fix: not frontend publish, guy

including:
- allowedDescendantStepTypes property on workflowStepType
- add workflow-level validator
- new field in WorkflowStepOutput to indicate that a step within a multi-forking execution should terminate the entire workflow.
- allow null toStep to be stored in a link, to help track flow out of variable steps at end-of-graph
- replace GetWorkflowStepSummaryProcess with GetWorkflowStepDynamicValuesProcess, which also includes outboundLinkOptions for VARIABLE mode steps

.circleci/config.yml

@@ -1,34 +1,45 @@
 version: 2.1
 
 orbs:
-  qqq-orb: kingsrook/qqq-orb@0.5.0
+  qqq-orb: kingsrook/qqq-orb@0.3.12
 
 workflows:
-
   test_only:
     jobs:
       - qqq-orb/mvn_test_only:
-          context: [ qqq-maven-registry-credentials ]
+          context: [qqq-maven-registry-credentials]
           filters:
             branches:
               ignore: /(develop|main|release/.*|hotfix/.*|integration.*)/
             tags:
-              only: []  
+              only: []
 
   publish_snapshot:
     jobs:
       - qqq-orb/mvn_publish:
-          context: [ qqq-maven-registry-credentials ]
+          context: [qqq-maven-registry-credentials]
           branch_type: snapshot
           filters:
             branches:
               only:
                 - develop
 
+  publish_feature:
+    jobs:
+      - qqq-orb/mvn_publish:
+          context: [qqq-maven-registry-credentials]
+          branch_type: feature
+          filters:
+            branches:
+              only:
+                - feature/.*
+            tags:
+              only: [/publish.*/]
+
   publish_release_candidate:
     jobs:
       - qqq-orb/mvn_publish:
-          context: [ qqq-maven-registry-credentials ]
+          context: [qqq-maven-registry-credentials]
           branch_type: release_candidate
           filters:
             branches:
@@ -38,18 +49,18 @@ workflows:
   publish_release:
     jobs:
       - qqq-orb/mvn_publish:
-          context: [ qqq-maven-registry-credentials ]
+          context: [qqq-maven-registry-credentials]
           branch_type: release
           filters:
             branches:
-              ignore: /.*/            
+              ignore: /.*/
             tags:
-              only: [ /v.*/ ]
+              only: [/v.*/]
 
   publish_hotfix_release:
     jobs:
       - qqq-orb/mvn_publish:
-          context: [ qqq-maven-registry-credentials ]
+          context: [qqq-maven-registry-credentials]
           branch_type: hotfix
           filters:
             branches:

.github/release.yml

@@ -1,31 +0,0 @@
-# GitHub Release Configuration
-# Auto-generates release notes from PR labels
-
-changelog:
-  exclude:
-    labels:
-      - ignore-for-release
-      - duplicate
-      - invalid
-    authors:
-      - dependabot
-      - dependabot[bot]
-  categories:
-    - title: Breaking Changes
-      labels:
-        - breaking-change
-        - breaking
-    - title: New Features
-      labels:
-        - enhancement
-        - feature
-    - title: Bug Fixes
-      labels:
-        - bug
-        - fix
-    - title: Dependencies
-      labels:
-        - dependencies
-    - title: Other Changes
-      labels:
-        - "*"

LICENSE

@@ -1,680 +0,0 @@
-QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers
-Copyright (C) 2021-2025 QRun-IO, LLC
-https://www.qrun.io | https://github.com/QRun-IO
-
-This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
-it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published
-by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
-(at your option) any later version.
-
-This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
-but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
-MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
-GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
-
-You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
-along with this program. If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
-
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-                    GNU AFFERO GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE
-                       Version 3, 19 November 2007
-
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-
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-if any, to sign a "copyright disclaimer" for the program, if necessary.
-For more information on this, and how to apply and follow the GNU AGPL, see
-<https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.

README.md

@@ -1,150 +1,109 @@
-# qbit-workflows
+# QBit: Workflows
 
-State machine workflows for QQQ applications.
+[![Version](https://img.shields.io/badge/version-TODO-blue.svg)](https://github.com/Kingsrook/qbit-workflows)
+[![License](https://img.shields.io/badge/license-GNU%20Affero%20GPL%20v3-green.svg)](https://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl-3.0.en.html)
+[![Java](https://img.shields.io/badge/java-17+-blue.svg)](https://adoptium.net/)
 
-**For:** QQQ developers building approval flows, order pipelines, or any multi-step business processes  
-**Status:** Stable
+### Overview
+*Note:  This is one of the original QBit implementations - so, some of the mechanics of how
+it is loaded and used by an application are not exactly fully defined at the time of its
+creation... Please excuse any dust or not-quite-round wheels you find here!*
 
-## Why This Exists
+This QBit provides TODO
 
-Business processes have states. Orders go from pending to approved to shipped. Support tickets move through triage, investigation, and resolution. Building these flows means tracking state, validating transitions, and triggering actions at each step.
+## 🏗️ Architecture
 
-This QBit provides a declarative workflow engine. Define states and transitions, and the system enforces valid paths, runs actions on transitions, and tracks history automatically.
+### Technology Stack
 
-## Features
+- **Java**: Java 17+ with UTF-8 encoding
+- **Maven**: Build system with plugin management
+- **QQQ Framework**: Built on the QQQ low-code platform
+- **QBit Pattern**: Follows QBit component architecture
 
-- **State Definitions** - Define allowed states for any entity
-- **Transition Rules** - Control which states can move to which other states
-- **Transition Actions** - Execute code when moving between states
-- **Role-Based Transitions** - Restrict who can trigger which transitions
-- **Transition History** - Automatic audit log of all state changes
-- **Dashboard Integration** - Status badges and transition buttons in the UI
+### Core Capabilities
 
-## Quick Start
+- **Workflow Management**: TODO - Define workflow capabilities
+- **Process Automation**: TODO - Define automation features
+- **Integration**: TODO - Define integration capabilities
+
+## 🚀 Quick Start
 
 ### Prerequisites
 
-- QQQ application (v0.20+)
-- Database backend configured
+- **Java 17+** (required for QQQ features)
+- **Maven 3.8+** (for build system)
 
-### Installation
-
-Add to your `pom.xml`:
+### Usage
 
+#### Pom dependency
 ```xml
 <dependency>
-    <groupId>io.qrun</groupId>
+    <groupId>com.kingsrook.qbits</groupId>
     <artifactId>qbit-workflows</artifactId>
-    <version>0.2.0</version>
+    <version>${TODO}</version>
 </dependency>
 ```
 
-### Register the QBit
+#### Setup
+TODO
 
-```java
-public class AppMetaProvider extends QMetaProvider {
-    @Override
-    public void configure(QInstance qInstance) {
-        new WorkflowsQBit().configure(qInstance);
-    }
-}
-```
+### Provides
+#### Tables
+TODO
 
-### Define a Workflow
+#### Classes
+TODO
 
-```java
-new QWorkflowMetaData()
-    .withName("orderWorkflow")
-    .withTable("order")
-    .withStatusField("status")
-    .withStates(
-        new QWorkflowState("pending", "Pending"),
-        new QWorkflowState("approved", "Approved"),
-        new QWorkflowState("shipped", "Shipped"),
-        new QWorkflowState("cancelled", "Cancelled")
-    )
-    .withTransitions(
-        new QWorkflowTransition("pending", "approved"),
-        new QWorkflowTransition("pending", "cancelled"),
-        new QWorkflowTransition("approved", "shipped"),
-        new QWorkflowTransition("approved", "cancelled")
-    );
-```
+### Dependencies
+TODO
 
-## Usage
+## 📚 Documentation
 
-### Transition Actions
+**📖 [Complete Documentation Wiki](https://github.com/Kingsrook/qqq/wiki)** - Start here for comprehensive guides
 
-```java
-new QWorkflowTransition("approved", "shipped")
-    .withAction(new ShipOrderAction());
+- **[🏠 Home](https://github.com/Kingsrook/qqq/wiki/Home)** - Project overview and quick start
+- **[🏗️ Architecture](https://github.com/Kingsrook/qqq/wiki/High-Level-Architecture)** - System design and principles
+- **[🔧 Development](https://github.com/Kingsrook/qqq/wiki/Developer-Onboarding)** - Setup and contribution guide
+- **[📦 Modules](https://github.com/Kingsrook/qqq/wiki/Core-Modules)** - Available components and usage
+- **[🚀 Building](https://github.com/Kingsrook/qqq/wiki/Building-Locally)** - Local development workflow
+- **[🔧 QBit Development](https://github.com/Kingsrook/qqq/wiki/QBit-Development)** - QBit development guide
 
-public class ShipOrderAction implements WorkflowTransitionAction {
-    @Override
-    public void execute(WorkflowTransitionContext context) {
-        // Send shipping notification
-        // Update inventory
-        // Generate tracking number
-    }
-}
-```
+## 🤝 Contributing
 
-### Role-Based Transitions
+**Important**: This repository is a component of the QQQ framework. All contributions, issues, and discussions should go through the main QQQ repository.
 
-```java
-// Only managers can approve
-new QWorkflowTransition("pending", "approved")
-    .withAllowedRoles("manager", "admin");
-```
+### Development Workflow
 
-### Transition Validation
+1. **Fork the main QQQ repository**: https://github.com/Kingsrook/qqq
+2. **Create a feature branch**: `git checkout -b feature/amazing-feature`
+3. **Make your changes** (including QBit changes if applicable)
+4. **Run tests**: `mvn test`
+5. **Commit your changes**: `git commit -m 'Add amazing feature'`
+6. **Push to the branch**: `git push origin feature/amazing-feature`
+7. **Open a Pull Request** to the main QQQ repository
 
-```java
-new QWorkflowTransition("approved", "shipped")
-    .withValidator((context) -> {
-        if (context.getRecord().getValue("shippingAddress") == null) {
-            throw new WorkflowException("Shipping address required");
-        }
-    });
-```
+### Code Standards
 
-### Querying by State
+- **Maven**: Follow Maven best practices
+- **Documentation**: Update relevant documentation
+- **Versioning**: Follow semantic versioning
+- **QBit Pattern**: Follow QBit component architecture
 
-```java
-// Find all pending orders
-QueryInput query = new QueryInput()
-    .withTableName("order")
-    .withFilter(new QQueryFilter()
-        .withCriteria("status", Operator.EQUALS, "pending"));
-```
+**First time contributing?** Start with our [Developer Onboarding Guide](https://github.com/Kingsrook/qqq/wiki/Developer-Onboarding) to get your environment set up.
 
-## Configuration
+## 🏢 About Kingsrook
 
-The QBit creates a transition history table automatically:
+QBit Workflows is built by **[Kingsrook](https://qrun.io)** - making engineers more productive through intelligent automation and developer tools.
 
-| Table | Purpose |
-|-------|---------|
-| `workflow_transition_log` | Audit trail of all state changes |
+- **Website**: [https://qrun.io](https://qrun.io)
+- **Contact**: [contact@kingsrook.com](mailto:contact@kingsrook.com)
+- **GitHub**: [https://github.com/Kingsrook](https://github.com/Kingsrook)
 
-Each log entry records: record ID, from state, to state, user, timestamp, and optional comments.
+## 📄 License
 
-## Project Status
+This project is licensed under the **GNU Affero General Public License v3.0** - see the [LICENSE.txt](LICENSE.txt) file for details.
 
-Stable and production-ready.
+---
 
-### Roadmap
+**Ready to build workflows with full control?** [Get started with QQQ today!](https://github.com/Kingsrook/qqq/wiki/Developer-Onboarding)
 
-- Parallel state support (multiple active states)
-- Scheduled transitions (auto-expire after N days)
-- Workflow visualization in dashboard
-
-## Contributing
-
-1. Fork the repository
-2. Create a feature branch
-3. Run tests: `mvn clean verify`
-4. Submit a pull request
-
-## License
-
-Proprietary - QRun.IO

pom.xml

@@ -21,15 +21,15 @@
   -->
 
 <project xmlns="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0 http://maven.apache.org/xsd/maven-4.0.0.xsd">
-   
+
    <properties>
-      <revision>0.4.0-SNAPSHOT</revision>
+      <revision>0.114.0-SNAPSHOT</revision>
    </properties>
 
    <parent>
       <groupId>com.kingsrook</groupId>
       <artifactId>qbit-build-parent</artifactId>
-      <version>1.5.1</version>
+      <version>1.4.0</version>
    </parent>
 
    <groupId>com.kingsrook.qbits</groupId>

src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qbits/workflows/definition/OutboundLinkMode.java

@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ package com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.definition;
  ** ONE is a regular statement, that just flows to its next.
  ** CONTAINER is itself a no-op, but it wraps (for UI reasons) a sequence
  ** TWO is for an if/else
- ** Unclear exactly how we'd do variable number of outbounds (e.g., a switch)
+ ** VARIABLE is for a variable number - 1 or more
  ***************************************************************************/
 public enum OutboundLinkMode
 {
@@ -36,4 +36,5 @@ public enum OutboundLinkMode
    ONE,
    CONTAINER,
    TWO,
+   VARIABLE
 }

src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qbits/workflows/definition/WorkflowStepType.java

@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import java.io.Serializable;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.Set;
 import com.google.gson.reflect.TypeToken;
 import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.execution.WorkflowStepExecutorInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.customizers.QCodeLoader;
@@ -56,8 +57,10 @@ public class WorkflowStepType implements Serializable
    private OutboundLinkMode         outboundLinkMode;
    private List<OutboundLinkOption> outboundLinkOptions;
 
-   private ArrayList<QFieldMetaData> inputFields;
-   private ArrayList<String>         inputWidgetNames;
+   private Set<String> allowedDescendantStepTypes;
+
+   private ArrayList<QFieldMetaData> inputFields      = new ArrayList<>();
+   private ArrayList<String>         inputWidgetNames = new ArrayList<>();
 
 
 
@@ -83,6 +86,17 @@ public class WorkflowStepType implements Serializable
 
 
 
+   /***************************************************************************
+    * for a variable-output type step, it must dynamically define its outbound
+    * links
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   public List<OutboundLinkOption> getDynamicOutboundLinkOptions(Integer workflowId, Map<String, Serializable> inputValues) throws QException
+   {
+      return (null);
+   }
+
+
+
    /***************************************************************************
     **
     ***************************************************************************/
@@ -409,6 +423,7 @@ public class WorkflowStepType implements Serializable
    }
 
 
+
    /*******************************************************************************
     * Getter for validator
     * @see #withValidator(QCodeReference)
@@ -445,4 +460,42 @@ public class WorkflowStepType implements Serializable
    }
 
 
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    * Getter for allowedDescendantStepTypes
+    * @see #withAllowedDescendantStepTypes(Set)
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public Set<String> getAllowedDescendantStepTypes()
+   {
+      return (this.allowedDescendantStepTypes);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    * Setter for allowedDescendantStepTypes
+    * @see #withAllowedDescendantStepTypes(Set)
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setAllowedDescendantStepTypes(Set<String> allowedDescendantStepTypes)
+   {
+      this.allowedDescendantStepTypes = allowedDescendantStepTypes;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    * Fluent setter for allowedDescendantStepTypes
+    *
+    * @param allowedDescendantStepTypes
+    * to limit what step types can be placed inside this step type within a graph.
+    * for example,
+    * @return this
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public WorkflowStepType withAllowedDescendantStepTypes(Set<String> allowedDescendantStepTypes)
+   {
+      this.allowedDescendantStepTypes = allowedDescendantStepTypes;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
 }

src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qbits/workflows/definition/WorkflowType.java

