Menus and Toolbars

Menus

File Menu

Edit Menu

Menus

File Menu

The File menu provides commands for file manipulation. Some of these commands are also included on the toolbar for quicker access.

New (Ctrl-N)

creates a new, blank workflow template.

Open (Ctrl-O)

opens a workflow template that is stored locally in a file.

Save (Ctrl-S)

saves the active template to a file.

Save As (F12)

saves the active template to a file and prompts you for a filename.

Close (Ctrl-F4)

closes the active template.

Close All Files

closes all open workflow templates.

Print (Ctrl-P)

prints the active template.

Properties

enables you to modify properties of the active template, including the name, description, and associated attributes and tags.

Options

enables you to set session properties for SAS Workflow Studio such as time and date formats, history size, and other configuration options. Changes made to these settings are not saved after you click Submit. Instead, the changes to settings are saved after you close SAS Workflow Studio.

Note: If you are using Microsoft Windows, your user preference settings for SAS Workflow Studio are saved in the C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\SAS directory. Otherwise, they are saved in the installation directory.

Recent Files

lists recently opened workflow templates.

Exit

closes SAS Workflow Studio.

Edit Menu

The Edit menu provides commands for manipulating objects. Some of these commands are also included on the pop-up menus in the project tree and diagram editor for quicker access.

Edit Properties

edits the properties of a selected object.

Cut

copies the selected object to the clipboard and removes it from the drawing pane.

Copy

copies the selected object to the clipboard without removing it from the drawing pane.

Paste

pastes the current clipboard contents to the drawing pane.

Delete

removes the selected object from the drawing pane.

Add to Clip Explorer

adds the selected object to the default folder of the Clip Explorer.

View Menu

The View menu provides commands to enable and disable the SAS Workflow Studio utilities: workflow tree, format toolbar and Clip Explorer. Some of these commands are also included on the toolbar for quicker access.

Workflow Tree

displays the content hierarchy of the template that is open in the diagram editor. The workflow tree displays all of the template’s Data Objects, Statuses, Policies, Participants, and Tasks organized by type and associated task.

Format Toolbar (F10)

is used to configure graphics properties of the diagram.

Clip Explorer (F11)

stores workflow elements as a library of symbols and formatted workflow objects that can be reused using the copy and paste commands.

Server Menu

The Server menu provides commands for managing workflow templates between SAS Workflow Studio and the SAS Content Repository. Some of these commands are also included on the toolbar for quicker access.

Log On (F9)

logs on to the SAS Platform.

Log Off (Alt-F9)

ends the connection with the SAS Platform.

Save to Repository (F7)

uploads a workflow template to the SAS Content Repository.

Open from Repository (F5)

retrieves or checks out a copy of a workflow template from the SAS Content Repository.

Manage Templates (F3)

displays a list of workflow templates currently available in the SAS Content Repository and facilitates management of active workflow definitions.

Compare Versions

compares the version of the template that is currently open in the editor pane with another version in the content repository.

Manage Access

manages user and group access control for the currently open template.

Help Menu

The Help menu provides access to product documentation and configuration information.

Help Topics (F1)

opens the online Help for SAS Workflow Studio.

SAS on the Web

provides links to additional resources on the SAS website, including a link to the SAS Workflow Studio: User’s Guide.

About SAS Workflow Studio

displays product information for SAS Workflow Studio.

Drawing Tools

The drawing toolbar provides a set of controls that can be used to construct or edit a workflow template. Select the corresponding button to activate a command. To select an element in the diagram editor (to move it, or for access to the right-click menu), use the Select Tool button in the toolbar.

Select Tool (spacebar)

selects an object on the editor pane before moving it or right-clicking it.

Hand Tool (H)

navigates the editor pane and acts as a scroll bar.

Add Task (A)

adds a new task to the diagram.

Add Sequence flow Line (C)

links together tasks and gateways.

Add Logic Gateway (L)

adds a logic gateway (AND or OR) that controls the execution flow behavior of the connected tasks.

Add Swimlane (W)

assigns the participants of the contained tasks.

Add Annotations (N)

adds annotations to the diagram.

Add Merge/Fork Gateway (J)

represents execution flow forking (splitting) or joining to denote parallel processing paths.

Add Decision Gateway (D)

adds a Decision gateway to the diagram to denote alternate processing paths.

Add Timer (T)

adds a Timer node to the diagram.

Add Stop Node (S)

adds a Stop node to the diagram.

SAS Workflow Studio supports several predefined keyboard shortcuts to create multiple objects of the same type. If a shortcut key is pressed followed by a left mouse click in the diagram editor, then the associated object is created. For example, if you press the A key and then click the mouse in the drawing pane, a Task node is created to the right of the mouse pointer location. If you press the W key, then you can use the mouse to draw the boundaries of the swimlane.

In addition, the following movement key bindings are available:

The left, right, up, and down arrows move a selected object one pixel in the corresponding direction.
The same keys in combination with the Shift key move the object 8 pixels in the corresponding direction.
The same keys in combination with the Alt key move the object 18 pixels in the corresponding direction.

Note: These key bindings cannot be customized.

Zoom Toolbar

SAS Workflow Studio includes a zoom toolbar that allows users to zoom in or zoom out of the current diagram. Choosing a zoom factor of 100% yields a 1:1 magnification ratio. A higher zoom percentage zooms in to the diagram, and a lower zoom percentage zooms out from the drawing.

You can also use the navigator pane to view large diagrams. See Using the Navigator Pane for more information.

Format Toolbar

The format toolbar provides additional formatting properties for workflow templates. It contains the following four main control groups:

Color Property Controls

Text Property Controls

Outline Property Controls

Outline property control in the format toolbar

Miscellaneous Property Controls

The format toolbar can be toggled on and off by pressing F10 or by selecting the Format Toolbar check box in the View menu. The format toolbar can also be displayed as a panel by selecting the Switch to panel mode icon (

) in the Miscellaneous Property Controls group.

Format Toolbar in Panel Mode

Note: Standard cut and paste operations do not maintain any special formatting. Formatted objects should be reproduced using the Clip Explorer.

Last updated: March 5, 2020