Create & edit steps
How to build and edit the StepFlow for a work instruction — adding Start, Default and End nodes, connecting them, editing node content and using the BOM and Steps panels.
Before you start
How to access the StepFlow editor
1 minute
The StepFlow editor opens from the Work Instruction Details page. You need to be on the Step Flow tab, then click Edit Stepflow in the footer bar. Alternatively, after creating a new work instruction you can click Create Steps on the confirmation screen (Step 5 of the wizard).
The StepFlow editor opens as a full-page experience — it replaces the standard app shell. The left sidebar navigation disappears and is replaced by the canvas and editing panels. Click Go Back in the footer to return to the Work Instruction Details page.
Section 01
Editor layout
2 minutes
The editor has four zones:
| Zone | Position | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Formatting toolbar | Full-width top bar (blue) | Rich text formatting controls for node content. Right side shows the work instruction name, version and a Share button. |
| Canvas panel | Left ~38% | Dot-grid canvas where you place and connect nodes. Zoom controls bottom-left. Node type buttons along the bottom edge (Start Node / Default Node / End Node). |
| Content editor | Centre ~52% | When you click a node on the canvas, its name and rich text content appear here for editing. This is where you write the operator instructions for that step. |
| Right sidebar | Far right ~52px | Four icon-only buttons: BOM, Steps, Report, Print. Each opens a panel or modal. |
Section 02
Node types
2 minutes
Every flow is built from three types of nodes. Each has a distinct colour so operators can instantly recognise where they are in the sequence.
Start Node
Green border and text. The entry point of the flow. Every work instruction must have exactly one Start node. Operators land here first.
Default Node
Blue border and text. Represents a single task or step the operator must complete — e.g. "Torque bolt to 45 Nm" or "Scan component barcode". Add as many as needed.
End Node
Blue border, red text. The exit point. When operators reach End, the work instruction is marked complete. Every flow must have exactly one End node.
The three buttons at the bottom of the canvas panel let you insert each type:
A valid flow must have exactly one Start node and exactly one End node. You can have as many Default nodes (steps) as needed between them. Flows with missing Start or End nodes cannot be started by operators.
Section 03
Building a flow
3 minutes
Follow these steps to build a flow from scratch. If the canvas already has nodes from a previous session, you can continue from where you left off.
| # | Action | How |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Add a Start node | Click the Start Node button at the bottom of the canvas panel. A green-bordered Start node appears on the canvas. Every flow needs exactly one. |
| 2 | Add step nodes | Click Default Node for each step in the operator sequence. Each new node is placed on the canvas. Drag them to arrange the layout — a vertical top-to-bottom sequence is easiest to follow. |
| 3 | Add an End node | Click End Node to place the exit point. Every flow needs exactly one. |
| 4 | Connect the nodes | Hover over a node — a small black connection dot appears on its edge. Drag from that dot to the next node. A curved connector line with black endpoint dots is drawn between them. Repeat to link the entire sequence: Start → Step 1 → Step 2 → … → End. |
| 5 | Name each node | Click a node to select it. Its name appears in the right panel under Node Name. Click and type to rename — e.g. "Torque bracket bolt to 45 Nm", "Scan component barcode", "Photograph finished assembly". |
| 6 | Write step instructions | With the node selected, click into the large content area below the Node Name field. Write detailed instructions for this step — what the operator must do, safety notes, measurements, photos required. Use the formatting toolbar to add structure. |
| 7 | Save | Click Save Changes in the bottom-right footer. The flow is saved to the work instruction and becomes available to operators when they start it. |
Use the + and − buttons to zoom in and out. Use the ⤢ fit-to-screen button to reset the view if you've lost your place. Hold and drag the canvas background to pan. The 🔒 lock button freezes panning — useful on touch screens.
Section 04
Editing node content
2 minutes
Clicking any node selects it and loads its content into the right panel. The panel has two parts:
| Field | What it does |
|---|---|
| Node Name | The label displayed on the node in the canvas and shown to operators during execution. Keep it short and action-oriented — e.g. "Apply thread locker", "QC visual check", "Sign off and record". The name updates on the canvas in real time as you type. |
| Content area | A full rich text editor where you write detailed operator instructions for this step. Supports all formatting from the top toolbar — bold, italic, lists, links, images and file attachments. Operators see this content when they execute the step. |
Formatting toolbar
The blue toolbar at the very top of the editor applies to whichever node content is currently open in the right panel.
