Skip to main content

Workflow Execution

Understanding how workflows execute, monitoring execution, and troubleshooting issues.

Execution Modes​

Sequential Execution​

Nodes execute one at a time, in order:

Loading workflow...

Use When:

  • Nodes depend on previous results
  • Order matters
  • Simple workflows

Parallel Execution​

Independent nodes execute simultaneously:

Loading workflow...

Use When:

  • Nodes are independent
  • Performance is critical
  • Multiple operations can run together

Auto Mode​

NetPad determines best execution mode:

  • Analyzes node dependencies
  • Chooses sequential or parallel
  • Optimizes automatically

Use When:

  • Unsure of best mode
  • Want automatic optimization
  • Complex workflows

Execution Flow​

1. Trigger Event​

Workflow starts when trigger fires:

  • Form submitted
  • Webhook received
  • Schedule time reached
  • Manual trigger

2. Node Execution​

Each node executes:

  • Receives input data
  • Processes according to configuration
  • Produces output data
  • Passes to next node(s)

3. Data Flow​

Data flows between nodes:

  • Output of one node → Input of next
  • Can be transformed
  • Can be split or merged

4. Completion​

Workflow completes when:

  • All nodes executed
  • Or error occurs
  • Or timeout reached

Monitoring Execution​

Real-Time Monitoring​

Watch workflow execute live:

  • Execution View: See current execution
  • Node Status: Green (success), Yellow (running), Red (error)
  • Data Flow: See data at each node
  • Progress: Percentage complete

Execution History​

View past executions:

  • List View: All executions
  • Filter: By status, date, trigger
  • Search: Find specific executions
  • Details: Click to see full execution

Execution Details​

For each execution, see:

  • Status: Success, Failed, Running, Cancelled
  • Start Time: When execution started
  • End Time: When execution completed
  • Duration: Total execution time
  • Node Logs: Execution log for each node
  • Data Snapshots: Data at each node
  • Errors: Any errors that occurred

Execution Status​

Success​

All nodes completed successfully:

  • Green status indicator
  • All data processed
  • Output available

Failed​

Error occurred during execution:

  • Red status indicator
  • Error message shown
  • Execution stopped (or continued based on settings)

Running​

Execution in progress:

  • Yellow status indicator
  • Current node highlighted
  • Progress shown

Cancelled​

Execution manually cancelled:

  • Grey status indicator
  • Partial results may be available

Error Handling​

Loading workflow...

Node Errors​

When a node fails:

  • Error logged
  • Error message captured
  • Execution behavior depends on settings

Retry Policy​

Configure retries for failed nodes:

  • Max Retries: Number of retry attempts
  • Retry Delay: Time between retries
  • Retry Condition: When to retry

Error Recovery​

Options when errors occur:

  • Stop: Halt workflow execution
  • Continue: Skip failed node, continue
  • Rollback: Undo changes made so far

Error Logs​

View detailed error information:

  • Error message
  • Stack trace
  • Node configuration
  • Input data at time of error

Timeouts​

Workflow Timeout​

Maximum time for entire workflow:

  • Default: 5 minutes
  • Configurable per workflow
  • Execution cancelled if exceeded

Node Timeout​

Maximum time for individual node:

  • Default: 30 seconds
  • Configurable per node
  • Node fails if exceeded

Performance Optimization​

Execution Speed​

Improve execution time:

  • Use parallel execution when possible
  • Minimize data size
  • Optimize node configurations
  • Use efficient queries

Resource Usage​

Monitor resource consumption:

  • Execution time
  • Memory usage
  • API call counts
  • Database queries

Debugging​

Test Execution​

Test workflows before activating:

  • Use test data
  • Execute manually
  • Verify results
  • Check data flow

Execution Logs​

Review detailed logs:

  • Node execution order
  • Data at each step
  • Error messages
  • Performance metrics

Common Issues​

Workflow Not Triggering:

  • Check trigger configuration
  • Verify trigger conditions
  • Check workflow status (must be Active)

Node Failing:

  • Review node configuration
  • Check input data
  • Verify connections/permissions
  • Review error logs

Slow Execution:

  • Check for bottlenecks
  • Optimize slow nodes
  • Use parallel execution
  • Reduce data size

Data Not Flowing:

  • Verify node connections
  • Check data mapping
  • Review data structure
  • Test individual nodes

Best Practices​

  1. Test Before Activating: Always test workflows
  2. Monitor First Runs: Watch initial executions closely
  3. Set Appropriate Timeouts: Prevent hanging workflows
  4. Handle Errors Gracefully: Configure error handling
  5. Log Important Events: Use logging for debugging
  6. Optimize Performance: Improve slow workflows
  7. Document Workflows: Add comments and descriptions

Next Steps​