@@ -25,16 +25,19 @@ package com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.definition;
 import java.io.Serializable;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.Collections;
+import java.util.HashMap;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
 import com.google.gson.reflect.TypeToken;
 import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.execution.WorkflowTypeExecutorInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.execution.WorkflowTypeTesterInterface;
+import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.execution.WorkflowTypeValidatorInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.instances.QInstanceEnricher;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.instances.QInstanceValidator;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.data.QRecord;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.QInstance;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.code.QCodeReference;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.help.QHelpContent;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.CollectionUtils;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.StringUtils;
 
@@ -50,9 +53,11 @@ public class WorkflowType implements Serializable
    private String         label;
    private String         description;
    private QCodeReference executor;
+   private QCodeReference validator;
    private QCodeReference tester;
 
-   private ArrayList<WorkflowStepTypeCategory> stepTypeCategories;
+   protected Map<String, List<QHelpContent>>     helpContent;
+   private   ArrayList<WorkflowStepTypeCategory> stepTypeCategories;
 
 
 
@@ -81,6 +86,11 @@ public class WorkflowType implements Serializable
          qInstanceValidator.validateSimpleCodeReference("WorkflowType [" + name + "]: executor ", executor, WorkflowTypeExecutorInterface.class);
       }
 
+      if(validator != null)
+      {
+         qInstanceValidator.validateSimpleCodeReference("WorkflowType [" + name + "]: validator ", validator, WorkflowTypeValidatorInterface.class);
+      }
+
       if(tester != null)
       {
          qInstanceValidator.validateSimpleCodeReference("WorkflowType [" + name + "]: tester ", tester, WorkflowTypeTesterInterface.class);
@@ -266,6 +276,8 @@ public class WorkflowType implements Serializable
       return Collections.emptyMap();
    }
 
+
+
    /*******************************************************************************
     * Getter for tester
     * @see #withTester(QCodeReference)
@@ -303,4 +315,92 @@ public class WorkflowType implements Serializable
    }
 
 
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Getter for helpContent
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public Map<String, List<QHelpContent>> getHelpContent()
+   {
+      return (this.helpContent);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Setter for helpContent
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setHelpContent(Map<String, List<QHelpContent>> helpContent)
+   {
+      this.helpContent = helpContent;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for helpContent
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public WorkflowType withHelpContent(Map<String, List<QHelpContent>> helpContent)
+   {
+      this.helpContent = helpContent;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Fluent setter for helpContent
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public WorkflowType withHelpContent(String key, QHelpContent helpContent)
+   {
+      if(this.helpContent == null)
+      {
+         this.helpContent = new HashMap<>();
+      }
+      if(!this.helpContent.containsKey(key))
+      {
+         this.helpContent.put(key, new ArrayList<>());
+      }
+
+      this.helpContent.get(key).add(helpContent);
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    * Getter for validator
+    * @see #withValidator(QCodeReference)
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public QCodeReference getValidator()
+   {
+      return (this.validator);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    * Setter for validator
+    * @see #withValidator(QCodeReference)
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public void setValidator(QCodeReference validator)
+   {
+      this.validator = validator;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    * Fluent setter for validator
+    *
+    * @param validator reference to implementation of
+    * {@link com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.execution.WorkflowTypeValidatorInterface}
+    *
+    * @return this
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public WorkflowType withValidator(QCodeReference validator)
+   {
+      this.validator = validator;
+      return (this);
+   }
+
+
 }

src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qbits/workflows/definition/WorkflowsRegistry.java

@@ -203,6 +203,8 @@ public class WorkflowsRegistry implements QSupplementalInstanceMetaData, QHelpCo
    /***************************************************************************
     * plug in to the QQQ Help Content system, to allow help content to set
     * descriptions and labels for workflow steps.
+    *
+    * Note:  helpContent can come in here as null, if it has been, e.g., deleted!
     ***************************************************************************/
    @Override
    public void acceptHelpContent(QInstance qInstance, QHelpContent helpContent, Map<String, String> nameValuePairs)
@@ -215,11 +217,18 @@ public class WorkflowsRegistry implements QSupplementalInstanceMetaData, QHelpCo
          {
             if("description".equals(nameValuePairs.get("slot")))
             {
-               workflowStepType.setDescription(helpContent.getContentAsHtml());
+               workflowStepType.setDescription(helpContent == null ? null : helpContent.getContentAsHtml());
             }
             else if("label".equals(nameValuePairs.get("slot")))
             {
-               workflowStepType.setLabel(helpContent.getContent());
+               if(helpContent != null)
+               {
+                  workflowStepType.setLabel(helpContent.getContent());
+               }
+               else
+               {
+                  LOG.info("Not removing workflow step type label after deleted help content (original label is not known...", logPair("name", workflowStepTypeName));
+               }
             }
             else if(nameValuePairs.containsKey("field"))
             {
@@ -229,9 +238,10 @@ public class WorkflowsRegistry implements QSupplementalInstanceMetaData, QHelpCo
                      .withType(QFieldType.STRING)
                      .withLabel("Step Description")
                      .withName("qswdDescription")
-                     .withHelpContent(helpContent)
                      .withGridColumns(12);
 
+                  newField.setHelpContents(helpContent == null ? null : ListBuilder.of(helpContent));
+
                   List<QFieldMetaData> existingFields = workflowStepType.getInputFields();
                   existingFields.add(newField);
                   workflowStepType.setInputFields(existingFields);
@@ -242,13 +252,24 @@ public class WorkflowsRegistry implements QSupplementalInstanceMetaData, QHelpCo
                   {
                      if(nameValuePairs.get("field").equals(fieldMetaData.getName()))
                      {
-                        fieldMetaData.setHelpContents(ListBuilder.of(helpContent));
+                        fieldMetaData.setHelpContents(helpContent == null ? null : ListBuilder.of(helpContent));
                      }
                   }
                }
             }
          }
       }
+      else if(nameValuePairs.containsKey("workflow") && nameValuePairs.containsKey("field"))
+      {
+         if(workflowTypes != null)
+         {
+            for(String workflowTypeName : workflowTypes.keySet())
+            {
+               String key = "workflow:" + nameValuePairs.get("workflow") + ";field:" + nameValuePairs.get("field");
+               workflowTypes.get(workflowTypeName).withHelpContent(key, helpContent);
+            }
+         }
+      }
    }
 
 }

src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qbits/workflows/execution/ExecutionPayload.java

@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2025.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
+ * contact@kingsrook.com
+ * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.execution;
+
+
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicInteger;
+import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.model.WorkflowLink;
+import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.model.WorkflowRunLogStep;
+import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.model.WorkflowStep;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.ListingHash;
+
+
+/***************************************************************************
+ * state data carried throughout the {@link WorkflowExecutor} - which is
+ * useful to "leak out" in a managed way, e.g., for step types that do their
+ * own more sophisticated kind of execution, e.g., {@link WorkflowMultiForkingStepExecutorInterface}
+ ***************************************************************************/
+record ExecutionPayload(Map<Integer, WorkflowStep> stepMap, ListingHash<Integer, WorkflowLink> linkMap, WorkflowTypeExecutorInterface workflowTypeExecutor, AtomicInteger seqNo, List<WorkflowRunLogStep> logStepList)
+{
+}

src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qbits/workflows/execution/FindFirstJoinPoint.java

@@ -0,0 +1,167 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2025.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
+ * contact@kingsrook.com
+ * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.execution;
+
+
+import java.util.ArrayDeque;
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.Collection;
+import java.util.Collections;
+import java.util.Deque;
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.Objects;
+import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.model.WorkflowLink;
+import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.model.WorkflowStep;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.CollectionUtils;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.ListingHash;
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ * given a graph, find the first "join point" where multiple forks come together.
+ * Credit: https://chatgpt.com/share/68000e8f-879c-8011-bb33-0564eb77a1f2
+ *******************************************************************************/
+public class FindFirstJoinPoint
+{
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   public static Integer executeForFromStepNo(Integer fromStepNo, Map<Integer, WorkflowStep> stepMap, ListingHash<Integer, WorkflowLink> linksMapByFromStepNo)
+   {
+      List<Integer> startLinks = CollectionUtils.nonNullList(linksMapByFromStepNo.get(fromStepNo)).stream().map(ws -> ws.getToStepNo()).toList();
+      return execute(startLinks, stepMap, linksMapByFromStepNo);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   public static Integer executeForLinks(Collection<WorkflowLink> startLinks, Map<Integer, WorkflowStep> stepMap, ListingHash<Integer, WorkflowLink> linksMapByFromStepNo)
+   {
+      return execute(startLinks.stream().map(ws -> ws.getToStepNo()).toList(), stepMap, linksMapByFromStepNo);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   @SuppressWarnings("Java8MapApi")
+   public static Integer execute(Collection<Integer> startStepNos, Map<Integer, WorkflowStep> stepMap, ListingHash<Integer, WorkflowLink> linksMapByFromStepNo)
+   {
+      //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      // visited: map each node to a set of source step numbers that have reached it. //
+      //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      ListingHash<Integer, Integer> visited = new ListingHash<>();
+
+      ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      // Initialize the multi-source BFS queue. Each entry carries the current node id and its originating source. //
+      ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      Deque<BFSQueueNode> queue = new ArrayDeque<>();
+
+      ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      // Seed the queue with each starting node, marking each as visited by itself. //
+      ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      for(Integer node : startStepNos)
+      {
+         visited.add(node, node);
+         queue.add(new BFSQueueNode(node, node));
+      }
+
+      ///////////////////////////////////
+      // Perform the multi-source BFS. //
+      ///////////////////////////////////
+      while(!queue.isEmpty())
+      {
+         BFSQueueNode firstNode = queue.removeFirst();
+         Integer      current   = firstNode.current;
+         Integer      source    = firstNode.source;
+
+         ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+         // Get the list of outgoing links/neighbors for the current node. //
+         ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+         List<WorkflowLink> neighbors = Objects.requireNonNullElse(linksMapByFromStepNo.get(current), Collections.emptyList());
+         for(WorkflowLink neighbor : neighbors)
+         {
+            Integer neighborId = neighbor.getToStepNo();
+            if(neighborId == null)
+            {
+               continue;
+            }
+
+            ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+            // Retrieve or initialize the set of sources that visited this neighbor. //
+            ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+            List<Integer> sourcesSet = visited.get(neighborId);
+            if(sourcesSet == null)
+            {
+               sourcesSet = new ArrayList<>();
+               visited.put(neighborId, sourcesSet);
+            }
+
+            /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+            // If the current source has not visited the neighbor yet, add it. //
+            /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+            if(!sourcesSet.contains(source))
+            {
+               sourcesSet.add(source);
+
+               //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+               // Check if the neighbor was reached from multiple sources. //
+               // todo: should this be it has to equal all of them?        //
+               //  if(sourcesSet.size() == startStepNos.size())            //
+               //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+               if(sourcesSet.size() > 1)
+               {
+                  ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+                  // This is the first join point encountered – return the corresponding WorkflowStep. //
+                  ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+                  return (stepMap.get(neighborId).getStepNo());
+               }
+
+               /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+               // Continue the BFS from this neighbor for the current source. //
+               /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+               queue.push(new BFSQueueNode(neighborId, source));
+            }
+         }
+      }
+
+      ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      // If no join point was found across all paths, return null. //
+      ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      return null;
+   }
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    *
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   private record BFSQueueNode(Integer current, Integer source)
+   {
+
+   }
+
+}

src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qbits/workflows/execution/WorkflowExecutionContext.java

@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ public class WorkflowExecutionContext
    private QBackendTransaction       transaction;
    private WorkflowRunLog            workflowRunLog;
 
+   private WorkflowExecutor executor;
+
    private boolean isTestRun = false;
 
 
@@ -235,4 +237,26 @@ public class WorkflowExecutionContext
       return (this);
    }
 
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    * Getter for executor
+    * @see #setExecutor(WorkflowExecutor)
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   WorkflowExecutor getExecutor()
+   {
+      return (this.executor);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    * Setter for executor
+    * @param executor the object executing the workflow.
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   void setExecutor(WorkflowExecutor executor)
+   {
+      this.executor = executor;
+   }
+
 }

src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qbits/workflows/execution/WorkflowExecutor.java

@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.Objects;
 import java.util.Stack;
+import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicInteger;
 import com.google.gson.reflect.TypeToken;
 import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.definition.OutboundLinkMode;
 import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.definition.WorkflowStepType;
@@ -71,6 +72,7 @@ public class WorkflowExecutor extends AbstractQActionBiConsumer<WorkflowInput, W
    private WorkflowRunLog          inputWorkflowRunLog;
 
    private Stack<Integer> containerStack = new Stack<>();
+   private ExecutionPayload payload;
 
 
 
@@ -167,31 +169,10 @@ public class WorkflowExecutor extends AbstractQActionBiConsumer<WorkflowInput, W
          ///////////////
          // step loop //
          ///////////////
-         Integer stepNo = workflowRevision.getStartStepNo();
-         int     seqNo  = 1;
-         while(stepNo != null)
-         {
-            WorkflowStep step = stepMap.get(stepNo);
-            if(step == null)
-            {
-               throw new QException("Step not found by stepNo: " + stepNo);
-            }
-
-            WorkflowRunLogStep workflowRunLogStep = new WorkflowRunLogStep();
-            workflowRunLogStep.setWorkflowStepId(step.getId());
-            workflowRunLogStep.setSeqNo(seqNo);
-            workflowRunLogStep.setStartTimestamp(Instant.now());
-            logStepList.add(workflowRunLogStep);
-
-            WorkflowStepOutput workflowStepOutput = executeStep(step, workflowTypeExecutor, context);
-            workflowRunLogStep.setOutputData(ValueUtils.getValueAsString(workflowStepOutput.outputData()));
-            workflowRunLogStep.setMessage(workflowStepOutput.message());
-
-            stepNo = getNextStepNo(workflowStepOutput.outputData(), step, linkMap, stepMap, false);
-
-            workflowRunLogStep.setEndTimestamp(Instant.now());
-            seqNo++;
-         }
+         ExecutionPayload payload = new ExecutionPayload(stepMap, linkMap, workflowTypeExecutor, new AtomicInteger(1), logStepList);
+         this.payload = payload;
+         context.setExecutor(this);
+         runStepLoop(workflowRevision.getStartStepNo(), context, null);
 
          workflowTypeExecutor.postRun(context);
 
@@ -239,6 +220,51 @@ public class WorkflowExecutor extends AbstractQActionBiConsumer<WorkflowInput, W
 
 
 
+   /***************************************************************************
+    * @return true if the workflow should immediately stop
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   boolean runStepLoop(Integer stepNo, WorkflowExecutionContext context, Integer stopStepNo) throws QException
+   {
+      while(stepNo != null)
+      {
+         WorkflowStep step = payload.stepMap().get(stepNo);
+         if(step == null)
+         {
+            throw new QException("Step not found by stepNo: " + stepNo);
+         }
+
+         WorkflowRunLogStep workflowRunLogStep = new WorkflowRunLogStep();
+         workflowRunLogStep.setWorkflowStepId(step.getId());
+         workflowRunLogStep.setStartTimestamp(Instant.now());
+
+         WorkflowStepOutput workflowStepOutput = executeStep(step, payload, context);
+
+         stepNo = getNextStepNo(workflowStepOutput.outputData(), step, payload.linkMap(), payload.stepMap(), false);
+
+         workflowRunLogStep.setEndTimestamp(Instant.now());
+         workflowRunLogStep.setOutputData(ValueUtils.getValueAsString(workflowStepOutput.outputData()));
+         workflowRunLogStep.setMessage(workflowStepOutput.message());
+         workflowRunLogStep.setSeqNo(payload.seqNo().getAndIncrement());
+         payload.logStepList().add(workflowRunLogStep);
+
+         if(stopStepNo != null && Objects.equals(stepNo, stopStepNo))
+         {
+            LOG.debug("Stopping at requested step", logPair("stopStepNo", stepNo));
+            return (false);
+         }
+
+         if(workflowStepOutput.shouldWorkflowImmediatelyStop())
+         {
+            LOG.info("Stopping step loop due to step output indicating workflow should immediately stop", logPair("stepNo", stepNo));
+            return (true);
+         }
+      }
+
+      return (false);
+   }
+
+
+
    /***************************************************************************
     **
     ***************************************************************************/
@@ -332,13 +358,23 @@ public class WorkflowExecutor extends AbstractQActionBiConsumer<WorkflowInput, W
          }
       }
 
