Decision tables

Decision tables are an industry-standard tool for automating business rules that involve multiple conditions and a large number of possible combinations. The table's row-based format helps you verify that all possible conditions are covered in complex workflows.

Workato decision tables receive inputs from a preceding connected node, such as an Input node, another decision table, or a conditional branch. Each row in a decision table defines a complete rule, with conditions and corresponding outcomes. The table evaluates rows in sequence. It begins at the top and checks each row to determine whether the input values meet all specified conditions. The table stops evaluation when the input values match all conditions in a row and returns the row's Outcome values for further processing by the model.

The table returns a Default outcome for each output field if no row matches. You configure these defaults during table setup. The outcomes from a decision table are available as inputs for the next node in the model.

Example decision table for routing marketing leads

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Refer to the following articles for more information about decision tables:

• Decision models: An overview of decision models and their components.
• Set up a decision model: Model creation and configuration instructions.
• Model fields: Information about model fields and how data moves through a decision model.
• Decision models connector: Information about recipe integration.

Limitations

Each decision table supports a maximum 2,000 rows, 20 input columns, and 20 output columns per table.

Create a decision table

Complete the following steps to create a decision table:

1

Go to the Toolbar and drag a Decision table node into the model builder.

2

Click and drag between edges to configure the order of nodes. You can hover over a node connection and click Delete edge to remove it.

Add the node to the model flow

3

Select the Decision table node.

4

Optional. Edit the automatically generated table Name.

Decision model node configuration

5

Optional. Enter a Description for the table.

6

Use the Condition fields section to select the fields that the table evaluates. You can select fields from the Input node or from the outcome of a directly connected upstream node.

7

Use the Outcome fields section to select fields to pass from this table to the next node. All Model fields are available, including those already used as conditions in the same table.

8

Click Configure decision table to open the decision table. You must add at least one condition field and one outcome field before you can open the table.

9

Refer to the Configure decision table rules documentation to configure decision table evaluation logic.

Configure decision table rules

Complete the following steps to configure a decision table rule:

1

Select the Decision table node you plan to configure. Decision model node configuration

2

Click Configure decision table to open the decision table. You must add at least one condition field and one outcome field before you can open the table.

3

Create a new rule using one of the following methods:

• Click +.
• Press Shift and Enter.
• Press Ctrl and click on a row's number, then click Insert rule above or Insert rule below.

Create a new rule

4

Optional. Enter a name for the rule in the Rule name column. Naming rules helps verify coverage and simplifies maintenance.

5

Complete the following steps to configure each cell in the Conditions section:

1

Select the cell you plan to configure.

2

Select an operator from the drop-down menu. Refer to the Available operators section to see the operators available for each data type. Cells default to the any operator, which matches any inputs provided.

Select an operator from the drop-down menu

3

Enter a value to compare against the input using the operator.

6

Enter an output value for each cell in the Outcomes section.

7

Optional. Enter a Default outcome to return for each output field if no rules match the inputs provided. Meaningful default outcomes help when your rules don't cover all possible inputs, or when inputs change unexpectedly as your workflows develop.

Enter a Default outcome for each output field

Available operators

The operators available for a condition vary depending on the column's data type.

String

The following operators are available for the String data type:

• Any
• Contains
• Does not contain
• Starts with
• Does not start with
• Ends with
• Does not end with
• Equals
• Does not equal
• Is present
• Is not present

Number

The following operators are available for the Number data type:

• Any
• Equals
• Does not equal
• Greater than
• Greater than or equal to
• Less than
• Less than or equal to
• Is present
• Is not present
• Is between
• Is not between

Integer

The following operators are available for the Integer data type:

• Any
• Equals
• Does not equal
• Greater than
• Greater than or equal to
• Less than
• Less than or equal to
• Is present
• Is not present
• Is between
• Is not between

Boolean

The following operators are available for the Boolean data type:

• Any
• Is true
• Is false

Date

The following operators are available for the Date data type:

• Any
• Equals
• Does not equal
• Is before
• Is after
• Is on or before
• Is on or after
• Is present
• Is not present
• Is between
• Is not between

Date time

The following operators are available for the Date time data type:

• Any
• Equals
• Does not equal
• Is before
• Is after
• Is on or before
• Is on or after
• Is present
• Is not present
• Is between
• Is not between