Key Concepts: Workflows, Steps, Edges, and Triggers

This article covers the four core elements of every FMX workflow: Workflows, Steps, Edges, and Triggers. Understanding these concepts makes it easy to read, build, and troubleshoot any flow in FMX and the Cloud.

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Workflow

A workflow is the complete experience the user goes through from beginning to end.

What It Represents

• The entire path: from the initial screen to the final action.

• All steps, transitions, and conditions that define the experience.

Examples

• Standard Photo Booth: Welcome → Disclaimer → Capture → AI → Preview → Print → Email

• Survey Flow: Welcome → Survey → Thank You → Email Receipt

In the Builder

• Displayed as the full canvas containing steps and edges.

• You can maintain multiple workflows for different events or use cases.

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Step

A step is a single action, screen, or operation inside the workflow.

What It Represents

• One stage in the user journey: displaying content, capturing media, collecting data, applying AI, or sending outputs.

Typical Step Categories

Capture & Media
Capture Photo, Record Video, Live View, Screen Capture, Screen Recording

AI & Effects
AI Headshot, AI Cartoon, AI Oldify, AI Modify, AI StylePop, AI Line2Life, AI Background Removal

User Interaction
Selection Screen, Games, Draw Me Offline, Survey

Information & Compliance
Disclaimer, Instruction Screens, Branding Screens

Output & Sharing
Print, Save Final Photo, Email, SMS, QR Code

In the Builder

• Each step appears as a box (node) on the canvas.

• Selecting a step opens its configuration panel (text, options, limits, styling).

• Steps usually have one or more incoming and outgoing connections.

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Edge (Connection)

An edge is a connection line that defines what happens after a step completes.

What It Represents

• The transition from one step to the next.

• The logic or condition that determines which path the flow follows.

Common Edge Types

Navigation Edge (NavEdge)
Standard “continue to the next step.”

Skip Edge / Skip on 0 Prints
Skip a step based on specific conditions (e.g., no prints requested).

Retake Edge
Return to a capture step for another attempt.

Disagree Edge
Alternative path when a user declines a disclaimer or similar prompt.

AI Error Edge
Fallback path if an AI request fails (timeout, cloud error, invalid data).

In the Builder

• Displayed as lines or arrows connecting two steps.

• Different edge types may appear with distinct colors or labels.

• A step can have multiple outgoing edges (e.g., Continue vs Retake vs Error).

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Trigger

A trigger is an event or condition that starts a workflow or redirects it.

What It Represents

• When the workflow begins.

• In advanced setups: when to jump to another part of the flow based on an event.

Examples

Workflow Start Triggers

• The booth starts a new session.

• A user taps “Start” on the welcome screen.

Branching Triggers

• AI operation fails → follow the AI Error Edge.

• A specific selection is made on a Selection Screen.

• No prints requested → follow the Skip on 0 Prints Edge.

In the Builder

• The start trigger appears as a start node or entry point.

• Additional triggers are configured through step settings or specialized edges.

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How These Concepts Work Together

• Workflow = the full map

• Steps = the locations on the map

• Edges = the roads connecting those locations

• Triggers = what starts the journey or moves you to a different route

Example Flow

Trigger
User starts a session → enter the workflow.

Step 1: Disclaimer

• If the user agrees → Continue edge → Capture Photo

• If user declines → Disagree Edge → “Cannot continue” screen

Step 2: Capture Photo

• If the user wants a retake → Retake Edge → Capture Photo

• If user approves → Continue → AI Headshot

Step 3: AI Headshot

• On success → Continue → Preview

• On error → AI Error Edge → Fallback screen