-      Integer                       fromStepNo      = fromStep.getStepNo();
-      List<WorkflowLink>            links           = linkMap.get(fromStepNo);
-      Class<? extends Serializable> stepOutputClass = stepOutput == null ? null : stepOutput.getClass();
+      Integer            fromStepNo = fromStep.getStepNo();
+      List<WorkflowLink> links      = linkMap.get(fromStepNo);
+
+      if(OutboundLinkMode.VARIABLE.equals(fromWorkflowStepType.getOutboundLinkMode()))
+      {
+         /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+         // after a VARIABLE step (where its branches were all executed in          //
+         // processMultiForkingStep), find the first join point, and step to there. //
+         /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+         Integer joinStepNo = FindFirstJoinPoint.execute(links.stream().map(wl -> wl.getToStepNo()).toList(), stepMap, linkMap);
+         return (joinStepNo);
+      }
 
       //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
       // look for a link between the fromStepNo matching the stepOutput / condition value //
       //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      List<String> evaluatedConditionValues = new ArrayList<>();
       for(WorkflowLink link : CollectionUtils.nonNullList(links))
       {
          if(link.getConditionValue() == null)
@@ -350,8 +386,10 @@ public class WorkflowExecutor extends AbstractQActionBiConsumer<WorkflowInput, W
          }
          else
          {
+            evaluatedConditionValues.add(link.getConditionValue());
             try
             {
+               Class<? extends Serializable> stepOutputClass = stepOutput == null ? null : stepOutput.getClass();
                Serializable valueAsType = stepOutputClass == null ? link.getConditionValue() : ValueUtils.getValueAsType(stepOutputClass, link.getConditionValue());
                if(Objects.equals(valueAsType, stepOutput))
                {
@@ -365,6 +403,11 @@ public class WorkflowExecutor extends AbstractQActionBiConsumer<WorkflowInput, W
          }
       }
 
+      if(CollectionUtils.nullSafeHasContents(evaluatedConditionValues))
+      {
+         LOG.info("Evaluated at least 1 link condition value, but found no matches", logPair("evaluatedConditionValues", evaluatedConditionValues));
+      }
+
       /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
       // if we didn't find a next-step, but there is something on the stack, //
       // then look for a pop out of that frame                               //
@@ -385,7 +428,7 @@ public class WorkflowExecutor extends AbstractQActionBiConsumer<WorkflowInput, W
    /***************************************************************************
     **
     ***************************************************************************/
-   private WorkflowStepOutput executeStep(WorkflowStep step, WorkflowTypeExecutorInterface workflowTypeExecutor, WorkflowExecutionContext context) throws QException
+   private WorkflowStepOutput executeStep(WorkflowStep step, ExecutionPayload payload, WorkflowExecutionContext context) throws QException
    {
       WorkflowStepType workflowStepType = WorkflowsRegistry.of(QContext.getQInstance()).getWorkflowStepType(step.getWorkflowStepTypeName());
       if(workflowStepType == null)
@@ -399,8 +442,7 @@ public class WorkflowExecutor extends AbstractQActionBiConsumer<WorkflowInput, W
       }
 
       WorkflowStepExecutorInterface workflowStepExecutor = QCodeLoader.getAdHoc(WorkflowStepExecutorInterface.class, workflowStepType.getExecutor());
-
-      workflowTypeExecutor.preStep(step, context);
+      payload.workflowTypeExecutor().preStep(step, context);
 
       JSONObject                jsonObject  = JsonUtils.toJSONObject(step.getInputValuesJson());
       Map<String, Object>       mapValues   = jsonObject.toMap();
@@ -415,13 +457,23 @@ public class WorkflowExecutor extends AbstractQActionBiConsumer<WorkflowInput, W
       }
 
       WorkflowStepOutput workflowStepOutput = workflowStepExecutor.execute(step, inputValues, context);
-      workflowStepOutput = workflowTypeExecutor.postStep(step, context, workflowStepOutput);
+      workflowStepOutput = payload.workflowTypeExecutor().postStep(step, context, workflowStepOutput);
 
       return workflowStepOutput;
    }
 
 
 
+   /***************************************************************************
+    *
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   ExecutionPayload getPayload()
+   {
+      return (this.payload);
+   }
+
+
+
    /***************************************************************************
     **
     ***************************************************************************/

src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qbits/workflows/execution/WorkflowMultiForkingStepExecutorInterface.java

@@ -0,0 +1,134 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2025.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
+ * contact@kingsrook.com
+ * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.execution;
+
+
+import java.io.Serializable;
+import java.time.Instant;
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.Objects;
+import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.model.WorkflowLink;
+import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.model.WorkflowRunLogStep;
+import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.model.WorkflowStep;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.logging.QLogger;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.ValueUtils;
+import static com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.logging.LogUtils.logPair;
+
+
+/***************************************************************************
+ * interface for workflow step executors that are of a variable output type,
+ * and which can execute 0 or more of their outbound links.
+ ***************************************************************************/
+public interface WorkflowMultiForkingStepExecutorInterface extends WorkflowStepExecutorInterface
+{
+   QLogger LOG = QLogger.getLogger(WorkflowMultiForkingStepExecutorInterface.class);
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    * the Execute method for such steps should perform an executor.runStepLoop
+    * for each of the outbound links of the step (assuming they are supposed
+    * allowed to run).
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   @Override
+   default WorkflowStepOutput execute(WorkflowStep step, Map<String, Serializable> inputValues, WorkflowExecutionContext context) throws QException
+   {
+      ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      // get the various sub-workflows ("fork links") to run from the step //
+      ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      WorkflowExecutor executor = context.getExecutor();
+      ExecutionPayload payload  = executor.getPayload();
+
+      List<WorkflowLink> forkLinks = payload.linkMap().get(step.getStepNo());
+      preRun(step, inputValues, context);
+      sortForks(forkLinks, step, inputValues, context);
+
+      Integer stopStepNo                    = FindFirstJoinPoint.execute(forkLinks.stream().map(wl -> wl.getToStepNo()).toList(), payload.stepMap(), payload.linkMap());
+      boolean shouldWorkflowImmediatelyStop = false;
+      for(WorkflowLink link : forkLinks)
+      {
+         WorkflowRunLogStep workflowRunLogStep = new WorkflowRunLogStep();
+         workflowRunLogStep.setWorkflowStepId(step.getId());
+         workflowRunLogStep.setSeqNo(payload.seqNo().getAndIncrement());
+         workflowRunLogStep.setStartTimestamp(Instant.now());
+
+         WorkflowStepOutput workflowStepOutput = conditionallyExecuteFork(step, link, inputValues, context);
+         if(Objects.equals(workflowStepOutput.outputData(), true))
+         {
+            shouldWorkflowImmediatelyStop = executor.runStepLoop(link.getToStepNo(), context, stopStepNo);
+         }
+
+         workflowRunLogStep.setOutputData(ValueUtils.getValueAsString(workflowStepOutput.outputData()));
+         workflowRunLogStep.setMessage(workflowStepOutput.message());
+         workflowRunLogStep.setEndTimestamp(Instant.now());
+         payload.logStepList().add(workflowRunLogStep);
+
+         if(shouldWorkflowImmediatelyStop)
+         {
+            LOG.info("Stopping fork-link loop, due to step output indicating workflow should immediately stop", logPair("linkStartStepNo", link.getToStepNo()));
+            break;
+         }
+      }
+
+      WorkflowStepOutput workflowStepOutput = makeWorkflowStepOutput(step, inputValues, context);
+      postRun(step, inputValues, context);
+
+      if(shouldWorkflowImmediatelyStop)
+      {
+         workflowStepOutput = new WorkflowStepOutput(workflowStepOutput.outputData(), workflowStepOutput.message(), true);
+      }
+
+      return workflowStepOutput;
+   }
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    * make sure the forks are executed in the order that the step expects.
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   void sortForks(List<WorkflowLink> forkLinks, WorkflowStep step, Map<String, Serializable> inputValues, WorkflowExecutionContext context);
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    * decide if a particular fork should be executed - and if so, then do so.
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   WorkflowStepOutput conditionallyExecuteFork(WorkflowStep step, WorkflowLink fork, Map<String, Serializable> inputValues, WorkflowExecutionContext context) throws QException;
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    * make output for the entire step, e.g., taking into account all of its
+    * forks.
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   WorkflowStepOutput makeWorkflowStepOutput(WorkflowStep step, Map<String, Serializable> inputValues, WorkflowExecutionContext context) throws QException;
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    * optional code to run before anything else in this interface
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   default void preRun(WorkflowStep step, Map<String, Serializable> inputValues, WorkflowExecutionContext context) throws QException
+   {
+
+   }
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    * optional code to run after anything else in this interface
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   default void postRun(WorkflowStep step, Map<String, Serializable> inputValues, WorkflowExecutionContext context) throws QException
+   {
+
+   }
+}

src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qbits/workflows/execution/WorkflowStepOutput.java

@@ -28,16 +28,26 @@ import java.io.Serializable;
 /***************************************************************************
  **
  ***************************************************************************/
-public record WorkflowStepOutput(Serializable outputData, String message)
+public record WorkflowStepOutput(Serializable outputData, String message, boolean shouldWorkflowImmediatelyStop)
 {
 
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Constructor
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public WorkflowStepOutput(Serializable outputData, String message)
+   {
+      this(outputData, message, false);
+   }
+
+
    /*******************************************************************************
     ** Constructor
     **
     *******************************************************************************/
    public WorkflowStepOutput(Serializable outputData)
    {
-      this(outputData, null);
+      this(outputData, null, false);
    }
 
 
@@ -48,7 +58,7 @@ public record WorkflowStepOutput(Serializable outputData, String message)
     *******************************************************************************/
    public WorkflowStepOutput()
    {
-      this(null, null);
+      this(null, null, false);
    }
 
 }

src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qbits/workflows/execution/WorkflowTypeValidatorInterface.java

@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2025.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
+ * contact@kingsrook.com
+ * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.execution;
+
+
+import java.util.List;
+import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.model.WorkflowLink;
+import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.model.WorkflowStep;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.data.QRecord;
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ * interface for the code that validates the overall structure of a workflow,
+ * e.g., when it's being saved.  This would be where you'd validate relationships
+ * between steps (e.g., this step must have some other step within it)
+ *******************************************************************************/
+public interface WorkflowTypeValidatorInterface
+{
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    * validate that a workflow can be saved.
+    *
+    * @param workflow the workflow record under which a new revision is being saved
+    * @param workflowRevision the new revision record that's been built
+    * @param workflowSteps list of workflow steps being saved
+    * @param workflowLinks list of workflow links being saved
+    * @param errors out param - any validation errors should be added to this list.
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   void validate(QRecord workflow, QRecord workflowRevision, List<WorkflowStep> workflowSteps, List<WorkflowLink> workflowLinks, List<String> errors) throws QException;
+
+}

src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qbits/workflows/execution/nodes/NodeSequence.java

@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2025.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
+ * contact@kingsrook.com
+ * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.execution.nodes;
+
+
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.List;
+
+
+/***************************************************************************
+ * list of nodes in a graph representation of a workflow
+ ***************************************************************************/
+public record NodeSequence(List<StepNode> nodes)
+{
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Constructor
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public NodeSequence()
+   {
+      this(new ArrayList<>());
+   }
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    *
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   public void add(StepNode node)
+   {
+      nodes.add(node);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    *
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   public StepNode get(int i)
+   {
+      return nodes.get(i);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    *
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   public int size()
+   {
+      return (nodes.size());
+   }
+}

src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qbits/workflows/execution/nodes/StepNode.java

@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2025.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
+ * contact@kingsrook.com
+ * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.execution.nodes;
+
+
+import java.util.HashMap;
+import java.util.Map;
+import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.model.WorkflowStep;
+
+
+/***************************************************************************
+ * Single step, plus, if it opens a nested scope (e.g., branches, or a container)
+ * then those subSequences, along with their conditionalValues (guards/labels)
+ * as map keys
+ ***************************************************************************/
+public record StepNode(WorkflowStep step, Map<String, NodeSequence> subSequences)
+{
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Constructor for step w/o subSequences
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public StepNode(WorkflowStep step)
+   {
+      this(step, new HashMap<>());
+   }
+
+}

src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qbits/workflows/execution/nodes/StepNodeGraphBuilder.java