| Button | What it does |
|---|---|
| B / I / U / S | Bold, italic, underline, strikethrough. Standard text emphasis. |
| ❝ (Quote) | Formats selected text as a block quote. Useful for safety warnings or standards references. |
| Normal ▾ | Heading level dropdown — Heading 1, Heading 2, Heading 3, Normal paragraph. Use headings to structure longer step instructions into sub-sections. |
| 1≡ / •≡ | Ordered (numbered) and unordered (bullet) lists. Useful for multi-part step instructions — e.g. "1. Torque to 45 Nm. 2. Check washer alignment." |
| ◁ / ▷ | Decrease / increase list indent. Useful for nested sub-steps. |
| 🔗 (Link) | Insert a hyperlink — e.g. to an external standard, a drawing reference or a training video URL. |
| 🖼 (Image) | Embed an image directly into the step content. Operators see it inline as they follow the step. |
| 📎 (File) | Attach a file to this step — PDF, DOCX, XLSX etc. Operators can download it while following the step. |
| Tx (Clear) | Clears all formatting from selected text, restoring it to plain paragraph style. |
Section 05
Right sidebar panels
2 minutes
The far-right sidebar has four icon buttons. Each opens a panel or modal that gives you quick access to reference information without leaving the editor.
BOM — Bill of Materials
Clicking BOM opens a modal overlay showing all component parts linked to this work instruction. Use it to reference part numbers and quantities while building steps — e.g. to confirm you're writing the correct torque value for the right bolt.
| ID | Item Name | Image | Status | Type | Qty | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | M8 Hex Bolt (Grade 8.8) | — | DISCONTINUED | item | 32 | Each |
| 32 | Steel Bracket — 50mm Offset | — | ACTIVE | item | 1 | Each |
| 456 | Zinc Washer M8 Flat | — | ACTIVE | item | 1 | Each |
| 061223 | Frame Sub-Assembly — Type A | — | ACTIVE | assembly | 1 | Each |
Steps
Clicking Steps opens a panel listing all nodes in the flow in sequence order. Use it to jump to any step quickly without scrolling the canvas — click a step name in the list to select that node and load its content into the editor panel.
Report
Clicking Report opens the issue reporting form scoped to this work instruction. Use it to flag a problem you notice while building the steps — e.g. a missing component, an incorrect specification, or an unclear process. The reported issue appears in the Issues module.
Clicking Print generates a printable view of the work instruction — the step names, node connections and content. Useful for shops that need a physical paper copy on the floor alongside the digital version.
| Icon | Panel / Action | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| BOM | BOM Items modal — full component list with IDs, quantities and status | Reference part numbers and quantities while writing step content. Download or print the BOM pick list. |
| Steps | Step list panel — all nodes in sequence order | Jump to any node quickly. Check the full sequence without scrolling the canvas. |
| Report | Issue reporting form | Flag a problem or question about the work instruction while you're building it. |
| Printable step-flow document | Generate a paper copy of the work instruction for physical use on the shop floor. |
Section 06
Branching flows
2 minutes
A flow doesn't have to be a single straight line. You can connect one node to multiple next nodes to create a branching flow — useful for processes that have parallel tasks or conditional paths (e.g. "pass QC check" vs "fail QC check").
| Concept | How it works |
|---|---|
| Creating a branch | Drag a connector from one node to two different target nodes. Both connections are drawn from the same source node. The operator will see both paths and choose which to follow. |
| Parallel steps | Two Default nodes side by side connected from the same parent node represent tasks that can be done in parallel — or alternative paths depending on the situation. |
| Converging back | Multiple branches can connect into a single next node — e.g. both "Pass QC" and "Fail QC" paths leading into a "Record outcome" step before End. |
| End node requirement | Every branch must eventually connect to the single End node. A branch that doesn't reach End means some operators could get stuck with no completion path. |
Branching flows are powerful but can become hard to follow on the shop floor. For most work instructions, a simple linear sequence is easier for operators to follow without making mistakes. Use branching only when the process genuinely has conditional or parallel paths.
Section 07
Saving & sharing
1 minute
| Control | Where | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Save Changes | Footer bar — bottom-right (green, floppy disk icon) | Saves all node content, connections and layout to the current version of the work instruction. The flow is immediately available to operators when they start the instruction. Save regularly — there is no auto-save. |
| Go Back | Footer bar — bottom-left (red text link) | Returns to the Work Instruction Details page. If you have unsaved changes, save first — clicking Go Back does not prompt you to save. |
| ▶ Share | Top bar — far right (green button) | Generates a shareable link to this work instruction that can be sent to operators or opened on a tablet on the shop floor. The recipient sees the flow in read-only execution mode. |
| Version indicator | Top bar — centre right | Shows the current version number (e.g. Version: 1V). Edits are always saved to the current version. To create a new version, return to the Work Instruction Details page and use + New Version in Version History. |
The StepFlow editor does not auto-save. If you close the browser tab or click Go Back without saving, unsaved changes to node content, names or connections will be lost. Click Save Changes before navigating away.