Create Flows

A flow is a structure that defines the sequence of a chatbot conversation with users, based on their questions and responses. It consists of different types of nodes that can display, request, or process information. To build a chatbot, the scope must be divided into multiple flows, each tailored to respond to a specific use case.

The following is an example of a food order flow:

• User: Show me the menu
• Bot: Please select your Cuisine: South Indian, North Indian
• User: South Indian
• Bot: Please select the Item: Dosa, Pongal . . .

Through flows bot can also converse with users and fetch a piece of information via nodes, for example, the bot can be used as an official portal to apply for leaves or check salary.

1. Key UI components to build a flow

The icons located on the tile provide quick access to the following

(The sequence follows the order of the UI layout)

Icon	Functionality
Channel	Customize bot functionality for each channel.
Prompts	Drag and drop prompt nodes.
Message	Drag and drop message nodes.
Action	Drag and drop action nodes.
Logic	Drag and drop logic nodes.
Variables	Variables are used to store and retrieve specific data in a flow.
Language	Choose the language(s) in which your bot can be accessed.
Tools	Open the global tools tab.

2. Create a flow

To create a flow, follow the below steps:

1. Login to yellow.ai, select your bot.
2. Go to Overview > Studio.

Learn more about Studio.

3. Click + Create a new flow.

   

tip

You can also use the keyboard shortcuts + f.

4. To choose from the available templates, click on a suitable template in the Flow Template dialog box. For more information about templates, click here.

5. Otherwise, click Create from scratch to create a flow from scratch.

   

6. Enter the following details:

   • Flow name: Enter the name of your flow and make sure the name is according to the task of the flow. For example, flight booking, customer service, and products on discount.

   • Flow Description: Describe your flow. You can also tranlslate this description to any language other than English by clicking the Translator button. For example, these flows lead customers to flight booking workflow. Click here to know more about Translation.

   • Category: You can assign a flow to multiple categories by selecting an existing category from the drop-down or adding a new one. If no category is specified, a created flow will automatically be assigned to default categories.

     1. Click +Create category.
     2. Enter the Name of the category.
     3. Click Create Category to save it.

   • Create as a workflow: Click the toggle button if you want to convert the flow to a workflow. Workflows run in the backend along with the conversational flow. To know more about workflow, click here.

   

7. Click Save.

8. Add nodes and build a flow as per your use-case.

For the flow to work, you need to trigger it. Click here for the detailed steps.

note

You cannot add more than 150 nodes in a flow.

2.1 Edit a flow

To edit a flow, follow these steps

1. Ensure the environment (on the top right corner) is in the development mode.
2. Go to the flows drop-down on the top and click the flow you would like to edit.

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2.2 Workflow - a variant of flow

Workflows are background processes that run along with the conversational flow. Workflow option can be selected while creating a flow. For example, an action node called Sync DB operates in the background, synchronizing data with an external database while the bot executes the rest of the other flows.

Workflow is the same as any other flow, nodes connecting the start node can only be Action or Logic nodes (Message and Prompt nodes are not available to build a workflow).