@@ -0,0 +1,224 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2025.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
+ * contact@kingsrook.com
+ * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.execution.nodes;
+
+
+import java.util.HashMap;
+import java.util.HashSet;
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.Objects;
+import java.util.Optional;
+import java.util.Set;
+import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.definition.OutboundLinkMode;
+import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.definition.WorkflowStepType;
+import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.definition.WorkflowsRegistry;
+import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.execution.FindFirstJoinPoint;
+import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.model.WorkflowLink;
+import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.model.WorkflowStep;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.context.QContext;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.logging.QLogger;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.CollectionUtils;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.ListingHash;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.StringUtils;
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ * Class that can convert a list of steps & links (as a workflow revision is
+ * stored in a database) to a hierarchical graph data structure - a list of nodes,
+ * each of which is a step, and optionally a map of lists of sub-branches
+ * (which can be more useful for various kinds of processing).
+ *******************************************************************************/
+public class StepNodeGraphBuilder
+{
+   private static final QLogger LOG = QLogger.getLogger(StepNodeGraphBuilder.class);
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    *
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   public static NodeSequence buildNodeSequence(Integer startStepNo, List<WorkflowStep> workflowSteps, List<WorkflowLink> workflowLinks)
+   {
+      Map<Integer, WorkflowStep> stepMap = CollectionUtils.listToMap(workflowSteps, ws -> ws.getStepNo());
+      ListingHash<Integer, WorkflowLink> linksFromMap = new ListingHash<>();
+      Map<Integer, Set<Integer>>         linksToMap   = new HashMap<>();
+
+      for(WorkflowLink workflowLink : workflowLinks)
+      {
+         linksFromMap.add(workflowLink.getFromStepNo(), workflowLink);
+
+         if(workflowLink.getToStepNo() != null)
+         {
+            Set<Integer> subToSet = linksToMap.computeIfAbsent(workflowLink.getToStepNo(), k -> new HashSet<>());
+            subToSet.add(workflowLink.getFromStepNo());
+         }
+      }
+
+      NodeSequence nodeSequence = new NodeSequence();
+      buildNodeSequence(nodeSequence, stepMap.get(startStepNo), stepMap, linksFromMap, null, 0);
+      return (nodeSequence);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    *
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   private static void buildNodeSequence(NodeSequence nodeSequence, WorkflowStep startStep, Map<Integer, WorkflowStep> stepMap, ListingHash<Integer, WorkflowLink> linksFromMap, Integer joinStepNo, Integer depth)
+   {
+      WorkflowsRegistry workflowsRegistry = WorkflowsRegistry.of(QContext.getQInstance());
+
+      WorkflowStep currentWorkflowStep = startStep;
+      while(currentWorkflowStep != null)
+      {
+         WorkflowStepType workflowStepType = workflowsRegistry.getWorkflowStepType(currentWorkflowStep.getWorkflowStepTypeName());
+         if(workflowStepType == null)
+         {
+            LOG.warn("Unrecognized workflow step type: " + currentWorkflowStep.getWorkflowStepTypeName());
+            return;
+         }
+
+         if(Objects.equals(currentWorkflowStep.getStepNo(), joinStepNo))
+         {
+            //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+            // if we've reached the join step, it's the end of this sequence, so return //
+            //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+            return;
+         }
+
+         StepNode stepNode = new StepNode(currentWorkflowStep);
+         nodeSequence.add(stepNode);
+
+         List<WorkflowLink> outboundLinks = linksFromMap.get(currentWorkflowStep.getStepNo());
+         if(CollectionUtils.nullSafeIsEmpty(outboundLinks))
+         {
+            /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+            // if no outbound links, then we're at the end of this sequence, so return //
+            /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+            return;
+         }
+         else if(outboundLinks.size() == 1 && !StringUtils.hasContent(outboundLinks.get(0).getConditionValue())) // ?? avoid being tripped by a branch w/ only 1 side populated at the end of the graph
+         {
+            ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+            // 1 outbound link here means we're not in a switch/if-else/fork //
+            ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+            WorkflowLink outboundLink = outboundLinks.get(0);
+            currentWorkflowStep = outboundLink.getToStepNo() == null ? null : stepMap.get(outboundLink.getToStepNo());
+
+            ////////////////////////////////
+            // todo is this == null okay? //
+            ////////////////////////////////
+            if(currentWorkflowStep == null || currentWorkflowStep.getStepNo().equals(joinStepNo))
+            {
+               ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+               // this means we're ending a nested (recursive) call //
+               ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+               return;
+            }
+         }
+         else
+         {
+            if(workflowStepType.getOutboundLinkMode().equals(OutboundLinkMode.TWO) || workflowStepType.getOutboundLinkMode().equals(OutboundLinkMode.VARIABLE))
+            {
+               ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+               // this means we are starting a fork.  find where it ends - where the branches first re-converge //
+               ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+               Integer branchJoin = FindFirstJoinPoint.executeForLinks(outboundLinks, stepMap, linksFromMap);
+
+               ////////////////////////////////////////////
+               // for each branch, make a recursive call //
+               ////////////////////////////////////////////
+               for(WorkflowLink outboundLink : outboundLinks)
+               {
+                  String       conditionValue = outboundLink.getConditionValue();
+                  NodeSequence branchSequence = new NodeSequence();
+                  stepNode.subSequences().put(conditionValue, branchSequence);
+
+                  if(branchJoin != null && Objects.equals(branchJoin, outboundLink.getToStepNo()))
+                  {
+                     ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+                     // this indicates an empty branch - so continue to next outbound link //
+                     ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+                     continue;
+                  }
+
+                  ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+                  // if this is a step out of the branch (e.g., to a join), then don't process it in here. //
+                  // also though, this line doesn't actually get hit, so...                                //
+                  ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+                  if(Objects.equals(outboundLink.getToStepNo(), joinStepNo))
+                  {
+                     continue;
+                  }
+                  else
+                  {
+                     if(outboundLink.getToStepNo() != null)
+                     {
+                        buildNodeSequence(branchSequence, stepMap.get(outboundLink.getToStepNo()), stepMap, linksFromMap, branchJoin, depth + 1);
+                     }
+                  }
+               }
+
+               ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+               // after handling all the branches, then continue the loop with the join step //
+               ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+               currentWorkflowStep = branchJoin == null ? null : stepMap.get(branchJoin);
+            }
+            else if(workflowStepType.getOutboundLinkMode().equals(OutboundLinkMode.CONTAINER))
+            {
+               ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+               // if the container is non-empty, there should be a push link for it //
+               ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+               Optional<WorkflowLink> pushLink = outboundLinks.stream().filter(ol -> "push".equals(ol.getConditionValue())).findFirst();
+               if(pushLink.isPresent())
+               {
+                  if(pushLink.get().getToStepNo() != null)
+                  {
+                     NodeSequence containerSequence = new NodeSequence();
+                     stepNode.subSequences().put("push", containerSequence);
+                     buildNodeSequence(containerSequence, stepMap.get(pushLink.get().getToStepNo()), stepMap, linksFromMap, null, depth + 1);
+                  }
+               }
+
+               Optional<WorkflowLink> popLink = outboundLinks.stream().filter(ol -> "pop".equals(ol.getConditionValue())).findFirst();
+               if(popLink.isPresent())
+               {
+                  if(popLink.get().getToStepNo() != null)
+                  {
+                     currentWorkflowStep = stepMap.get(popLink.get().getToStepNo());
+                  }
+               }
+               else
+               {
+                  return;
+               }
+            }
+            else
+            {
+               LOG.warn("expected to have multiple outbound links for a step of type: " + currentWorkflowStep.getWorkflowStepTypeName());
+            }
+         }
+      }
+   }
+
+}

src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qbits/workflows/implementations/recordworkflows/RecordWorkflowInputRecordFilterWidget.java

@@ -98,6 +98,11 @@ public class RecordWorkflowInputRecordFilterWidget extends AbstractWidgetRendere
    public static void applyApiNameAndVersionFromInputToWidgetData(RenderWidgetInput input, FilterAndColumnsSetupData widgetData)
    {
       String apiName = input.getQueryParams().get("workflowRevision.apiName");
+      if(!StringUtils.hasContent(apiName))
+      {
+         apiName = input.getQueryParams().get("apiName");
+      }
+
       if(StringUtils.hasContent(apiName))
       {
          widgetData.setApiName(apiName);
@@ -113,6 +118,11 @@ public class RecordWorkflowInputRecordFilterWidget extends AbstractWidgetRendere
       }
 
       String apiVersion = input.getQueryParams().get("workflowRevision.apiVersion");
+      if(!StringUtils.hasContent(apiVersion))
+      {
+         apiVersion = input.getQueryParams().get("apiVersion");
+      }
+
       if(StringUtils.hasContent(apiVersion))
       {
          widgetData.setApiVersion(apiVersion);

src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qbits/workflows/implementations/recordworkflows/RecordWorkflowUtils.java

@@ -83,18 +83,28 @@ public class RecordWorkflowUtils
 
 
    /***************************************************************************
-    **
+    * expects name in inputValues to be "queryFilterJson"
     ***************************************************************************/
    public static QQueryFilter getFilterFromInput(Map<String, ?> inputValues) throws QException
+   {
+      Object object = inputValues.get("queryFilterJson");
+      if(object == null)
+      {
+         throw (new QException("Could not find filter in input values"));
+      }
+
+      return getFilterFromJsonOrObject(object);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    * supported input types are:  QQueryFilter, String (json), Map.
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   public static QQueryFilter getFilterFromJsonOrObject(Object object) throws QException
    {
       try
       {
-         Object object = inputValues.get("queryFilterJson");
-         if(object == null)
-         {
-            throw (new QException("Could not find filter in input values"));
-         }
-
          if(object instanceof QQueryFilter qQueryFilter)
          {
             return (qQueryFilter);
@@ -114,7 +124,7 @@ public class RecordWorkflowUtils
       }
       catch(IOException e)
       {
-         throw new QException("Error getting filter from input values", e);
+         throw new QException("Error getting filter from Object", e);
       }
    }
 

src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qbits/workflows/implementations/recordworkflows/UpdateInputRecordFieldMetaDataAdjuster.java

@@ -25,16 +25,21 @@ package com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.implementations.recordworkflows;
 import java.io.Serializable;
 import java.util.Collections;
 import java.util.List;
+import java.util.ListIterator;
 import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.Objects;
 import java.util.Optional;
 import java.util.Set;
+import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.definition.WorkflowStepType;
+import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.definition.WorkflowsRegistry;
 import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.implementations.WorkflowStepUtils;
 import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.model.WorkflowRevision;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.values.SearchPossibleValueSourceAction;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.context.QContext;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.logging.QLogger;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.query.QFilterCriteria;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.query.QQueryFilter;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.values.SearchPossibleValueSourceInput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.values.SearchPossibleValueSourceOutput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.code.InitializableViaCodeReference;
@@ -128,12 +133,24 @@ public class UpdateInputRecordFieldMetaDataAdjuster implements FormAdjusterInter
             {
                QTableMetaData    table             = QContext.getQInstance().getTable(tableName);
                FieldAndJoinTable fieldAndJoinTable = FieldAndJoinTable.get(table, newValue);
+               updatedField = fieldAndJoinTable.field().clone();
+               updatedField.setName("value");
+               updatedField.setLabel("Value (" + fieldAndJoinTable.field().getLabel() + ")");
+            }
 
-               if(fieldAndJoinTable != null)
+            ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+            // check the workflow registry to see if there is help content for this field //
+            ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+            WorkflowsRegistry workflowsRegistry = WorkflowsRegistry.of(QContext.getQInstance());
+            WorkflowStepType  workflowStepType  = workflowsRegistry.getWorkflowStepType(UpdateInputRecordFieldStep.NAME);
+            if(workflowStepType != null)
+            {
+               for(QFieldMetaData fieldMetaData : CollectionUtils.nonNullList(workflowStepType.getInputFields()))
                {
-                  updatedField = fieldAndJoinTable.field().clone();
-                  updatedField.setName("value");
-                  updatedField.setLabel("Value (" + fieldAndJoinTable.field().getLabel() + ")");
+                  if(fieldMetaData.getName().equals("value"))
+                  {
+                     updatedField.setHelpContents(fieldMetaData.getHelpContents());
+                  }
                }
             }
          }
@@ -143,6 +160,8 @@ public class UpdateInputRecordFieldMetaDataAdjuster implements FormAdjusterInter
          }
       }
 
+      adjustPossibleValueSourceFilterCriteriaInputs(updatedField.getPossibleValueSourceFilter());
+
       ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
       // build the output object, starting with the new meta-data of the 'value' field //
       ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -186,6 +205,43 @@ public class UpdateInputRecordFieldMetaDataAdjuster implements FormAdjusterInter
 
 
 
+   /***************************************************************************
+    * if the field has a possible-value-source filter on it, and that filter
+    * uses an input field e.g., ${input.someField} - consider that this value
+    * *might* be an attribute on the workflow so add an optional
+    * ??${input.workflow.someField} after it.
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   static void adjustPossibleValueSourceFilterCriteriaInputs(QQueryFilter filter)
+   {
+      if(filter == null)
+      {
+         return;
+      }
+
+      for(QFilterCriteria criteria : CollectionUtils.nonNullList(filter.getCriteria()))
+      {
+         List<Serializable>         values        = CollectionUtils.nonNullList(criteria.getValues());
+         ListIterator<Serializable> valueIterator = values.listIterator();
+         while(valueIterator.hasNext())
+         {
+            Serializable value = valueIterator.next();
+            if(value instanceof String stringValue && stringValue.startsWith("${input."))
+            {
+               String inputFieldName = stringValue.replace("${input.", "").replace("}", "");
+               String updatedValue   = stringValue + "??${input.workflow." + inputFieldName + "}";
+               valueIterator.set(updatedValue);
+            }
+         }
+      }
+
+      for(QQueryFilter subFilter : CollectionUtils.nonNullList(filter.getSubFilters()))
+      {
+         adjustPossibleValueSourceFilterCriteriaInputs(subFilter);
+      }
+   }
+
+
+
    /***************************************************************************
     **
     ***************************************************************************/

src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qbits/workflows/implementations/recordworkflows/UpdateInputRecordFieldStep.java

@@ -60,7 +60,10 @@ import org.json.JSONObject;
 
 
 /*******************************************************************************
- ** workflow step that updates a record with one value in one field
+ * Workflow step that updates a record with one value in one field
+ *
+ * This class includes some public static methods that can be useful for other
+ * workflow step implementations that have similar functionality.
  *******************************************************************************/
 public class UpdateInputRecordFieldStep extends WorkflowStepType implements WorkflowStepExecutorInterface, WorkflowStepValidatorInterface
 {
@@ -101,7 +104,15 @@ public class UpdateInputRecordFieldStep extends WorkflowStepType implements Work
 
 
    /***************************************************************************
-    **
+    * For a given fieldName, tableName, and api and version (which come from a
+    * workflowRevision), get QFieldMetaData for that field (if it's in that
+    * API Version).
+    *
+    * @param fieldNameMaybeWithTableNamePrefix - field name - which can be
+    * prefixed by tableName + "."
+    * @param tableName table name
+    * @param workflowRevision from which api name and version will come
+    * @return optional containing QFieldMetaData if found, or empty if not.
     ***************************************************************************/
    public static Optional<QFieldMetaData> getApiField(String fieldNameMaybeWithTableNamePrefix, String tableName, WorkflowRevision workflowRevision) throws QException
    {
@@ -121,6 +132,31 @@ public class UpdateInputRecordFieldStep extends WorkflowStepType implements Work
     ***************************************************************************/
    @Override
    public String getDynamicStepSummary(Integer workflowId, Map<String, Serializable> inputValues) throws QException
+   {
+      QRecord workflowRecord = GetAction.execute(Workflow.TABLE_NAME, workflowId);
+      String  tableName      = workflowRecord.getValueString("tableName");
+      return getStepSummary(inputValues, tableName, false);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    * Helper for {@link #getDynamicStepSummary(Integer, Map)} or
+    * {@link #execute(WorkflowStep, Map, WorkflowExecutionContext)} to generate
+    * a string like "${fieldLabel} will be / was set to ${value}" or "... cleared out"
+    * where the value will be a translated possible value if applicable.
+    *
+    * @param inputValues map of values user assigned to the step.  expected to
+    *                    include String fieldName and String value.
+    * @param tableName table that the field should come from.  Many times this
+    *                  may be the tableName on the workflow - but it could be
+    *                  a hard-coded tableName in other implementations of this
+    *                  step type.
+    * @param isPastTense to format the message as "will be" or "was".  e.g.,
+    *                    for getDynamicStepSummary would be false ("will be")
+    *                    and for execute would be true ("was").
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   public static String getStepSummary(Map<String, Serializable> inputValues, String tableName, boolean isPastTense)
    {
       String fieldName = ValueUtils.getValueAsString(inputValues.get("fieldName"));
       String value     = ValueUtils.getValueAsString(inputValues.get("value"));
@@ -137,45 +173,38 @@ public class UpdateInputRecordFieldStep extends WorkflowStepType implements Work
          }
       }
 
-      return getStepSummary(workflowId, fieldName, apiName, apiVersion, value, false);
+      return getStepSummary(fieldName, tableName, apiName, apiVersion, value, isPastTense);
    }
 
 
 
    /***************************************************************************
-    **
+    *
     ***************************************************************************/
-   private String getStepSummary(Integer workflowId, String fieldName, String apiName, String apiVersion, String value, boolean isPastTense)
+   private static String getStepSummary(String fieldName, String tableName, String apiName, String apiVersion, String value, boolean isPastTense)
    {
       String         fieldLabel = null;
-      QTableMetaData table      = null;
+      QTableMetaData table      = QContext.getQInstance().getTable(tableName);
 
       if(StringUtils.hasContent(fieldName))
       {
          try
          {
-            if(workflowId != null)
+            WorkflowRevision workflowRevision = new WorkflowRevision().withApiName(apiName).withApiVersion(apiVersion);
+            if(WorkflowStepUtils.useApi(workflowRevision))
             {
-               QRecord workflowRecord = GetAction.execute(Workflow.TABLE_NAME, workflowId);
-               table = QContext.getQInstance().getTable(workflowRecord.getValueString("tableName"));
-
-               WorkflowRevision workflowRevision = new WorkflowRevision().withApiName(apiName).withApiVersion(apiVersion);
-               if(WorkflowStepUtils.useApi(workflowRevision))
+               Optional<QFieldMetaData> optionalApiField = getApiField(fieldName, tableName, workflowRevision);
+               if(optionalApiField.isPresent())
                {
-                  Optional<QFieldMetaData> optionalApiField = getApiField(fieldName, table.getName(), workflowRevision);
-                  if(optionalApiField.isPresent())
-                  {
-                     // fieldName = optionalApiField.field().getName(); // hmm?
-                     fieldLabel = optionalApiField.get().getLabel();
-                  }
-               }
-               else
-               {
-                  FieldAndJoinTable fieldAndJoinTable = FieldAndJoinTable.get(table, fieldName);
-                  fieldName = fieldAndJoinTable.field().getName();
-                  fieldLabel = fieldAndJoinTable.field().getLabel();
+                  fieldLabel = optionalApiField.get().getLabel();
                }
             }
+            else
+            {
+               FieldAndJoinTable fieldAndJoinTable = FieldAndJoinTable.get(table, fieldName);
+               fieldName = fieldAndJoinTable.field().getName();
+               fieldLabel = fieldAndJoinTable.field().getLabel();
+            }
          }
          catch(Exception e)
          {
@@ -183,15 +212,22 @@ public class UpdateInputRecordFieldStep extends WorkflowStepType implements Work
          }
       }
 
