Introduction

In Kognitos, a parent process can call another process using the invoke keyword. The called process is referred to as a subprocess. Subprocesses run in the same execution environment as the parent process. If a parent process invokes multiple instances of a subprocess, they will execute sequentially, one after the other.

Parent Process
     │
Subprocess
     │
Subprocess
     │
Subprocess

How Can I Call A Subprocess?

This section explains how to call a process within another process as a subprocess using the invoke keyword.

Syntax

invoke {subprocess name} with
      {inputs}

Input Parameters

1. subprocess name: The name of the subprocess.
2. inputs: Any objects or variables the subprocess needs to run.

Example

In this example, the subprocess verify applicant qualifications is called with the resume as input.

invoke verify applicant qualifications with
      the resume

🚧

Remember to Publish Your Process

You need to promote your automation from the Playground to a Process in order to call a subprocess. This applies to both the main process and the subprocess.

Returning Data from a Subprocess

In order to pass a result from the subprocess back to the main process, you need to add a line into both the parent process and the subprocess.

In the Subprocess

At the end of your subprocess, include one of the following lines:

• For a single result: the result is {result}
• For multiple results: the results are {result 1}, {result 2}, {result 3}, ...

If the results are not explicitly defined in this format, the parent process will not be able to access the subprocess output. By default, the parent process will only be able to retrieve the subprocess' status.

In the Parent Process

In the parent process, retrieve those results using get the answer or get the answers.

Example: Bakery Order Processing With Subprocesses

Consider an automation for processing a custom bakery order.

The main process, process a bakery order, determines the total cost of a customer's order. It calls the following subprocesses:

1. calculate the cost of a cake: Calculates the cost for a cake in the order.
2. calculate the cost of the cookies: Calculates the cost for cookies in the order.
3. calculate the cost of the cupcakes: Calculates the cost for cupcakes in the order.
4. calculate the sales tax: Calculates the applicable sales tax.
5. summarize the grand total: Summarizes the final total for the order.

Invoking A Subprocess to Calculate Cake Cost

This example demonstrates how calculate the cost of a cake is called as a subprocess within the main process, process a bakery order.

calculate the cost of a cake with
      the cake quantity
      the cake type 
      the cake pricing

get the answer as the cake total

Subprocess Inputs

The subprocess is passed 3 inputs:

• the cake quantity
• the cake type
• the cake pricing

Returning Results from the Subprocess

The subprocess will perform some calculations for the cake cost and return it at the end using the result is the cake cost

.
.
.
the cake cost is the cake price * the cake quantity
the result is the cake cost

Getting Results in the Parent Process

The total price of the cake is retrieved in the main parent process using get the answer. This line retrieves the result (cake cost) and renames in the parent process as total cake cost.

get the answer as the total cake cost 

Video Walkthroughs

1. Invoke a Process

This video shows how to invoke a process as a subprocess.

2. Using A Subprocess

This video demonstrates how to incorporate subprocesses within larger workflows.