Workflows in Uncountable model complex scientific processes by breaking them into structured steps. They provide a way to organize inputs and outputs, define step relationships, and create reusable variants for different process requirements.
Workflow Overview
Workflows are made up of reusable, configurable components:
- Workflow – a sequence of steps representing a full process.
- Steps – distinct operations within the process, defining inputs and outputs.
- Variants – specific arrangements of steps within a workflow, often tied to a template experiment.
This structure allows unlimited flexibility: steps can be rearranged, reused, and linked in different ways to support complex experiments.
Accessing the Workflow Editor
You can open the Workflow Editor from two places:
- Navigation Bar – Go to Inputs/Outputs → Workflows.
- Enter Pages – From the Recipe Workflow sidepanel or the Set Experiment Workflow modal, click Edit Workflow.
Creating a New Workflow
- From the Workflow Editor, click + Create New Workflow.
- Add steps using + Add Step, and rename as needed.
Workflow Properties
Workflow-level settings let you control how experiments behave by default:
- Show Set/Actual – show target vs. actual input values.
- Collapse Steps in Recipe Card – combine inputs into a single block.
- Hide Recipe Total – remove recipe totals from display.
- Enable Mix Order – define order of addition for inputs.
- Limit Test Sample Template Options – restrict templates available for test samples.
- Calculations Shown / Output Groups / Metadata – set which calculations, outputs, and metadata appear by default.
- Mass/Volume/Moles Overrides – control unit behavior globally.
Step Properties
Click a step’s menu (… → Edit Workflow Step) to configure its properties.
Standard Options
- Has Ingredients: Adds ingredients to the step.
- Has Process Parameters: Allows process parameters to be included in the step.
- Enable Mix Order: Enables ordering for ingredients and process parameters.
- Archive Step: Archive the individual workflow step.
- Delete Step: Permanently delete the workflow step.
- Test Sample Templates: Assigns templates to record outputs specific to the step.
- Default Group: Specifies default input group/process parameters for the step, which can be overridden by workflow variant details.
- Displayed Step Totals: Sets the units displayed (i.e. mass, volume, moles).
Advanced Options
- Hide Step: Hides the step on the Recipe Card preview.
- Used in Modeling: Includes the step in advanced modeling features.
- Copy Inputs with Use in New Experiment: Ensures inputs are copied into new experiments based on the step.
- Product: Select a product to integrate into the step with configurable behavior (i.e. copy inputs, include as a component).
- Default Ingredient Role: Select a role for the ingredient (solvent, base, catalyst, etc.).
- Mass/Volume/Moles Override Behavior: Defines whether the mass, volume, or moles behavior is Hide by Default, Prompt, or Show by Default.
- Mass/Volume/Moles Units: Defines default units for ingredients based on the selected basis.
- Actual Mass/Volume/Moles Units: Specifies the units to display for the actual mass, volume, or moles measurements.
Tip: If experiment totals don’t align with basis units, adjust Mass/Volume/Moles Units in step options.
Workflow Variants
Variants capture unique arrangements of workflow steps.
- Create a new variant from the Variants tab with + Add New Variant.
- Name the variant, assign an optional template experiment, and choose which elements (inputs, outputs, notebooks) are inherited.
- Delete or rename individual steps.
- Add subsequent or preceding steps.
To modify a variant’s template experiment:
- Click the Experiment Name linked to the variant.
- In the Recipe view, add ingredients, process parameters, or notebook entry templates.
- In the Measurements view, add outputs or test samples.
New experiments created from this variant will automatically include the data you configured, depending on the options enabled for the variant.
Step Relationships
Workflow steps can be linked together to model transfers of material or data. For example, two charging steps may flow into a reaction workflow steps, illustrated in the workflow step diagram and on the recipe view of the experiment below.
To define relationships, navigate to the recipe page view of the Experiment. Select the Workflow Step that feeds into the subsequent Step, then choose Change Relationship Type.
Types include:
- Include Quantity – transfer a fixed amount.
- Include Percentage – transfer a percentage.
- Auto Fill – fill to 100% from the previous step.
- Feed / Feed Percentage – transfer material at a defined feed rate or percentage over time.
- Include All – assume full transfer without explicit relationship.
Modifying Workflows from Experiments
Workflows can also be adjusted directly from experiments:
- Use the Recipe Workflow Sidepanel or Change Experiment Workflow modal.
- Drag and drop steps to change order.
- Edit steps or relationships without leaving the experiment.
Key Takeaways
- Workflows break complex processes into structured steps that can be reused and rearranged.
- Each workflow can have multiple variants, tailored to different experimental setups.
- Workflow properties control global defaults (e.g., mix order, metadata, calculations).
- Step properties define what happens within each process step, from inputs to units.
- Step relationships model how material flows between steps.
- Workflows can be created or modified either in the Workflow Editor or directly from an experiment.