-      String verb = isPastTense ? "was" : "will be";
-
       if(StringUtils.hasContent(fieldLabel))
       {
+         String verb = isPastTense ? "was" : "will be";
          if(StringUtils.hasContent(value))
          {
             String displayValue = value;
             try
             {
+               ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+               // field names from this PVS are always table.field - but QValueFormatter doesn't expect that - so strip away table. //
+               ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+               if(fieldName != null && fieldName.startsWith(tableName + "."))
+               {
+                  fieldName = fieldName.replace(tableName + ".", "");
+               }
+
                QRecord record = new QRecord().withValue(fieldName, value);
                QValueFormatter.setDisplayValuesInRecordsIncludingPossibleValueTranslations(table, List.of(record));
                displayValue = record.getDisplayValue(fieldName);
@@ -241,7 +277,8 @@ public class UpdateInputRecordFieldStep extends WorkflowStepType implements Work
 
       context.doesRecordNeedUpdated.set(true);
 
-      String stepSummary = getStepSummary(context.getWorkflow().getId(), fieldName, context.getWorkflowRevision().getApiName(), context.getWorkflowRevision().getApiVersion(), value, true);
+      String tableName   = context.getWorkflow().getTableName();
+      String stepSummary = getStepSummary(fieldName, tableName, context.getWorkflowRevision().getApiName(), context.getWorkflowRevision().getApiVersion(), value, true);
       return new WorkflowStepOutput(value, stepSummary);
    }
 
@@ -284,12 +321,34 @@ public class UpdateInputRecordFieldStep extends WorkflowStepType implements Work
    @Override
    public void validate(WorkflowStep step, Map<String, Serializable> inputValues, QRecord workflowRevision, QRecord workflow, List<String> errors) throws QException
    {
-      if(WorkflowStepUtils.useApi(new WorkflowRevision(workflowRevision)))
+      validate(workflow.getValueString("tableName"), inputValues, workflowRevision, errors);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    * implementation logic for {@link #validate(WorkflowStep, Map, QRecord, QRecord, List)}.
+    * makes sure that, if the workflow uses API, that the field is a valid field
+    * for the api version being used in the workflow revision.
+    *
+    * @param tableName table that the field should come from.  Many times this
+    *                  may be the tableName on the workflow - but it could be
+    *                  a hard-coded tableName in other implementations of this
+    *                  step type.
+    * @param inputValues map of values user assigned to the step.  expected to
+    *                    include String fieldName.
+    * @param workflowRevision from which api name and version will come
+    * @param errors Out param - list of error message strings, which will be
+    *               added to if the input fieldName isn't in the table for the
+    *               api version on the workflowRevision
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   public static void validate(String tableName, Map<String, Serializable> inputValues, QRecord workflowRevision, List<String> errors) throws QException
+   {
+      if(workflowRevision != null && WorkflowStepUtils.useApi(new WorkflowRevision(workflowRevision)))
       {
          String fieldName  = ValueUtils.getValueAsString(inputValues.get("fieldName"));
          String apiName    = ValueUtils.getValueAsString(workflowRevision.getValueString("apiName"));
          String apiVersion = ValueUtils.getValueAsString(workflowRevision.getValueString("apiVersion"));
-         String tableName  = ValueUtils.getValueAsString(workflow.getValueString("tableName"));
 
          Optional<QFieldMetaData> optionalApiField = getApiField(fieldName, tableName, new WorkflowRevision(workflowRevision));
          if(optionalApiField.isEmpty())

src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qbits/workflows/model/WorkflowLink.java

@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ public class WorkflowLink extends QRecordEntity
    @QField(isRequired = true)
    private Integer fromStepNo;
 
-   @QField(isRequired = true)
+   @QField()
    private Integer toStepNo;
 
    @QField(maxLength = 20, valueTooLongBehavior = ValueTooLongBehavior.ERROR)

src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qbits/workflows/processes/GetWorkflowStepDynamicValuesProcess.java

@@ -0,0 +1,116 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2025.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
+ * contact@kingsrook.com
+ * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.processes;
+
+
+import java.io.Serializable;
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Map;
+import com.google.gson.reflect.TypeToken;
+import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.definition.OutboundLinkMode;
+import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.definition.OutboundLinkOption;
+import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.definition.WorkflowStepType;
+import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.definition.WorkflowsRegistry;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.processes.BackendStep;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.context.QContext;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.RunBackendStepInput;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.RunBackendStepOutput;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.MetaDataProducerInterface;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.QInstance;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.code.QCodeReference;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.fields.QFieldMetaData;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.fields.QFieldType;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.permissions.PermissionLevel;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.permissions.QPermissionRules;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes.QBackendStepMetaData;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes.QFunctionInputMetaData;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes.QProcessMetaData;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.CollectionUtils;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.ValueUtils;
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ * process to get values that the backend must compute about a workflow step,
+ * based on input values, e.g., as a user is editing the step in a UI.
+ *
+ * Originally this was just the step summary (e.g., workflowStepType.getDynamicStepSummary)
+ *
+ * Then, when variable outboundLinkModes were added, also responsible for returning
+ * the link options to use for a step, based on its input values.
+ *
+ *******************************************************************************/
+public class GetWorkflowStepDynamicValuesProcess implements BackendStep, MetaDataProducerInterface<QProcessMetaData>
+{
+   public static final String NAME = "getWorkflowStepDynamicValues";
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   @Override
+   public QProcessMetaData produce(QInstance qInstance) throws QException
+   {
+      return new QProcessMetaData()
+         .withName(NAME)
+         .withPermissionRules(new QPermissionRules().withLevel(PermissionLevel.NOT_PROTECTED))
+         .withStep(new QBackendStepMetaData()
+            .withName("execute")
+            .withCode(new QCodeReference(getClass()))
+            .withInputData(new QFunctionInputMetaData()
+               .withField(new QFieldMetaData("workflowId", QFieldType.INTEGER))
+               .withField(new QFieldMetaData("workflowStepTypeName", QFieldType.STRING))
+               .withField(new QFieldMetaData("values", QFieldType.INTEGER)) // JSON
+            ));
+   }
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   @Override
+   public void run(RunBackendStepInput runBackendStepInput, RunBackendStepOutput runBackendStepOutput) throws QException
+   {
+      Integer workflowId = runBackendStepInput.getValueInteger("workflowId");
+
+      String                    workflowStepTypeName = runBackendStepInput.getValueString("workflowStepTypeName");
+      String                    values     = runBackendStepInput.getValueString("values");
+      Map<String, Serializable> valueAsMap = ValueUtils.getValueAsMap(values);
+
+      WorkflowStepType workflowStepType = WorkflowsRegistry.of(QContext.getQInstance()).getWorkflowStepType(workflowStepTypeName);
+      runBackendStepOutput.addValue("summary", workflowStepType.getDynamicStepSummary(workflowId, valueAsMap));
+
+      if(OutboundLinkMode.VARIABLE.equals(workflowStepType.getOutboundLinkMode()))
+      {
+         List<OutboundLinkOption> dynamicOutboundLinkOptions = workflowStepType.getDynamicOutboundLinkOptions(workflowId, valueAsMap);
+         if(dynamicOutboundLinkOptions != null)
+         {
+            ArrayList<OutboundLinkOption> outboundLinkOptions = CollectionUtils.useOrWrap(dynamicOutboundLinkOptions, new TypeToken<>() {});
+            runBackendStepOutput.addValue("outboundLinkOptions", outboundLinkOptions);
+         }
+      }
+   }
+
+}

src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qbits/workflows/processes/GetWorkflowStepSummaryProcess.java

@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.ValueUtils;
  ** process to get a dynamic summary of a workflow step, e.g., as it's being
  ** edited in a UI.
  *******************************************************************************/
+@Deprecated(since = "0.115.0 - November 2025 - Replaced by GetWorkflowStepDynamicValuesProcess")
 public class GetWorkflowStepSummaryProcess implements BackendStep, MetaDataProducerInterface<QProcessMetaData>
 {
    public static final String NAME = "getWorkflowStepSummary";
@@ -58,7 +59,6 @@ public class GetWorkflowStepSummaryProcess implements BackendStep, MetaDataProdu
     **
     ***************************************************************************/
    @Override
-
    public QProcessMetaData produce(QInstance qInstance) throws QException
    {
       return new QProcessMetaData()

src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qbits/workflows/processes/GetWorkflowTypeDefinitionProcess.java

@@ -41,12 +41,14 @@ import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.RunBackendStepInput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.RunBackendStepOutput;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.data.QRecord;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.helpcontent.HelpContent;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.MetaDataProducerInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.QInstance;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.code.QCodeReference;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.fields.QFieldMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.fields.QFieldType;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.frontend.QFrontendFieldMetaData;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.help.QHelpContent;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.permissions.PermissionLevel;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.permissions.QPermissionRules;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.processes.QBackendStepMetaData;
@@ -116,8 +118,12 @@ public class GetWorkflowTypeDefinitionProcess implements BackendStep, MetaDataPr
             throw new QException("Workflow type not found: " + workflowTypeName);
          }
 
+         ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+         // save any help content on current workflow and put back after customization //
+         ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+         Map<String, List<QHelpContent>> helpContent = workflowType.getHelpContent();
          workflowType = workflowType.customizeBasedOnWorkflow(workflowRecord);
-
+         workflowType.setHelpContent(helpContent);
          runBackendStepOutput.addValue("workflowType", workflowType);
 
          ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -167,4 +173,24 @@ public class GetWorkflowTypeDefinitionProcess implements BackendStep, MetaDataPr
       }
    }
 
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    **
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   protected Map<String, List<HelpContent>> getWorkflowTypeHelpContent(Map<String, HelpContent> helpContentMap)
+   {
+      Map<String, List<HelpContent>> workflowTypeHelpContent = new LinkedHashMap<>();
+
+      String[] workflowTypeKeys = new String[] { "workflow:editor;field:workflowName", "workflow:editor;field:versionNo", "workflow:editor;field:apiName", "workflow:editor;field:apiVersion", "workflow:tester;field:workflowTestScenarioId" };
+      for(String key : workflowTypeKeys)
+      {
+         if(helpContentMap.containsKey(key))
+         {
+            workflowTypeHelpContent.put(key, List.of(helpContentMap.get(key)));
+         }
+      }
+      return (workflowTypeHelpContent);
+   }
+
 }

src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qbits/workflows/processes/StoreNewWorkflowRevisionProcess.java

@@ -29,8 +29,10 @@ import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.Objects;
 import com.fasterxml.jackson.core.type.TypeReference;
 import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.definition.WorkflowStepType;
+import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.definition.WorkflowType;
 import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.definition.WorkflowsRegistry;
 import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.execution.WorkflowStepValidatorInterface;
+import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.execution.WorkflowTypeValidatorInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.model.Workflow;
 import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.model.WorkflowLink;
 import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.model.WorkflowRevision;
@@ -140,6 +142,38 @@ public class StoreNewWorkflowRevisionProcess implements BackendStep, MetaDataPro
             throw (new QUserFacingException("Workflow not found by id: " + workflowId));
          }
 
+         String stepsJSON = runBackendStepInput.getValueString("steps");
+         if(!StringUtils.hasContent(stepsJSON))
+         {
+            throw (new QUserFacingException("Workflow steps input was not provided."));
+         }
+
+         List<WorkflowStep> workflowSteps;
+         try
+         {
+            workflowSteps = JsonUtils.toObject(stepsJSON, new TypeReference<>() {});
+         }
+         catch(Exception e)
+         {
+            throw (new QUserFacingException("Error parsing workflow steps json: " + e.getMessage(), e));
+         }
+
+         String linksJSON = runBackendStepInput.getValueString("links");
+         if(!StringUtils.hasContent(linksJSON))
+         {
+            throw (new QUserFacingException("Workflow links input was not provided."));
+         }
+
+         List<WorkflowLink> workflowLinks;
+         try
+         {
+            workflowLinks = JsonUtils.toObject(linksJSON, new TypeReference<>() {});
+         }
+         catch(Exception e)
+         {
+            throw (new QUserFacingException("Error parsing workflow links json: " + e.getMessage(), e));
+         }
+
          ////////////////////////////
          // look up next versionNo //
          ////////////////////////////
@@ -166,15 +200,15 @@ public class StoreNewWorkflowRevisionProcess implements BackendStep, MetaDataPro
          // insert the workflow revision //
          //////////////////////////////////
          String           commitMessage    = runBackendStepInput.getValueString("commitMessage");
+         String           userName         = ObjectUtils.tryElse(() -> QContext.getQSession().getUser().getFullName(), "Unknown");
          WorkflowRevision workflowRevision = new WorkflowRevision();
          workflowRevision.setWorkflowId(workflowId);
          workflowRevision.setVersionNo(versionNo);
-         workflowRevision.setCommitMessage(StringUtils.hasContent(commitMessage) ? commitMessage : "New workflow revision created by  " + QContext.getQSession().getUser().getFullName());
+         workflowRevision.setCommitMessage(StringUtils.hasContent(commitMessage) ? commitMessage : "New workflow revision created by  " + userName);
          workflowRevision.setApiName(runBackendStepInput.getValueString("apiName"));
          workflowRevision.setApiVersion(runBackendStepInput.getValueString("apiVersion"));
-         workflowRevision.setAuthor(ObjectUtils.tryElse(() -> QContext.getQSession().getUser().getFullName(), "Unknown"));
+         workflowRevision.setAuthor(userName);
 
-         List<WorkflowStep> workflowSteps = JsonUtils.toObject(runBackendStepInput.getValueString("steps"), new TypeReference<>() {});
          if(!workflowSteps.isEmpty())
          {
             workflowRevision.setStartStepNo(workflowSteps.get(0).getStepNo());
@@ -208,19 +242,24 @@ public class StoreNewWorkflowRevisionProcess implements BackendStep, MetaDataPro
          //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
          // store steps (first setting revision id, validating, and putting a fresh summary on each) //
          //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-         List<String> errors = new ArrayList<>();
+         List<String> errors            = new ArrayList<>();
+         List<String> errorsForThisStep = new ArrayList<>();
          workflowSteps.forEach(step ->
          {
             try
             {
                step.setWorkflowRevisionId(insertedRevisionId);
 
-               WorkflowStepType          workflowStepType = WorkflowsRegistry.of(QContext.getQInstance()).getWorkflowStepType(step.getWorkflowStepTypeName());
-               Map<String, Serializable> inputValues      = ValueUtils.getValueAsMap(step.getInputValuesJson());
+               WorkflowStepType workflowStepType = WorkflowsRegistry.of(QContext.getQInstance()).getWorkflowStepType(step.getWorkflowStepTypeName());
+               if(workflowStepType == null)
+               {
+                  throw (new QUserFacingException("Unknown workflow step type " + step.getWorkflowStepTypeName()));
+               }
 
