What are Workflows?

Create, automate, and control data processing and interface logic using Rayven's visual workflow environment.

Overview

Workflows in Rayven are the engine room of your application. They allow you to create, manage, and execute all the logic required to process data, automate actions, and power your application interfaces. Whether you're ingesting data, performing complex transformations, triggering alerts, or feeding visual components, it all happens inside a workflow.

Each workflow is constructed using nodes—modular components that can receive, manipulate, display, or transmit data. You can use a combination of drag-and-drop logic and JavaScript to build anything from simple automations to fully custom, intelligent data flows.

Understanding Workflows

In the Rayven platform, a workflow is a sequence of logic nodes that process data. Each node performs a specific function—such as reading data from a table, making calculations, sending an email, or rendering a chart on a dashboard.

Every Rayven Application must have at least one workflow, but you can build as many as needed to separate or modularise your logic.

Workflows are created and managed inside the Workflow Builder, which is a low-code development environment accessible from the application screen in the Workspace. To create or edit a workflow, click the Workflows button from the Application page, then choose Create New or select an existing workflow.

What Workflows Are Used For

Here are some of the most common uses for workflows:

• Ingesting data from external systems, forms, files, or APIs

• Performing calculations, transformations, and filtering

• Generating or storing records in Primary or Secondary Tables

• Sending data to other systems via API, email, SMS, etc.

• Triggering alerts or workflow actions based on rules

• Powering interface widgets with live or calculated data

• Creating iterative automations across UID or label groupings

• Integrating with AI features like OpenAI nodes

• Coordinating multiple workflows using Send Data to Node

Workflow Logic: Node-Based and Coded

Rayven supports two types of logic inside workflows:

1. Node-Based Logic
Use prebuilt nodes to create logic visually. These can include mathematical operations, rule-based filters, conditional triggers, table interactions, and more.

2. Coded Logic
Use JavaScript within:

• JavaScript Node: Execute code-based logic inside workflows.

• UI Code Node: Embed full HTML/JS/CSS widgets and interface logic. These can also read/write data directly to tables using built-in functions like getDataFromTable().

Workflow Node Types

Each workflow is made up of nodes, which fall into four main categories:

Triggering a Workflow

Workflows execute in the following ways:

• Automatically using a Trigger Node (e.g. on a timer, or once per UID)

• When data is received via Connector Nodes

• Manually via form submission, buttons, or UI interactions

• From another workflow using the Send Data to Node node

Rayven workflows are often iterative—you can configure them to run once per UID in your Primary Table or filtered by a Label grouping.

The Workflow Builder

The Workflow Builder allows you to:

• Drag and drop nodes onto the canvas

• Connect nodes to define the flow of data

• Open each node to configure settings, formulas, or JavaScript

• Inspect incoming and outgoing payloads in real-time

All data passed through a workflow is encapsulated in a JSON payload, which nodes can read from and write to.

Launch the Workflow Builder by clicking the name of an existing workflow, or using the "Create New" button to create a new one.

Special Workflow Features

• Inspect Data: Every node includes an “Inspect Data” tab to view recent payloads

• Send Data to Node: Link multiple workflows together

• Update Table / Query Table: Interact with Primary and Secondary Tables

• Dynamic Parameters in Nodes: Many nodes support parameterisation, allowing you to insert dynamic values from the workflow payload. The exact syntax for referencing variables differs between node types. Refer to each node’s documentation or settings for supported syntax and usage examples.

Summary

Workflows are a central part of building applications in Rayven. They enable data ingestion, transformation, storage, output, automation, and visualisation. Whether you're creating a complex backend integration or a simple form submission handler, workflows are the tool you’ll use to orchestrate logic and data flow.

FAQs

Do I need to use JavaScript to build workflows?
No. Most workflows can be created entirely using visual nodes. JavaScript is optional and only used for advanced custom logic or UI code.

Can I loop over rows in a table using a workflow?
Yes. Configure the Trigger Node to run the workflow once per UID, or per Label grouping, in your Primary Table.

Can a workflow trigger another workflow?
Yes. Use the Send Data to Node node to send data from one workflow to a specific node in another.

Can I preview what data is flowing through my workflow?
Yes. Open any node and use the Inspect Data tab to view the most recent payloads, filterable by UID or timestamp.

Can I write to more than one table in a workflow?
Yes. You can use multiple Update Table nodes to write to different tables in the same workflow.

Are workflows required for every Rayven app?
Yes. At least one workflow is required to process and display data. Apps without workflows won’t function.

Can I schedule workflows to run at specific intervals?
Yes. The Trigger Node can be configured with time-based schedules (e.g. every 5 minutes).