|-----------------------------------|
|             [input1]             |   ------->    |       [invokedWorkflowIn1]        |
|             [input2]             |   ------->    |       [invokedWorkflowIn2]        |
  • Current Workflow Properties (left): These are the available properties from your current workflow, including both workflow inputs and any properties created or updated by the current and previous nodes. You use these as sources to pass data into the invoked workflow.
  • Mapping Lines (middle): Visual connectors showing how data flows.
  • Invoked Workflow Input Properties (right): These are the fields that your invoked workflow expects as input. Any property in your current workflow that you map here will be passed into the invoked workflow when the current workflow runs.

Output Mapper Layout For Invoke Workflow Nodes

When you open the Data Mapper Panel on an Invoke Workflow Node, the Output Mapper appears on the right side and shows how data flows from the invoked workflow back to your current workflow.

Here's what the Output Mapper looks like for Invoke Workflow Nodes:

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| Invoked Workflow Output Properties | Mapping Lines | Current Workflow Output Properties |
|------------------------------------|---------------|------------------------------------|
|      [invokedWorkflowOut1]         |   ------->    |         [workflowOut1]             |
|      [invokedWorkflowOut2]         |   ------->    |         [workflowOut2]             |
  • Invoked Workflow Output Properties (left): Source properties produced by the invoked workflow.
  • Mapping Lines (middle): Visual connectors showing how data flows.
  • Current Workflow Output Properties (right): Target properties in your current workflow, including workflow outputs and any properties created or updated by the current and previous nodes.

Mapping Properties

For complete details on key terms (Input Mapper, Output Mapper, Map Lines, Set Expression), configuration controls (Declare Property, Delete, Collapse All, etc.), property management, and property creation methods when mapping data between your workflows, see the Data Mapping Guide.

Map Lines

Map lines work exactly as described in the Data Mapping Guide. For Invoke Workflow Nodes specifically:

  1. Open the Data Mapper Panel on your Invoke Workflow Node
  2. Create connections between your workflows:
  3. For inputs: Create map lines from your current workflow properties to the invoked workflow's input properties (in the Input Mapper)
  4. For outputs: Create map lines from the invoked workflow's output properties back to your current workflow properties (in the Output Mapper)

For complete map line creation methods, including drag-and-drop and right-click shortcuts, see Working with Map Lines.

Set Expressions

Invoke Workflow Nodes support the full range of set expressions described in Assigning Dynamic Values to Properties with Set Expressions. This allows you to:

  • Transform data moving between your curren and invoked workflow with custom calculations
  • Set static configuration values
  • Format data for subsequent workflow nodes

For complete details on creating and using set expressions, including examples and best practices, see the Set Expressions section in the Data Mapping Guide.

How It Works

The Data Mapper Panel of an Invoke Workflow connects data between your current and invoked workflow through a visual drag-and-drop interface.

Data Flow in Three Steps

Step 1: Map Inputs
Drag properties from your current workflow to the invoked workflow's input fields. When the workflow runs, these values pass to the invoked workflow.

Example: Your userRegistration workflow has a customerEmail property. Drag it to the emailToValidate input of your invoked emailValidator workflow.

Step 2: Invoked Workflow Executes
The invoked workflow processes the input data and produces output properties.

Step 3: Map Outputs Back
Drag the invoked workflow's output properties to your current workflow. This makes the results available for subsequent nodes or workflow outputs.

Example: The emailValidator workflow returns isValid (true/false) and validationMessage (string). Drag these to your userRegistration workflow's properties to use them in the next node.

Visual Representation
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Current Workflow          Invoked Workflow        Current Workflow
   Properties        →     (Processing)      →      Properties

customerEmail        →    emailToValidate    →     (validation runs)
                                              →     isValid
                                              →     validationMessage

Troubleshooting

Problem Detection Cause Fix
Workflow not invoked Workflow does not produce expected output; red error icon on node No edges connecting the Invoke Workflow Node to the rest of the workflow; mapping missing or incorrect 1. Check for red error icon on the Invoke Workflow Node.
2. Ensure edges connect the node to both trigger and other nodes.
3. Right-click node → Properties → Validate mappings.
4. Open Data Mapper Panel and confirm all required properties are mapped.
Property not available Property missing in Data Mapper Panel; warning icon in Data Mapper Panel Property not declared or mapped 1. Open Data Mapper Panel.
2. Look for warning icons next to properties.
3. Click "Declare Property" in Output Mapper.
4. Map the property to the correct source.
Invoked workflow does not run Invoked workflow does not start or produce output Invoked workflow's nodes are not connected to the Start Trigger Node 1. Open the invoked workflow in Workflow Designer.
2. Check for nodes with no edges connected to the Start Trigger Node.
3. Drag edges from Start Trigger Node to all required nodes.
4. Save the workflow.
Mapping error Red error icon appears on Data Mapper Panel; error message "Unmapped property" Required input/output property not mapped 1. Open Data Mapper Panel.
2. Locate properties with red error icons.
3. Drag and map missing properties.
4. Right-click node → Properties → Validate mappings.
Workflow not found "Workflow not found" error in popup; node shows warning icon Invoked workflow was deleted or renamed 1. Check workflow name in node properties.
2. Use Navigator to verify workflow exists.
3. Update node to reference correct workflow.
4. Save and redeploy.
Data not passed to invoked workflow Invoked workflow receives empty/null values Source properties not mapped or incorrect mapping 1. Open Data Mapper Panel.
2. Drag correct source properties to invoked workflow inputs.
3. Test workflow execution.
Output not available in current workflow Output properties missing after invocation; output area shows gray placeholders Output properties not mapped back to current workflow 1. Open Data Mapper Panel.
2. Check Output Mapper for unmapped properties.
3. Drag invoked workflow outputs to current workflow output properties.
4. Save and test.
Unexpected error or crash Workflow doesn't execute properly and logs an ERROR message Syntax error in set expression or invalid property type 1. Click error banner for details.
2. Open Data Mapper Panel and review set expressions.
3. Correct syntax or property types.
4. Right-click node → Properties → Validate mappings.
5. Save and retry.

Helpful Resources