                ////////////////////////////////////
                // summary - if it fails, :shrug: //
                ////////////////////////////////////
+               Map<String, Serializable> inputValues = ValueUtils.getValueAsMap(step.getInputValuesJson());
                try
                {
                   step.setSummary(workflowStepType.getDynamicStepSummary(workflowId, inputValues));
@@ -237,18 +276,37 @@ public class StoreNewWorkflowRevisionProcess implements BackendStep, MetaDataPro
                if(validatorCodeReference != null)
                {
                   WorkflowStepValidatorInterface validator = QCodeLoader.getAdHoc(WorkflowStepValidatorInterface.class, validatorCodeReference);
-                  validator.validate(step, inputValues, workflowRevisionRecord, workflowRecord, errors);
+                  validator.validate(step, inputValues, workflowRevisionRecord, workflowRecord, errorsForThisStep);
+                  if(!errorsForThisStep.isEmpty())
+                  {
+                     ///////////////////////////////////////
+                     // put Step # in front of all errors //
+                     ///////////////////////////////////////
+                     errors.addAll(errorsForThisStep.stream().map(e -> "Step " + step.getStepNo() + ": " + e).toList());
+                     errorsForThisStep.clear();
+                  }
                }
             }
             catch(Exception e)
             {
-               errors.add("Error processing step [" + step.getSummary() + "]: " + e.getMessage());
+               errors.add("Error processing Step " + step.getStepNo() + ": " + e.getMessage());
             }
          });
 
+         ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+         // do workflow-level validation as well, if so configured //
+         ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+         WorkflowType workflowType = WorkflowsRegistry.of(QContext.getQInstance()).getWorkflowType(workflowRecord.getValueString("workflowTypeName"));
+         if(workflowType.getValidator() != null)
+         {
+            WorkflowTypeValidatorInterface validator = QCodeLoader.getAdHoc(WorkflowTypeValidatorInterface.class, workflowType.getValidator());
+            validator.validate(workflowRecord, workflowRevisionRecord, workflowSteps, workflowLinks, errors);
+         }
+
          if(!errors.isEmpty())
          {
-            throw (new QUserFacingException("Validation errors in steps: " + StringUtils.joinWithCommasAndAnd(errors)));
+            String message = errors.size() + " validation error" + StringUtils.plural(errors) + " occurred before the workflow could be saved:\n" + StringUtils.join("\n", errors);
+            throw (new QUserFacingException(message));
          }
 
          new InsertAction().execute(new InsertInput(WorkflowStep.TABLE_NAME).withRecordEntities(workflowSteps).withTransaction(transaction));
@@ -256,7 +314,6 @@ public class StoreNewWorkflowRevisionProcess implements BackendStep, MetaDataPro
          /////////////////
          // store links //
          /////////////////
-         List<WorkflowLink> workflowLinks = JsonUtils.toObject(runBackendStepInput.getValueString("links"), new TypeReference<>() {});
          workflowLinks.forEach(link -> link.setWorkflowRevisionId(insertedRevisionId));
          new InsertAction().execute(new InsertInput(WorkflowLink.TABLE_NAME).withRecordEntities(workflowLinks).withTransaction(transaction));
 

src/test/java/com/kingsrook/qbits/workflows/TestWorkflowDefinitions.java

@@ -32,11 +32,13 @@ import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.definition.WorkflowType;
 import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.definition.WorkflowsRegistry;
 import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.execution.WorkflowExecutionContext;
 import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.execution.WorkflowInput;
+import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.execution.WorkflowMultiForkingStepExecutorInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.execution.WorkflowStepExecutorInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.execution.WorkflowStepOutput;
 import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.execution.WorkflowTypeExecutorInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.execution.WorkflowTypeTesterInterface;
 import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.model.Workflow;
+import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.model.WorkflowLink;
 import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.model.WorkflowRevision;
 import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.model.WorkflowStep;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.context.QContext;
@@ -56,6 +58,8 @@ public class TestWorkflowDefinitions
    public static final String BOOLEAN_CONDITIONAL = "booleanConditional";
    public static final String CONTAINER           = "container";
 
+   public static final String SPLIT_BY_LETTERS_IN_NAME = "splitByLettersInName";
+
 
 
    /***************************************************************************
@@ -93,6 +97,12 @@ public class TestWorkflowDefinitions
          .withOutboundLinkMode(OutboundLinkMode.CONTAINER)
          .withLabel("Container")
          .withDescription("Group steps in the UI"));
+
+      WorkflowsRegistry.of(QContext.getQInstance()).registerWorkflowStepType(new WorkflowStepType()
+         .withName(SPLIT_BY_LETTERS_IN_NAME)
+         .withOutboundLinkMode(OutboundLinkMode.VARIABLE)
+         .withLabel("Split by letters in name")
+         .withExecutor(new QCodeReference(SplitByLettersInNameExecutor.class)));
    }
 
 
@@ -225,4 +235,57 @@ public class TestWorkflowDefinitions
       }
    }
 
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    *
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   public static class SplitByLettersInNameExecutor implements WorkflowMultiForkingStepExecutorInterface
+   {
+
+      /***************************************************************************
+       *
+       ***************************************************************************/
+      @Override
+      public WorkflowStepOutput conditionallyExecuteFork(WorkflowStep step, WorkflowLink fork, Map<String, Serializable> inputValues, WorkflowExecutionContext context)
+      {
+         String conditionValue = fork.getConditionValue();
+         String name           = ValueUtils.getValueAsString(context.getValues().get("name"));
+
+         if(name.contains(conditionValue))
+         {
+            return (new WorkflowStepOutput(true, "name [" + name + "] contains [" +  conditionValue + "]"));
+         }
+         else
+         {
+            return (new WorkflowStepOutput(false, "name [" + name + "] does not contain [" +  conditionValue + "]"));
+         }
+      }
+
+
+
+      /***************************************************************************
+       *
+       ***************************************************************************/
+      @Override
+      public WorkflowStepOutput makeWorkflowStepOutput(WorkflowStep step, Map<String, Serializable> inputValues, WorkflowExecutionContext context) throws QException
+      {
+         return new WorkflowStepOutput(1, "Output");
+      }
+
+
+
+      /***************************************************************************
+       *
+       ***************************************************************************/
+      @Override
+      public void sortForks(List<WorkflowLink> forkLinks, WorkflowStep step, Map<String, Serializable> inputValues, WorkflowExecutionContext context)
+      {
+         /////////////////////
+         // noop by default //
+         /////////////////////
+      }
+
+   }
+
 }

src/test/java/com/kingsrook/qbits/workflows/WorkflowsTestDataSource.java

@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@ import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.UUID;
-import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.implementations.recordworkflows.RecordWorkflowsDefinition;
 import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.model.Workflow;
 import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.model.WorkflowLink;
 import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.model.WorkflowRevision;
@@ -149,7 +148,7 @@ public class WorkflowsTestDataSource
    public static Workflow insertWorkflowAndInitialRevision(String workflowTypeName, String tableName, String apiName, String apiVersion) throws QException
    {
       QRecord workflow = new InsertAction().execute(new InsertInput(Workflow.TABLE_NAME).withRecordEntity(new Workflow()
-         .withWorkflowTypeName(RecordWorkflowsDefinition.WORKFLOW_TYPE)
+         .withWorkflowTypeName(workflowTypeName)
          .withTableName(tableName)
          .withName("test-" + UUID.randomUUID())
       )).getRecords().get(0);

src/test/java/com/kingsrook/qbits/workflows/definition/WorkflowsRegistryTest.java

@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2025.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
+ * contact@kingsrook.com
+ * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.definition;
+
+
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Map;
+import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.BaseTest;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.context.QContext;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.fields.QFieldMetaData;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.fields.QFieldType;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.help.QHelpContent;
+import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertEquals;
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertNull;
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ ** Unit test for WorkflowsRegistry 
+ *******************************************************************************/
+class WorkflowsRegistryTest extends BaseTest
+{
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Test
+   void test() throws QException
+   {
+      String            stepTypeName      = "myStepType";
+      WorkflowsRegistry workflowsRegistry = new WorkflowsRegistry();
+
+      workflowsRegistry.registerWorkflowStepType(new WorkflowStepType()
+         .withName(stepTypeName)
+         .withDescription("originalDescription")
+         .withLabel("originalLabel")
+         .withInputFields(List.of(new QFieldMetaData("myField", QFieldType.STRING))));
+
+      /////////////////////
+      // set description //
+      /////////////////////
+      workflowsRegistry.acceptHelpContent(QContext.getQInstance(), new QHelpContent("newDescription"), Map.of("workflowStepType", stepTypeName, "slot", "description"));
+      assertEquals("newDescription", workflowsRegistry.getWorkflowStepType(stepTypeName).getDescription());
+
+      ///////////////////////
+      // clear description //
+      ///////////////////////
+      workflowsRegistry.acceptHelpContent(QContext.getQInstance(), null, Map.of("workflowStepType", stepTypeName, "slot", "description"));
+      assertNull(workflowsRegistry.getWorkflowStepType(stepTypeName).getDescription());
+
+      ///////////////
+      // set label //
+      ///////////////
+      workflowsRegistry.acceptHelpContent(QContext.getQInstance(), new QHelpContent("newLabel"), Map.of("workflowStepType", stepTypeName, "slot", "label"));
+      assertEquals("newLabel", workflowsRegistry.getWorkflowStepType(stepTypeName).getLabel());
+
+      ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      // clear label, though we can't, so it says as it was //
+      ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      workflowsRegistry.acceptHelpContent(QContext.getQInstance(), null, Map.of("workflowStepType", stepTypeName, "slot", "label"));
+      assertEquals("newLabel", workflowsRegistry.getWorkflowStepType(stepTypeName).getLabel());
+
+      ////////////////////
+      // set field help //
+      ////////////////////
+      workflowsRegistry.acceptHelpContent(QContext.getQInstance(), new QHelpContent("fieldHelp"), Map.of("workflowStepType", stepTypeName, "field", "myField"));
+      assertEquals("fieldHelp", workflowsRegistry.getWorkflowStepType(stepTypeName).getInputFields().get(0).getHelpContents().get(0).getContent());
+
+      //////////////////////
+      // clear field help //
+      //////////////////////
+      workflowsRegistry.acceptHelpContent(QContext.getQInstance(), null, Map.of("workflowStepType", stepTypeName, "field", "myField"));
+      assertNull(workflowsRegistry.getWorkflowStepType(stepTypeName).getInputFields().get(0).getHelpContents());
+   }
+
+}

src/test/java/com/kingsrook/qbits/workflows/execution/FindFirstJoinPointTest.java

@@ -0,0 +1,130 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2025.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
+ * contact@kingsrook.com
+ * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.execution;
+
+
+import java.util.HashMap;
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Map;
+import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.BaseTest;
+import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.model.WorkflowLink;
+import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.model.WorkflowStep;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.ListingHash;
+import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertEquals;
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertNull;
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ ** Unit test for FindFirstJoinPoint 
+ *******************************************************************************/
+class FindFirstJoinPointTest extends BaseTest
+{
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    *     1
+    *   / | \
+    *  /  |   \
+    * 2   3    4
+    * |   |  /  \
+    * |   5  6  7
+    * |   |  |  |
+    * |   |  |  8
+    * |   |  \ /
+    * |   |   9
+    *  \  |  /
+    *    10
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Test
+   void test()
+   {
+      Map<Integer, WorkflowStep> nodeMap = makeNodeMap(10);
+
+      ListingHash<Integer, WorkflowLink> outEdges = new ListingHash<>();
+      addEdge(outEdges, 1, 2);
+      addEdge(outEdges, 1, 3);
+      addEdge(outEdges, 1, 4);
+      addEdge(outEdges, 2, 10);
+      addEdge(outEdges, 3, 5);
+      addEdge(outEdges, 4, 6);
+      addEdge(outEdges, 5, 10);
+      addEdge(outEdges, 6, 9);
+      addEdge(outEdges, 7, 8);
+      addEdge(outEdges, 8, 9);
+      addEdge(outEdges, 9, 10);
+
+      /////////////////////////////////
+      // start from the top (node 1) //
+      /////////////////////////////////
+      assertEquals(10, FindFirstJoinPoint.execute(List.of(2, 3, 4), nodeMap, outEdges));
+
+      ////////////////////////////////////////////
+      // start from the rightmost fork (node 4) //
+      ////////////////////////////////////////////
+      assertEquals(9, FindFirstJoinPoint.execute(List.of(6, 7), nodeMap, outEdges));
+
+      //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      // remove node 10 - so they all just end and don't re-join (so expect null out) //
+      //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      nodeMap.remove(10);
+      outEdges.remove(9);
+      outEdges.remove(2);
+      outEdges.remove(5);
+      assertNull(FindFirstJoinPoint.execute(List.of(2, 3, 4), nodeMap, outEdges));
+   }
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    *
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   private void addEdge(ListingHash<Integer, WorkflowLink> outEdges, Integer fromStepNo, Integer toStepNo)
+   {
+      outEdges.add(fromStepNo, new WorkflowLink().withToStepNo(toStepNo));
+   }
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    *
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   private Map<Integer, WorkflowStep> makeNodeMap(int n)
+   {
+      Map<Integer, WorkflowStep> nodeMap = new HashMap<>();
+      for(int i = 1; i <= n; i++)
+      {
+         addNode(nodeMap, i);
+      }
+      return (nodeMap);
+   }
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    *
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   private void addNode(Map<Integer, WorkflowStep> nodeMap, Integer stepNo)
+   {
+      nodeMap.put(stepNo, new WorkflowStep().withStepNo(stepNo));
+   }
+
+}

src/test/java/com/kingsrook/qbits/workflows/execution/WorkflowExecutorTest.java

@@ -29,8 +29,16 @@ import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.BaseTest;
 import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.TestWorkflowDefinitions;
 import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.WorkflowsTestDataSource;
 import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.model.Workflow;
+import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.model.WorkflowLink;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.tables.DeleteAction;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.delete.DeleteInput;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.query.QCriteriaOperator;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.query.QFilterCriteria;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.query.QQueryFilter;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.ValueUtils;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.collections.MapBuilder;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.lambdas.UnsafeFunction;
 import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
 import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThat;
 import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertEquals;
@@ -301,6 +309,183 @@ class WorkflowExecutorTest extends BaseTest
 
 
 
