> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.orbitforms.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Creating Workflows

> Learn how to build, configure, and activate your first workflow step by step.

## Building Your First Workflow

<Steps>
  <Step title="Go to Workflows">
    From your dashboard, click "Workflows" in the left sidebar to open the workflows page.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create a new workflow">
    Click the "New Workflow" button in the top right corner. This creates a blank workflow in draft mode.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add a trigger">
    Click "Add Node" in the top left of the canvas and select "Form Submission" under Triggers. Click on the trigger node to select which form should start this workflow.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add action nodes">
    Click "Add Node" again to add more nodes. Choose from destinations (Slack, HubSpot, etc.), AI agents, enrichment (Clay), or logic nodes (Filter, Router).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Connect the nodes">
    Hover over a node to see connection handles. Click and drag from the output handle (bottom) to the input handle (top) of another node to connect them.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure each node">
    Click on any node to open its configuration panel on the right. Set up the required options like selecting a Slack channel or mapping form fields to CRM properties.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Activate your workflow">
    When your workflow is ready, click "Activate" in the toolbar. Your workflow will now run automatically when the connected form receives submissions!
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Workflow Statuses

Workflows have three possible statuses that control whether they run automatically.

* **Draft** — The workflow is being built and hasn't been activated yet. Form submissions will not trigger it. This is the default state when you create a new workflow.
* **Active** — The workflow is live and running. Every time the connected form receives a submission, the workflow will automatically execute all configured actions.
* **Paused** — The workflow is temporarily stopped. Submissions are queued and can be processed when you resume. A workflow may be paused manually, or automatically if an integration disconnects or hits an error.

## Connecting Nodes

Nodes are connected by drawing edges between them. The order of connections determines the flow of data.

<Steps>
  <Step title="See connection handles">
    Hover over a node to see its connection handles (small circles on the edges).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Start dragging">
    Click and drag from an output handle (usually on the bottom or right).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Drop on target">
    Drop the connection onto an input handle (usually on the top or left) of another node.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Connection created">
    The connection will be shown as an animated purple line with an arrow.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  **Delete connections**

  To delete a connection, hover over the line and click the × button that appears. You can also select a node and press Delete to remove it along with all its connections.
</Tip>

## Activating & Publishing Changes

Workflows use a draft/publish model to let you make changes safely without affecting the live version.

1. **Draft state** — New workflows start as drafts. You can build and test without affecting anything.
2. **First activation** — Click "Activate" to make the workflow live. Your current design becomes the "published" version.
3. **Making changes** — After activation, any edits create "unpublished changes". The live workflow keeps running the published version.
4. **Publishing changes** — Click "Publish Changes" to update the live workflow with your edits.
5. **Discarding changes** — Click "Discard Changes" to throw away unpublished edits and revert to the published version.

## Workflow Settings

Click the gear icon in the workflow toolbar to access settings.

* **Name** — Give your workflow a descriptive name so you can easily identify it in the list.
* **Description** — Add an optional description to document what the workflow does and any important notes.

## Activation Requirements

Before you can activate a workflow, it must meet these requirements:

* Has a trigger node with a form selected
* Has at least one action node (destination, AI agent, or enrichment)
* All nodes are properly connected
* Required integrations are connected (shown with a warning if not)
* Required configuration is complete for each node

If any requirements are missing, you'll see validation errors in the toolbar when you try to activate.

***

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Node Types" icon="layers" href="/guides/workflows/nodes">
    Explore all available nodes
  </Card>

  <Card title="Email Notifications" icon="envelope" href="/guides/workflows/email-notifications">
    Set up email alerts
  </Card>
</CardGroup>