Control Flows in UiPath

Control Flows in UiPath

Control flows are the backbone of any automation process in UiPath. They dictate the order and logic of execution, enabling bots to make decisions, repeat actions, and handle exceptions effectively.

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What are Control Flows?

Control flows are mechanisms that determine how activities are executed in a workflow. They allow you to control the sequence, conditions, and loops in your automation processes. Examples of control flow structures include decisions (if-else), loops (for, while), and switches.

For instance:

• If a file exists, process it; otherwise, log an error.
• Repeat a task until a condition is met.
• Choose different actions based on the input type.

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Types of Control Flow Activities in UiPath

UiPath offers several control flow activities to handle different scenarios:

1. Sequence:

   • A simple linear flow of activities executed one after another.
   • Ideal for straightforward tasks like logging in to an application.

2. Flowchart:

   • A visual representation of complex workflows with multiple branching paths.
   • Useful for workflows with many decisions and loops.

3. If Activity:

   • Executes one block of actions if a condition is true and another block if it’s false.
   • Example: Check if an email contains an attachment.

4. Switch Activity:

   • Chooses one branch to execute from multiple options based on a value.
   • Example: Perform different actions based on the day of the week.

5. For Each Activity:

   • Iterates through a collection (e.g., a list or an array) and performs actions on each item.
   • Example: Process a list of files in a folder.

6. While Activity:

   • Repeats a set of activities while a condition is true.
   • Example: Monitor a folder until a specific file appears.

7. Do While Activity:

   • Similar to While, but ensures the actions are executed at least once before checking the condition.
   • Example: Retry a login process until it succeeds.

8. Parallel Activity:

   • Executes multiple activities simultaneously.
   • Example: Perform data entry and send an email at the same time.

9. Retry Scope:

   • Retries an activity or group of activities until a condition is met or a maximum number of retries is reached.
   • Example: Retry connecting to a database.

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Naming Conventions for Control Flow Activities

Using consistent and descriptive names for variables and activities in control flows helps in better understanding and maintenance of workflows.

1. Use Clear and Descriptive Names:

   • For loops: Use names like fileItem, customer, or transaction.
   • For conditions: Use variables like isFileExists or hasError.

2. Follow Camel Case:

   • Example: isDocumentApproved, retryCount.

3. Add Context:

   • Include context in the name to indicate the purpose.
   • Example: intRetryCounter (for retry attempts), strFilePath (for file paths).

4. Use Prefixes:

   • Add prefixes to denote the variable type.
   • Example: bool_, int_, arr_ for Boolean, Integer, and Array, respectively.

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Data Manipulation in Control Flows

While control flows primarily dictate execution order, they often involve manipulating data to evaluate conditions or make decisions. Here are some examples:

1. Using Variables in Conditions:

   • Example:

     If totalAmount > 1000 Then
         isDiscountApplicable = True
     Else
         isDiscountApplicable = False
     End If

2. Updating Counters in Loops:

   • Example:

     retryCounter = retryCounter + 1
     

3. Handling Dynamic Data in Switches:

   • Example:

     Select Case userType
         Case "Admin": PerformAdminTasks()
         Case "User": PerformUserTasks()
         Case Else: LogError("Unknown User Type")
     End Select

4. Combining Strings in Parallel Activities:

   • Example: Concatenating a status message while logging and processing data simultaneously.

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Examples of Practical Usage

1. If-Else for File Check:

   If File.Exists("C:\Data\Report.xlsx") Then
       LogMessage("File found.")
   Else
       LogMessage("File not found.")
   End If

2. For Each to Process Emails:

   For Each email In emailList
       If email.Subject.Contains("Invoice") Then
           SaveAttachment(email, "C:\Invoices")
       End If
   Next

3. While to Monitor a Folder:

   While Not File.Exists("C:\Data\TriggerFile.txt")
       LogMessage("Waiting for trigger file...")
       Delay(5000)
   End While

4. Switch for User Roles:

   Switch userRole
       Case "Admin": GrantFullAccess()
       Case "Editor": GrantEditAccess()
       Case "Viewer": GrantViewAccess()
   End Switch

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Best Practices for Control Flows

1. Keep Logic Simple:

   • Break down complex workflows into smaller sequences or flowcharts.

2. Comment Your Conditions:

   • Add comments to explain why a particular condition is used.

3. Optimize Loops:

   • Avoid unnecessary iterations by filtering data before looping.

4. Set Retry Limits:

   • Always set a maximum retry count for Retry Scope to avoid infinite loops.

5. Use Logging:

   • Log messages at key decision points for better debugging.

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Conclusion

Control flows are an essential part of UiPath automation that bring logic and decision-making to your workflows. By mastering control flow activities, naming conventions, and data manipulation techniques, you can create efficient and robust automation processes. Start experimenting with these activities to enhance your automation projects and handle complex scenarios effectively!