Configuring workflow tools

Each of the tools can be configured by right-clicking the name of the tool as shown in figure 9.8.

Image workflow_configure
Figure 9.8: Configuring a tool.

The first option you are presented with is the option to Rename the element. This can be useful when you wish to discriminate between several copies of the same tool in a workflow. The name of the element is also visible as part of the process description when the workflow is run. To rename the element, right click on the tool in the workflow and select the "Rename" option, or click on the tool in the workflow and then press the F2 key.

The Remove option is used to remove elements from the workflow. The shortcut Alt + Shift + R removes all elements from the workflow.

You can also configure a given element using the Configure option from the right click menu or by double-clicking on the element. This opens a dialog with options for setting parameters, selecting reference data, selecting the export destination of specified columns, etc. An example is shown in figure 9.9.

Image workflow_readmapper_config
Figure 9.9: Configuring read mapper parameters.

Click through the dialogs using Next and press Finish when you are done. This saves the parameter settings for that tool. These are then applied when the workflow is executed. Once an element has been configured, the workflow element will be shaded with a darker color to help in distinguishing which elements have been configured.

Locking, unlocking and editing parameters

The lock icons in the dialog are used for specifying whether the parameter should be locked (Image lockclosed_16_n_p) and unlocked (Image lockopen_16_n_p). If a parameter is locked, it cannot be changed in the installation or the execution step because the user will not be prompted to supply values for locked parameters when they launch the workflow: in that case, the workflow will be run with the same parameters every time. Conversely, if it is left open, that parameter can be changed, either when running the Workflow or when installing it (see Distributing and installing workflows). By default, data parameters are unlocked.

You can also change the name of a parameter if you so wish, for example, to help with usability for the intended users of a workflow. To do this, click on the edit icon (Image pencil_16_n_p) and enter a new name.