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Test
+   void testMultiForkingStep() throws Exception
+   {
+      TestWorkflowDefinitions.registerTestWorkflowTypes();
+
+      ///////////////////////////////////
+      // build a workflow with 3 forks //
+      // .  1                          //
+      // ./ | \                        //
+      // 2  3  4                       //
+      ///////////////////////////////////
+      Workflow workflow = WorkflowsTestDataSource.insertWorkflowAndInitialRevision(TestWorkflowDefinitions.TEST_WORKFLOW_TYPE, null);
+      WorkflowsTestDataSource.insertSteps(workflow, List.of(
+         WorkflowsTestDataSource.newStep(1, TestWorkflowDefinitions.SPLIT_BY_LETTERS_IN_NAME, Map.of()),
+         WorkflowsTestDataSource.newStep(2, TestWorkflowDefinitions.ADD_X_TO_SUM_ACTION, Map.of("x", 1)), // "a"
+         WorkflowsTestDataSource.newStep(3, TestWorkflowDefinitions.ADD_X_TO_SUM_ACTION, Map.of("x", 2)), // "b"
+         WorkflowsTestDataSource.newStep(4, TestWorkflowDefinitions.ADD_X_TO_SUM_ACTION, Map.of("x", 4))  // "c"
+      ));
+      WorkflowsTestDataSource.insertLinks(workflow, List.of(
+         WorkflowsTestDataSource.newLink(1, 2, "a"), // += 1
+         WorkflowsTestDataSource.newLink(1, 3, "b"), // += 2
+         WorkflowsTestDataSource.newLink(1, 4, "c"), // += 3
+         WorkflowsTestDataSource.newLink(2, null),
+         WorkflowsTestDataSource.newLink(3, null),
+         WorkflowsTestDataSource.newLink(4, null)
+      ));
+
+      UnsafeFunction<String, Integer, ?> run  = (String name) ->
+      {
+         WorkflowOutput output = executeWorkflow(workflow.getId(), Map.of("seedValue", 0, "name", name));
+         return ValueUtils.getValueAsInteger(output.getContext().getValues().get("sum"));
+      };
+
+      assertEquals(1, run.apply("dave"));
+      assertEquals(3, run.apply("barry"));
+      assertEquals(5, run.apply("carl"));
+      assertEquals(7, run.apply("braces"));
+      assertEquals(0, run.apply("lou"));
+
+      //////////////////////////////////////
+      // add a step (5) after the 3 forks //
+      //////////////////////////////////////
+      WorkflowsTestDataSource.insertSteps(workflow, List.of(
+         WorkflowsTestDataSource.newStep(5, TestWorkflowDefinitions.ADD_X_TO_SUM_ACTION, Map.of("x", 8))
+      ));
+      WorkflowsTestDataSource.insertLinks(workflow, List.of(
+         WorkflowsTestDataSource.newLink(2, 5),
+         WorkflowsTestDataSource.newLink(3, 5),
+         WorkflowsTestDataSource.newLink(4, 5)
+      ));
+
+      //////////////////////////////////
+      // get rid of the links to null //
+      //////////////////////////////////
+      new DeleteAction().execute(new DeleteInput(WorkflowLink.TABLE_NAME).withQueryFilter(new QQueryFilter(new QFilterCriteria("toStepNo", QCriteriaOperator.IS_BLANK))));
+
+      assertEquals(10, run.apply("bobby"));
+      assertEquals(15, run.apply("braces"));
+      assertEquals(8, run.apply("lou"));
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Test
+   void testNestedMultiForkingStep() throws Exception
+   {
+      TestWorkflowDefinitions.registerTestWorkflowTypes();
+
+      /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      // build a workflow with 3 top-level forks, one of which has 2 nested ones //
+      // .  1                                                                    //
+      // ./ | \                                                                  //
+      // 2  3  4                                                                 //
+      // |  |  | \                                                               //
+      // |  |  5  6                                                              //
+      // .\ \  / /                                                               //
+      // .   7                                                                   //
+      /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      Workflow workflow = WorkflowsTestDataSource.insertWorkflowAndInitialRevision(TestWorkflowDefinitions.TEST_WORKFLOW_TYPE, null);
+      WorkflowsTestDataSource.insertSteps(workflow, List.of(
+         WorkflowsTestDataSource.newStep(1, TestWorkflowDefinitions.SPLIT_BY_LETTERS_IN_NAME, Map.of()),
+         WorkflowsTestDataSource.newStep(2, TestWorkflowDefinitions.ADD_X_TO_SUM_ACTION, Map.of("x", 1)), // "a"
+         WorkflowsTestDataSource.newStep(3, TestWorkflowDefinitions.ADD_X_TO_SUM_ACTION, Map.of("x", 2)), // "b"
+         WorkflowsTestDataSource.newStep(4, TestWorkflowDefinitions.SPLIT_BY_LETTERS_IN_NAME, Map.of()),
+         WorkflowsTestDataSource.newStep(5, TestWorkflowDefinitions.ADD_X_TO_SUM_ACTION, Map.of("x", 4)), // "c"
+         WorkflowsTestDataSource.newStep(6, TestWorkflowDefinitions.ADD_X_TO_SUM_ACTION, Map.of("x", 8)), // "d"
+         WorkflowsTestDataSource.newStep(7, TestWorkflowDefinitions.ADD_X_TO_SUM_ACTION, Map.of("x", 16))
+      ));
+      WorkflowsTestDataSource.insertLinks(workflow, List.of(
+         WorkflowsTestDataSource.newLink(1, 2, "a"), // += 1
+         WorkflowsTestDataSource.newLink(1, 3, "b"), // += 2
+         WorkflowsTestDataSource.newLink(1, 4, ""),  //
+         WorkflowsTestDataSource.newLink(4, 5, "c"), // += 4
+         WorkflowsTestDataSource.newLink(4, 6, "d"), // += 8
+         WorkflowsTestDataSource.newLink(2, 7), // += 16
+         WorkflowsTestDataSource.newLink(3, 7), // += 16
+         WorkflowsTestDataSource.newLink(5, 7), // += 16
+         WorkflowsTestDataSource.newLink(6, 7)  // += 16
+      ));
+
+      UnsafeFunction<String, Integer, ?> run  = (String name) ->
+      {
+         WorkflowOutput output = executeWorkflow(workflow.getId(), Map.of("seedValue", 0, "name", name));
+         return ValueUtils.getValueAsInteger(output.getContext().getValues().get("sum"));
+      };
+
+      assertEquals(17, run.apply("allen"));
+      assertEquals(19, run.apply("barry"));
+      assertEquals(21, run.apply("carl"));
+      assertEquals(24, run.apply("donny"));
+      assertEquals(16, run.apply("lou"));
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Test
+   void testStackedMultiForkingStep() throws Exception
+   {
+      TestWorkflowDefinitions.registerTestWorkflowTypes();
+
+      /////////////////////////////////////////////
+      // build a workflow with two 2-level forks //
+      // . 1                                     //
+      // ./ \                                    //
+      // 2   3                                   //
+      // .\ /                                    //
+      // . 4                                     //
+      // ./ \                                    //
+      // 5   6                                   //
+      /////////////////////////////////////////////
+      Workflow workflow = WorkflowsTestDataSource.insertWorkflowAndInitialRevision(TestWorkflowDefinitions.TEST_WORKFLOW_TYPE, null);
+      WorkflowsTestDataSource.insertSteps(workflow, List.of(
+         WorkflowsTestDataSource.newStep(1, TestWorkflowDefinitions.SPLIT_BY_LETTERS_IN_NAME, Map.of()),
+         WorkflowsTestDataSource.newStep(2, TestWorkflowDefinitions.ADD_X_TO_SUM_ACTION, Map.of("x", 1)), // "a"
+         WorkflowsTestDataSource.newStep(3, TestWorkflowDefinitions.ADD_X_TO_SUM_ACTION, Map.of("x", 2)), // "b"
+         WorkflowsTestDataSource.newStep(4, TestWorkflowDefinitions.SPLIT_BY_LETTERS_IN_NAME, Map.of()),
+         WorkflowsTestDataSource.newStep(5, TestWorkflowDefinitions.ADD_X_TO_SUM_ACTION, Map.of("x", 4)), // "c"
+         WorkflowsTestDataSource.newStep(6, TestWorkflowDefinitions.ADD_X_TO_SUM_ACTION, Map.of("x", 8))  // "d"
+      ));
+      WorkflowsTestDataSource.insertLinks(workflow, List.of(
+         WorkflowsTestDataSource.newLink(1, 2, "a"), // += 1
+         WorkflowsTestDataSource.newLink(1, 3, "b"), // += 2
+         WorkflowsTestDataSource.newLink(2, 4),
+         WorkflowsTestDataSource.newLink(3, 4),
+         WorkflowsTestDataSource.newLink(4, 5, "c"), // += 4
+         WorkflowsTestDataSource.newLink(4, 6, "d"), // += 8
+         WorkflowsTestDataSource.newLink(5, null),
+         WorkflowsTestDataSource.newLink(6, null)
+      ));
+
+      UnsafeFunction<String, Integer, ?> run  = (String name) ->
+      {
+         WorkflowOutput output = executeWorkflow(workflow.getId(), Map.of("seedValue", 0, "name", name));
+         return ValueUtils.getValueAsInteger(output.getContext().getValues().get("sum"));
+      };
+
+      assertEquals(1, run.apply("allen"));
+      assertEquals(3, run.apply("barry"));
+      assertEquals(5, run.apply("carl"));
+      assertEquals(8, run.apply("donny"));
+      assertEquals(4, run.apply("connie"));
+      assertEquals(12, run.apply("doc"));
+      assertEquals(15, run.apply("abcd"));
+      assertEquals(0, run.apply("lou"));
+   }
+
+
+
    /***************************************************************************
     **
     ***************************************************************************/

src/test/java/com/kingsrook/qbits/workflows/execution/nodes/StepNodeGraphBuilderTest.java

@@ -0,0 +1,172 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2025.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
+ * contact@kingsrook.com
+ * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.execution.nodes;
+
+
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.List;
+import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.BaseTest;
+import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.TestWorkflowDefinitions;
+import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.WorkflowsTestDataSource;
+import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.model.WorkflowLink;
+import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.model.WorkflowStep;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
+import org.junit.jupiter.api.BeforeEach;
+import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertEquals;
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertSame;
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ ** Unit test for StepNodeGraphBuilder 
+ *******************************************************************************/
+class StepNodeGraphBuilderTest extends BaseTest
+{
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @BeforeEach
+   void beforeEach() throws QException
+   {
+      TestWorkflowDefinitions.registerTestWorkflowTypes();
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Test
+   void testSimpleFlat()
+   {
+      List<WorkflowStep> steps = new ArrayList<>();
+      WorkflowStep       step1 = WorkflowsTestDataSource.newStep(steps, TestWorkflowDefinitions.ADD_X_TO_SUM_ACTION, null);
+      WorkflowStep       step2 = WorkflowsTestDataSource.newStep(steps, TestWorkflowDefinitions.ADD_X_TO_SUM_ACTION, null);
+      WorkflowStep       step3 = WorkflowsTestDataSource.newStep(steps, TestWorkflowDefinitions.ADD_X_TO_SUM_ACTION, null);
+
+      List<WorkflowLink> links = new ArrayList<>();
+      links.add(WorkflowsTestDataSource.newLink(step1.getStepNo(), step2.getStepNo()));
+      links.add(WorkflowsTestDataSource.newLink(step2.getStepNo(), step3.getStepNo()));
+
+      NodeSequence nodeSequence = new StepNodeGraphBuilder().buildNodeSequence(step1.getStepNo(), steps, links);
+
+      assertSame(step1, nodeSequence.get(0).step());
+      assertSame(step2, nodeSequence.get(1).step());
+      assertSame(step3, nodeSequence.get(2).step());
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    * we'll evolve this graph through these 4 versions:
+    *
+    * . add1  >    add1    >    add1 .  > (wrap it all in a container)
+    * .  |    >     |      >     |
+    * .branch >   branch   >   branch
+    * ./      >   /   \    >   /   \
+    * add2    > add2 add3  > add2 add3
+    * .                        \  /
+    * .                        add4
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Test
+   void testSimpleBranch()
+   {
+      List<WorkflowStep> steps = new ArrayList<>();
+      List<WorkflowLink> links = new ArrayList<>();
+
+      WorkflowStep add1   = WorkflowsTestDataSource.newStep(steps, TestWorkflowDefinitions.ADD_X_TO_SUM_ACTION, null);
+      WorkflowStep branch = WorkflowsTestDataSource.newStep(steps, TestWorkflowDefinitions.BOOLEAN_CONDITIONAL, null);
+      WorkflowStep add2   = WorkflowsTestDataSource.newStep(steps, TestWorkflowDefinitions.ADD_X_TO_SUM_ACTION, null);
+
+      links.add(WorkflowsTestDataSource.newLink(add1.getStepNo(), branch.getStepNo()));
+      links.add(WorkflowsTestDataSource.newLink(branch.getStepNo(), add2.getStepNo(), "true"));
+
+      {
+         NodeSequence nodeSequence = StepNodeGraphBuilder.buildNodeSequence(add1.getStepNo(), steps, links);
+         assertEquals(2, nodeSequence.size());
+         assertSame(add1, nodeSequence.get(0).step());
+         assertSame(branch, nodeSequence.get(1).step());
+
+         StepNode branchNode = nodeSequence.get(1);
+         assertEquals(1, branchNode.subSequences().size());
+         assertEquals(1, branchNode.subSequences().get("true").size());
+         assertSame(add2, branchNode.subSequences().get("true").get(0).step());
+      }
+
+      ////////////////////////////////////
+      // add a step in the false branch //
+      ////////////////////////////////////
+      WorkflowStep add3 = WorkflowsTestDataSource.newStep(steps, TestWorkflowDefinitions.ADD_X_TO_SUM_ACTION, null);
+      links.add(WorkflowsTestDataSource.newLink(branch.getStepNo(), add3.getStepNo(), "false"));
+
+      {
+         NodeSequence nodeSequence = StepNodeGraphBuilder.buildNodeSequence(add1.getStepNo(), steps, links);
+         assertEquals(2, nodeSequence.size());
+         assertSame(add1, nodeSequence.get(0).step());
+         assertSame(branch, nodeSequence.get(1).step());
+
+         StepNode branchNode = nodeSequence.get(1);
+         assertEquals(2, branchNode.subSequences().size());
+         assertEquals(1, branchNode.subSequences().get("true").size());
+         assertSame(add2, branchNode.subSequences().get("true").get(0).step());
+         assertEquals(1, branchNode.subSequences().get("false").size());
+         assertSame(add3, branchNode.subSequences().get("false").get(0).step());
+      }
+
+      /////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      // add a step after the branch now, and re-run //
+      /////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      WorkflowStep add4 = WorkflowsTestDataSource.newStep(steps, TestWorkflowDefinitions.ADD_X_TO_SUM_ACTION, null);
+      links.add(WorkflowsTestDataSource.newLink(add2.getStepNo(), add4.getStepNo()));
+      links.add(WorkflowsTestDataSource.newLink(add3.getStepNo(), add4.getStepNo()));
+
+      {
+         NodeSequence nodeSequence = StepNodeGraphBuilder.buildNodeSequence(add1.getStepNo(), steps, links);
+         assertEquals(3, nodeSequence.size());
+         assertSame(add1, nodeSequence.get(0).step());
+         assertSame(branch, nodeSequence.get(1).step());
+         assertSame(add4, nodeSequence.get(2).step());
+      }
+
+      ///////////////////////////////////
+      // now put it all in a container //
+      ///////////////////////////////////
+      WorkflowStep container = WorkflowsTestDataSource.newStep(steps, TestWorkflowDefinitions.CONTAINER, null);
+      links.add(WorkflowsTestDataSource.newLink(container.getStepNo(), add1.getStepNo(), "push"));
+      {
+         NodeSequence nodeSequence = StepNodeGraphBuilder.buildNodeSequence(container.getStepNo(), steps, links);
+         assertEquals(1, nodeSequence.size());
+         assertSame(container, nodeSequence.get(0).step());
+
+         StepNode containerNode = nodeSequence.get(0);
+         assertEquals(1, containerNode.subSequences().size());
+         NodeSequence containedSequence = containerNode.subSequences().get("push");
+
+         assertEquals(3, containedSequence.size());
+         assertSame(add1, containedSequence.get(0).step());
+         assertSame(branch, containedSequence.get(1).step());
+         assertSame(add4, containedSequence.get(2).step());
+      }
+   }
+
+}

src/test/java/com/kingsrook/qbits/workflows/implementations/recordworkflows/UpdateInputRecordFieldMetaDataAdjusterTest.java

