Dataflow Overview

The Solution Builder dataflow is a visual programming environment in which you specify the desired logic by connecting blocks that represent operations. Each dataflow model belongs to a parent object. The following objects have dataflows:

A Solution Builder project: The project dataflow is the top-level dataflow of a project. You can bind from the project dataflow to other dataflows, but you cannot bind into the project dataflow from a lower-level dataflow. To open the project dataflow, choose Modify > Project Dataflow.
The stage: The stage dataflow is a page-level dataflow. You can connect dataflows from different pages, for example, if one page requires data from another or if its properties are affected by the state of another page.
Any component in the outline
A dataflow block

Dataflows can be converted to dataflow symbols, which packages them as a single block and lists them in the left-hand Symbols pane of all dataflow layouts.

Remote Dataflows

Remote dataflows differ from other types of dataflow as follows:

Remote dataflows are stored on the DSA server with DSLinks, not in project files. As a result, a remote dataflow can run even when the project is not open in a browser.
Certain blocks, such as Browser API blocks, are not available in remote dataflow.

To create a remote dataflow model:

In the Data panel, right-click downstream > dataflow.
Choose Create Dataflow.
Specify a name for the new dataflow model, and click Invoke.
Choose the new dataflow model at downstream > dataflow.

Block property values in a remote dataflow model appear as metrics in the Metrics panel and can be used like any other metric.

Renderers (which are used by repeaters) and Data panel nodes do not have dataflows.

How Do I ...?

...Pin a property?

To ensure that a property remains displayed when you select other objects (for example, to bind to the property), you pin it. To pin a property of a block, hover over the property in the properties panel until a blue dot appears, then click the blue dot and check Pinned.

...Bind to a List property of a component?

If you want to control a component property programatically and the property is displayed as a drop-down list, you need know the internal values that correspond to the options displayed in the list. For example, the layout of the stage can only be absolute, vertical, or horizontal. To determine the internal values used by a list property, select the desired value from the drop-down list, bind it to a property of a block, then unbind it. The following video shows you how to do this.

...Rename a block?

Double-click the block heading text and enter the desired name. Note that this name is for display only. Blocks also have a system name that is used for binding, and by default the system name is not affected when you change the display name. To change both the display name and the system name, edit the text and type CTRL-ENTER to save. System names cannot contain spaces or special characters, and must be unique. If you change the system name of a block that has bindings, you must correct the bindings to use the new name.

...Connect blocks across dataflows?

You can view only one dataflow at a time. To connect blocks that reside in different dataflows, pin the properties of the target block, then switch to the dataflow containing the source block and connect them.

...Add properties to a block?

To add a property to a block, click the plus sign (+) that is displayed on the block. The new property is added to the end of the list of properties and, if the block permits user-named properties, you are prompted for its name.

To add a property in a specific position in the list, right-click a property in the Properties panel and choose Add Parameter Before or Add Parameter After.

To delete a previously-added property from a block, right-click the property in the Properties panel and choose Remove Parameter.

The Dataflow View

The following image shows the three portions of the dataflow view.

List of the blocks that you can add to the dataflow.
Grid where you add and connect blocks to compose the desired logic.
Properties of the currently-selected block. If no blocks are selected, the properties of the parent component of the dataflow.

To view and edit the dataflow of an object, click its dataflow icon () or right-click it and choose Dataflow.

The following video provides a quick introduction to dataflow programming.

Dataflow Blocks

To create a dataflow model, you add blocks to the model, connect them, and edit the properties of the blocks. In general, blocks are categorized as follows:

Variable blocks store a value. These blocks are green
Data service and Browser API blocks access data that is external to the page, such as a database or browser settings. These blocks are red.
Operation blocks accept an input value or values, perform an operation, and return the result. These blocks are orange.

You can add blocks to the dataflow model as follows:

By dragging from the block palette on the left.
By dragging from the Metrics pane: To add a Load Value block, drag the metric to the model. To add a Load History block, drag the metric's history icon () to the model. To add an action block, right-click a node in the Data pane and drag the desired action to the model.
Query Binding and Value Binding TBD

To move or duplicate multiple blocks, you can select and group them.

If custom logic is required beyond what can be done with blocks, you can incorporate Scripting Overview.

Block Properties

Blocks can have two types of properties:

Input/Output Property	Accepts an input value and returns an output value. Indicated by a notch on the left and a point on the right side of the block.
Output Property	Returns an output value but does not accept an input value. Indicated by no notch on the left, just a point on the right side of the block.

To connect blocks, click the point of an output property and drag it to the notch of an input property, as shown in the following figure.

Alternatively, you can bind block properties by dragging an output property to a block or component property in the right-hand properties pane, or from a property in the properties pane to the input notch of a block. To remove a connection between block, double-click the arrow end of the binding line.