Define a step as optional
- 07 Jan 2026
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Define a step as optional
- Updated On 07 Jan 2026
- 2 Minutes To Read
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- DarkLight
- PDF
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Optional steps are included in a Flow to ensure a seamless user experience across different scenarios without breaking the Flow's continuity. These steps are designed to be skipped if the relevant pages, elements, or conditions are not presented to a specific user. The process ensures that the intended Flow remains functional and complete for all users, regardless of their current state or application view.
When creating a flow, there may be some steps that are required only by some users. For example, some desktop applications such as Microsoft Teams and SAP auto-log in their users during subsequent visits. Thus, instructions to sign in or sign up might apply only to first-time users.
Use the following steps to make a step optional when creating a Flow:
- Open the desktop application where you would like to create the Flow and then launch the Whatfix Desktop Studio.
- Click Flow.
- Enter the name of the Flow as you want it displayed to the users.
- Click + Add Step.
- Under Choose step type, select the Flow step type.
Note:
- With the Flow enhancement feature, you have the option to select two types of Flow steps, and not just element latching Flows. A dialog box appears on the application to highlight the two types of Flows. Under Choose step type, select a Flow step based on your requirements: either Attached to element or Free-floating.
| Attached to element | Free-floating |
|---|---|
| When you select this type of Flow step, it remains attached to an element on your application. | When you select this type of Flow step, it remains flexibly positioned devoid of any element attachment. |
You also have the option to select a default template by clicking Set as Default for all the subsequent steps in a Flow. If you change the default step at an enterprise (ENT) level, it appears the same for all the users using that ENT.
For more information, see Free-floating steps in Flows and Create a Flow with Free-floating steps.
The Flow enhancement feature is in Beta currently. Contact support@whatfix.com for more information.
Click the desired element on the page that the user needs to select.
Enter the action text and any additional information that you want to provide in the description section of the tooltip.
On Studio, click the Advanced Options.
To enable optional step, under More Options, enable the Make this an optional step toggle.
In the Step Timeout Duration (ms) field, enter the desired value.
Info:
When you set a maximum time in the Step Timeout Duration field for Optional Steps, Whatfix waits for the specified duration to see if the end user performs an action before moving to the next step. If the action is not performed within the specified time, Whatfix continues to the next step. By default, Whatfix checks for the next step at regular intervals of 500 milliseconds. For more information on Step Timeout Duration for Flows, see Set Step Timeout Duration for Flows.
- Click Save Step to finish creating the step, and then continue creating the Flow.
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