@@ -0,0 +1,124 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2025.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
+ * contact@kingsrook.com
+ * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.implementations.recordworkflows;
+
+
+import java.io.Serializable;
+import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.Set;
+import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.BaseTest;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.tables.InsertAction;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.insert.InsertInput;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.query.QCriteriaOperator;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.query.QFilterCriteria;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.query.QQueryFilter;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.data.QRecord;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.fields.QFieldMetaData;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.frontend.QFrontendFieldMetaData;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.JsonUtils;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.frontend.materialdashboard.actions.formadjuster.FormAdjusterInput;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.frontend.materialdashboard.actions.formadjuster.FormAdjusterOutput;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.frontend.materialdashboard.actions.formadjuster.RunFormAdjusterProcess;
+import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
+import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThat;
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertEquals;
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertNull;
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ ** Unit test for UpdateInputRecordFieldMetaDataAdjuster 
+ *******************************************************************************/
+class UpdateInputRecordFieldMetaDataAdjusterTest extends BaseTest
+{
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Test
+   void testExecute() throws QException
+   {
+      Map<String, Serializable> allValues = Map.of(
+         "workflowValuesJSON", JsonUtils.toJson(Map.of("tableName", TABLE_NAME_PERSON)),
+         "workflowRevisionValuesJSON", JsonUtils.toJson(Map.of()),
+         "value", 1
+      );
+
+      ///////////////////////
+      // run for on-change //
+      ///////////////////////
+      FormAdjusterOutput onChangeOutput = new UpdateInputRecordFieldMetaDataAdjuster().execute(new FormAdjusterInput()
+         .withFieldName("fieldName")
+         .withNewValue(TABLE_NAME_PERSON + ".firstName")
+         .withAllValues(allValues)
+         .withEvent(RunFormAdjusterProcess.EVENT_ON_CHANGE));
+      assertEquals(Set.of("value"), onChangeOutput.getFieldsToClear());
+
+      assertEquals(1, onChangeOutput.getUpdatedFieldMetaData().size());
+      assertThat(onChangeOutput.getUpdatedFieldDisplayValues()).isNullOrEmpty();
+      QFrontendFieldMetaData updatedValueField = onChangeOutput.getUpdatedFieldMetaData().get("value");
+      assertEquals("Value (First Name)", updatedValueField.getLabel());
+
+      /////////////////////
+      // run for on-load //
+      /////////////////////
+      new InsertAction().execute(new InsertInput(TABLE_NAME_SHAPE).withRecord(new QRecord().withValue("id", 1).withValue("name", "Square")));
+
+      FormAdjusterOutput onLoadOutput = new UpdateInputRecordFieldMetaDataAdjuster().execute(new FormAdjusterInput()
+         .withFieldName("fieldName")
+         .withNewValue(TABLE_NAME_PERSON + ".favoriteShapeId")
+         .withAllValues(allValues)
+         .withEvent(RunFormAdjusterProcess.EVENT_ON_LOAD));
+      assertThat(onLoadOutput.getFieldsToClear()).isNullOrEmpty();
+      assertEquals(Map.of("value", "Square"), onLoadOutput.getUpdatedFieldDisplayValues());
+      updatedValueField = onLoadOutput.getUpdatedFieldMetaData().get("value");
+      assertEquals("Value (Favorite Shape)", updatedValueField.getLabel());
+      assertEquals(TABLE_NAME_SHAPE, updatedValueField.getPossibleValueSourceName());
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Test
+   void testAdjustPossibleValueSourceFilterCriteriaInputs()
+   {
+      QFieldMetaData field = new QFieldMetaData();
+      UpdateInputRecordFieldMetaDataAdjuster.adjustPossibleValueSourceFilterCriteriaInputs(field.getPossibleValueSourceFilter());
+      assertNull(field.getPossibleValueSourceFilter());
+
+      field.setPossibleValueSourceFilter(new QQueryFilter(new QFilterCriteria("id", QCriteriaOperator.EQUALS, 1)));
+      UpdateInputRecordFieldMetaDataAdjuster.adjustPossibleValueSourceFilterCriteriaInputs(field.getPossibleValueSourceFilter());
+      assertEquals(1, field.getPossibleValueSourceFilter().getCriteria().get(0).getValues().get(0));
+
+      field.setPossibleValueSourceFilter(new QQueryFilter(new QFilterCriteria("someId", QCriteriaOperator.EQUALS, "${input.someId}")));
+      UpdateInputRecordFieldMetaDataAdjuster.adjustPossibleValueSourceFilterCriteriaInputs(field.getPossibleValueSourceFilter());
+      assertEquals("${input.someId}??${input.workflow.someId}", field.getPossibleValueSourceFilter().getCriteria().get(0).getValues().get(0));
+
+      field.setPossibleValueSourceFilter(new QQueryFilter().withSubFilter(new QQueryFilter(new QFilterCriteria("someId", QCriteriaOperator.EQUALS, "${input.someId}"))));
+      UpdateInputRecordFieldMetaDataAdjuster.adjustPossibleValueSourceFilterCriteriaInputs(field.getPossibleValueSourceFilter());
+      assertEquals("${input.someId}??${input.workflow.someId}", field.getPossibleValueSourceFilter().getSubFilters().get(0).getCriteria().get(0).getValues().get(0));
+
+   }
+
+}

src/test/java/com/kingsrook/qbits/workflows/implementations/recordworkflows/UpdateInputRecordFieldStepTest.java

@@ -0,0 +1,161 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2025.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
+ * contact@kingsrook.com
+ * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.implementations.recordworkflows;
+
+
+import java.io.Serializable;
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Map;
+import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.BaseTest;
+import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.model.WorkflowRevision;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.actions.tables.InsertAction;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.tables.insert.InsertInput;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.data.QRecord;
+import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
+import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThat;
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ ** Unit test for UpdateInputRecordFieldStep 
+ *******************************************************************************/
+class UpdateInputRecordFieldStepTest extends BaseTest
+{
+   private static WorkflowRevision workflowRevisionV1 = new WorkflowRevision().withApiName(API_NAME).withApiVersion(V1);
+   private static WorkflowRevision workflowRevisionV2 = new WorkflowRevision().withApiName(API_NAME).withApiVersion(V2);
+   private static WorkflowRevision workflowRevisionV3 = new WorkflowRevision().withApiName(API_NAME).withApiVersion(V3);
+   private static WorkflowRevision workflowRevisionWithoutApi = new WorkflowRevision();
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Test
+   void testGetApiField() throws QException
+   {
+      assertThat(UpdateInputRecordFieldStep.getApiField(TABLE_NAME_PERSON + ".firstName", TABLE_NAME_PERSON, workflowRevisionV1))
+         .isPresent().get().hasFieldOrPropertyWithValue("name", "firstName");
+
+      assertThat(UpdateInputRecordFieldStep.getApiField("firstName", TABLE_NAME_PERSON, workflowRevisionV1))
+         .isPresent().get().hasFieldOrPropertyWithValue("name", "firstName");
+
+      assertThat(UpdateInputRecordFieldStep.getApiField("noSuchField", TABLE_NAME_PERSON, workflowRevisionV1))
+         .isEmpty();
+
+      assertThat(UpdateInputRecordFieldStep.getApiField(TABLE_NAME_PERSON + ".noSuchField", TABLE_NAME_PERSON, workflowRevisionV1))
+         .isEmpty();
+
+      /////////////////////////////////////
+      // this field is excluded from api //
+      /////////////////////////////////////
+      assertThat(UpdateInputRecordFieldStep.getApiField(TABLE_NAME_PERSON + ".debt", TABLE_NAME_PERSON, workflowRevisionV1))
+         .isEmpty();
+
+      ///////////////////////////////
+      // this field is added in V3 //
+      ///////////////////////////////
+      assertThat(UpdateInputRecordFieldStep.getApiField(TABLE_NAME_PERSON + ".salary", TABLE_NAME_PERSON, workflowRevisionV1))
+         .isEmpty();
+
+      assertThat(UpdateInputRecordFieldStep.getApiField(TABLE_NAME_PERSON + ".salary", TABLE_NAME_PERSON, workflowRevisionV3))
+         .isPresent().get().hasFieldOrPropertyWithValue("name", "salary");
+
+      //////////////////////////////////////////
+      // confirm shoeCount/noOfShoes renaming //
+      //////////////////////////////////////////
+      assertThat(UpdateInputRecordFieldStep.getApiField(TABLE_NAME_PERSON + ".shoeCount", TABLE_NAME_PERSON, workflowRevisionV1))
+         .isPresent().get().hasFieldOrPropertyWithValue("name", "shoeCount");
+
+      assertThat(UpdateInputRecordFieldStep.getApiField(TABLE_NAME_PERSON + ".shoeCount", TABLE_NAME_PERSON, workflowRevisionV2))
+         .isEmpty();
+
+      assertThat(UpdateInputRecordFieldStep.getApiField(TABLE_NAME_PERSON + ".noOfShoes", TABLE_NAME_PERSON, workflowRevisionV1))
+         .isEmpty();
+
+      assertThat(UpdateInputRecordFieldStep.getApiField(TABLE_NAME_PERSON + ".noOfShoes", TABLE_NAME_PERSON, workflowRevisionV2))
+         .isPresent().get().hasFieldOrPropertyWithValue("name", "noOfShoes");
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Test
+   void testGetStepSummary() throws QException
+   {
+      assertThat(UpdateInputRecordFieldStep.getStepSummary(Map.of("fieldName", TABLE_NAME_PERSON + ".firstName", "value", "John"), TABLE_NAME_PERSON, false))
+         .isEqualTo("First Name will be set to 'John'");
+
+      assertThat(UpdateInputRecordFieldStep.getStepSummary(Map.of("fieldName", TABLE_NAME_PERSON + ".firstName", "value", "John"), TABLE_NAME_PERSON, true))
+         .isEqualTo("First Name was set to 'John'");
+
+      assertThat(UpdateInputRecordFieldStep.getStepSummary(Map.of("fieldName", TABLE_NAME_PERSON + ".firstName", "value", ""), TABLE_NAME_PERSON, false))
+         .isEqualTo("First Name will be cleared out");
+
+      assertThat(UpdateInputRecordFieldStep.getStepSummary(Map.of("fieldName", TABLE_NAME_PERSON + ".firstName"), TABLE_NAME_PERSON, true))
+         .isEqualTo("First Name was cleared out");
+
+      new InsertAction().execute(new InsertInput(TABLE_NAME_SHAPE).withRecord(new QRecord().withValue("id", 1).withValue("name", "Square")));
+
+      assertThat(UpdateInputRecordFieldStep.getStepSummary(Map.of("fieldName", TABLE_NAME_PERSON + ".favoriteShapeId", "value", "1"), TABLE_NAME_PERSON, false))
+         .isEqualTo("Favorite Shape will be set to 'Square'");
+
+      assertThat(UpdateInputRecordFieldStep.getStepSummary(Map.of("fieldName", TABLE_NAME_PERSON + ".favoriteShapeId", "value", "1"), TABLE_NAME_PERSON, true))
+         .isEqualTo("Favorite Shape was set to 'Square'");
+   }
+
+
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Test
+   void testValidate() throws QException
+   {
+      assertThat(runValidate(Map.of("fieldName", TABLE_NAME_PERSON + ".firstName"), workflowRevisionV1)).isEmpty();
+
+      ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      // debt field - found if not using api, else not found as it is excluded from api //
+      ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+      assertThat(runValidate(Map.of("fieldName", TABLE_NAME_PERSON + ".debt"), workflowRevisionWithoutApi)).isEmpty();
+      assertThat(runValidate(Map.of("fieldName", TABLE_NAME_PERSON + ".debt"), workflowRevisionV1)).hasSize(1)
+         .element(0).asString()
+         .contains("Could not find field 'person.debt' in table '" + TABLE_NAME_PERSON + "' for API '" + API_NAME + "' version 'v1'");
+   }
+
+
+
+   /***************************************************************************
+    *
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   private List<String> runValidate(Map<String, Serializable> inputValues, WorkflowRevision workflowRevision) throws QException
+   {
+      List<String> errors = new ArrayList<>();
+      UpdateInputRecordFieldStep.validate(TABLE_NAME_PERSON, inputValues, workflowRevision == null ? null : workflowRevision.toQRecord(), errors);
+      return (errors);
+   }
+
+}
+

src/test/java/com/kingsrook/qbits/workflows/processes/StoreNewWorkflowRevisionProcessTest.java

@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2025.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
+ * contact@kingsrook.com
+ * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.processes;
+
+
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Map;
+import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.BaseTest;
+import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.TestWorkflowDefinitions;
+import com.kingsrook.qbits.workflows.WorkflowsTestDataSource;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.exceptions.QException;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.RunBackendStepInput;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.actions.processes.RunBackendStepOutput;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.utils.JsonUtils;
+import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
+import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThatThrownBy;
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertEquals;
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertNotNull;
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ ** Unit test for StoreNewWorkflowRevisionProcess 
+ *******************************************************************************/
+class StoreNewWorkflowRevisionProcessTest extends BaseTest
+{
+
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   @Test
+   void test() throws QException
+   {
+      TestWorkflowDefinitions.registerTestWorkflowTypes();
+      Integer workflowId = WorkflowsTestDataSource.insertTestWorkflow();
+
+      RunBackendStepInput input = new RunBackendStepInput();
+
+      RunBackendStepOutput output = new RunBackendStepOutput();
+      assertThatThrownBy(() -> new StoreNewWorkflowRevisionProcess().run(input, output))
+         .hasMessageContaining("Workflow id is required");
+
+      input.addValue("workflowId", -999);
+      assertThatThrownBy(() -> new StoreNewWorkflowRevisionProcess().run(input, output))
+         .hasMessageContaining("Workflow not found by id: -999");
+
+      input.addValue("workflowId", workflowId);
+      assertThatThrownBy(() -> new StoreNewWorkflowRevisionProcess().run(input, output))
+         .hasMessageContaining("steps input was not provided");
+
+      input.addValue("steps", "1, 2, 3");
+      assertThatThrownBy(() -> new StoreNewWorkflowRevisionProcess().run(input, output))
+         .hasMessageContaining("Error parsing workflow steps");
+
+      input.addValue("steps", JsonUtils.toJson(List.of(
+         WorkflowsTestDataSource.newStep(1, "myStepType", Map.of("foo", 1)),
+         WorkflowsTestDataSource.newStep(2, "yourStepType", Map.of("bar", true, "baz", false))
+      )));
+      assertThatThrownBy(() -> new StoreNewWorkflowRevisionProcess().run(input, output))
+         .hasMessageContaining("links input was not provided");
+
+      input.addValue("links", "not json");
+      assertThatThrownBy(() -> new StoreNewWorkflowRevisionProcess().run(input, output))
+         .hasMessageContaining("Error parsing workflow links");
+
+      input.addValue("links", JsonUtils.toJson(List.of(WorkflowsTestDataSource.newLink(1, 2))));
+      assertThatThrownBy(() -> new StoreNewWorkflowRevisionProcess().run(input, output))
+         .hasMessageContaining("2 validation errors occurred before the workflow could be saved:")
+         .hasMessageContaining("Error processing Step 1: Unknown workflow step type myStepType")
+         .hasMessageContaining("Error processing Step 2: Unknown workflow step type yourStepType");
+
+      input.addValue("steps", JsonUtils.toJson(List.of(
+         WorkflowsTestDataSource.newStep(1, TestWorkflowDefinitions.ADD_X_TO_SUM_ACTION, Map.of("foo", 1)),
+         WorkflowsTestDataSource.newStep(2, TestWorkflowDefinitions.BOOLEAN_CONDITIONAL, Map.of("bar", true, "baz", false))
+      )));
+      new StoreNewWorkflowRevisionProcess().run(input, output);
+      assertNotNull(output.getValue("workflowRevisionId"));
+      assertEquals(2, output.getValue("versionNo"));
+
+      new StoreNewWorkflowRevisionProcess().run(input, output);
+      assertEquals(3, output.getValue("versionNo"));
+   }
+
+}