Workflows
A workflow is a visual automation you build on a canvas. Instead of asking Ellie one question at a time, you lay out the steps as a graph — each step is a node, and you connect nodes with edges so one step's output feeds the next. You build it once and run it whenever you need it, manually or on a schedule.
Chat or workflow — which do I use?
| Use Chat when… | Use a Workflow when… |
|---|---|
| It's a one-off question or task | You'll run the same analysis again and again |
| You're exploring or iterating | You want it to run on a schedule, unattended |
| A single specialist can handle it | The job has several steps that feed into each other |
| You want a quick answer now | You want a consistent, repeatable set of reports each time |
A good rhythm: prototype in chat, then turn anything that proves useful into a repeatable workflow.
The parts of a workflow
- Node — one step. Most nodes are a specialized agent (the same ones you can talk to in chat — see the Agent Catalog). A node takes inputs, optionally reads attached Knowledge, and produces one or more reports.
- Start node — the kick-off point every workflow begins with.
- Edge — a connection from one node to the next. It sets the order and passes data downstream. Branches can run in parallel, but loops aren't allowed — a workflow always flows forward.
- Trigger — how a run begins: manual (you press Run) or scheduled (it runs automatically on a cadence you set).
- Artifact — a report a node generates. One run can produce many artifacts.
The tabs
When you open a workflow, you'll work across these tabs:
| Tab | What it's for |
|---|---|
| Workflow | The canvas — build and connect nodes. See Build a workflow. |
| Knowledge | The files and web links the workflow can draw on. See Add Knowledge. |
| Artifacts | The reports produced by runs. See Artifacts & exports. |
| Schedule | Set it to run automatically. See Run & schedule. |
| Run Log | The history of every run, workflow-wide and node by node. See Run & schedule. |
| Timeline | When each node ran within a run, and how long it took. |
| Activities | The version history — review earlier versions and restore one. See Sharing & versions. |
Two tabs you may not see
Knowledge appears only for the workflow's owner, and Schedule is hidden if your organization has scheduling turned off.
What's in this section
- Build a workflow — the canvas, nodes, edges, and the inspector — or describe what you want and let Ellie build it for you.
- Add Knowledge — ground your workflow in your own data.
- Run & schedule — run on demand or automatically.
- Artifacts & exports — work with the reports your runs produce.
- Templates — start from a ready-made workflow instead of a blank canvas.
- Sharing & versions — share, export, duplicate, and roll back.