To use Shopify Flow, create a workflow. You can create a new workflow manually, or by using a pre-made template.
Learn more about creating workflows with Shopify Flow..
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Considerations for creating a workflow
Before you create a workflow, review the following considerations:
- Workflows run as soon as possible. However, there might be a delay between when a trigger starts a workflow and when its actions complete. There is no defined length of time that it takes a workflow to complete.
- Orders and draft orders are treated separately by Flow. Actions and triggers that affect orders don't affect draft orders, and actions and triggers that affect draft orders don't affect orders. If a draft order is converted into an order, then your workflows that affect orders apply.
- Workflows that contain conditions that involve tags might not work if there are more than 250 tags associated with the order, product, or customer.
- All workflows must start with a trigger from Shopify Flow or from an app.
Some fields in the GraphQL Admin API are populated asynchronously, particularly on orders. Because these fields might not be populated by the time your workflow runs, data might be unavailable to Shopify Flow and cause unexpected results, such as fulfillments, UTM parameters, or risk levels. Before you activate a workflow, test it to verify that the data is what you expect.
When possible, use a trigger that starts workflows when a condition is fulfilled other than the creation of an order. For example, to create a workflow that takes actions based on an order's risk level, use the Order risk analyzed trigger instead of Order created.
Creating a new workflow
Shopify Flow uses a freeform canvas where you can create a workflow. These steps outline how to create a simple workflow, adding one trigger, one condition, and one action. You can create more complex workflows by adding additional conditions and actions, or by using advanced triggers and actions.
Steps:
From your Shopify admin, click Settings > Apps and sales channels.
From the Apps and sales channels page, click Shopify Flow.
Click Open app.
Click Create workflow.
Click Select a trigger, and then select the trigger that starts the workflow.
Click Output to create a new step. Click Condition, and then select the condition that must be met before any actions can be run.
Click Then > Condition, and then select the condition that must be met before any actions can be run.
Click Then > Action to select the action to be taken if the condition is set to true.
Optional: click Otherwise to add to your workflow if the condition you set is false. You can add additional conditions or actions.
Click New Workflow, and then enter a title for your workflow.
Click Turn on workflow.
To start using your workflow, click Turn on.
Creating a workflow by using a template
A template is a pre-made workflow created by Shopify that you can customize and use.
Templates use triggers, conditions, and actions with placeholder data filled in. Before you activate your workflow, verify that you have edited the workflow and entered the values that you want to use. For example:
- If a workflow adds tags to customers or orders, then verify that those tags are the tags that you want to use.
- If a workflow sends messages, then ensure that you change the recipient information, such as the email address.
- If a workflow uses an app that you don't want to install, then you might be able to substitute a similar function, such as replacing an action that sends a message on Slack with an action that sends an email.
Steps:
From your Shopify admin, click Settings > Apps and sales channels.
From the Apps and sales channels page, click Shopify Flow.
Click Open app.
Click Create workflow.
Click Browse templates, and then select a template.
Review the template to verify that it meets your needs. You can customize the workflow after you install it.
Click Install.
Edit the template as needed.
Optional: click the name of the workflow, and then edit the title.
Click Turn on workflow.
To start using your workflow, click Turn on.
Refer to the examples page for examples of available workflow templates.
