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Version: 8.9 (unreleased)

Modify a process instance

Learn how to modify a process instance in Camunda 8 Operate.

Overview​

You may need to modify an active process instance to allow execution to continue. The execution may be stuck, and you may want to continue the execution on a different activity (i.e. skip or repeat activities).

note

If an issue in process execution caused you to enter the wrong process branch instead of moving each process instance individually, use process instance batch modification instead to select multiple process instances and move them to the correct flow node in the process in a single operation.

Unsupported modifications​

Some elements do not support specific modifications:

  • Add token/Move tokens to modifications are not possible for the following type of elements:
    • Start events
    • Boundary events
    • Events attached to event-based gateways
  • Move tokens from modification is not possible for a subprocess itself.
  • Add token/Move tokens to modifications are currently not possible for elements with multiple running scopes.

Enter process instance modification mode​

To enter modification mode:

  1. On the Processes page, find the process instance you want to modify in the Process Instances table.
  2. Click the process instance key. This brings you to the instance detail page.
  3. In the header, click the modify icon.
  4. In the modal, click Continue.

The UI will change when you enter modification mode, including a blue banner at the top and two buttons for applying or discarding modifications at the bottom.

Cancel all running tokens on a flow node​

To cancel all running tokens on a flow node, take the following steps:

  1. Select the flow node you want to cancel all the running tokens on.
  2. Click Cancel instance.

View the pending modification reflected in the Instance History panel.

Add a new token to a flow node​

To add a new token to a flow node, take the following steps:

  1. Select the flow node you want to add the new token to.
  2. Click Add.

View the pending modification reflected in the Instance History panel.

Move all running tokens from one flow node to another​

The move operation is equivalent to the combination of Cancel and Add modifications. The modifications described previously can also be achieved with one single move modification.

  1. Select the flow node you want to move the running tokens from.
  2. Click Move instance.
  3. Select the flow node you want to move the running tokens to.

View the pending modification reflected in the Instance History panel.

Add variable to new scopes​

During the modification mode, if there are new scopes generated it will be possible to add variables to these new scopes by following these steps:

  1. Select the new scope from the Instance History panel you want to add a variable to.
  2. Click Add Variable from the Variables panel.
  3. Fill out the Name and Value fields for the variable you want to add.
  4. Once you blur out of the field (click anywhere on the screen other than the last edited variable field), assuming the fields have the valid values, the new variable will be added to the pending modifications.

Edit variable on existing scopes​

During modification mode it is possible to edit existing variables in existing scopes by following these steps:

  1. Select the existing scope from the Instance History panel you want to edit variables on.
  2. Edit the variable value from the Variables panel.
  3. Once you blur out of the field (click anywhere in the screen other than the last edited variable field), assuming the new value is valid, the Edit Variable modification will be added to the pending modifications.

View summary of pending modifications​

To display the pending modifications, click Apply Modifications in the footer. A modal will be displayed where all modifications can be seen.

Within this modal, you can:

  • Delete any modification by clicking Delete.
  • View an added/edited variable in a JSON/Diff Viewer.
  • Cancel/close the modal, and continue with modification mode.
  • Apply the modifications and exit modification mode.

Undo modification​

Clicking Undo from the modification footer will undo the latest modification.

Apply modifications​

If you click the Apply button from the summary modal as described here, and modification operation is created successfully, you will observe a success notification and changes will be reflected in a short time.

Next steps​