Full Node Details View

Node Anatomy

Node Anatomy

A complex node consists of four sections:

  1. The node title, displaying the Node Number (important for linking to nodes), node type name (e.g. “Business Hours”) an x icon and a yellow tab.
    1. The x icon can be used to delete a node.
    2. Clicking on the node title allows editing of the node title. However this is not applicable to Start, OCNCC Black Box, or Link nodes. If an empty title is chosen, the default will be selected when saving.
    3. Clicking on the yellow tab will open the note edit interface. If a note is already present the tab will be replaced by the note block. Clicking away from the note edit interface will save the note data against the associated node.
  2. The node configuration, displayed in the centre of the node. This section differs depending on the node type. See the per-node documentation for more information.
  3. The node exits. Node exits are shown in a row, and are given either a name or a number, depending on the node type. Clicking the node exit will focus on the child node coming from that exit
  4. The add node link, shown below each node exit that may have a node connected to it. Use this to extend the control flow with new nodes and logic.

A node may be selected by clicking anywhere within the node bounds. When doing this, the node will be given a grey shadow visual representation of the selection.

Adding Nodes

To add a new node, use the add node button that appears below the node exit you wish to connect the new node too:

Node Add List

When clicking the add node button the list of available nodes is presented, categorised by the type of functionality. Select the node type you need and the new node will automatically be added to the display. The flow may also be redrawn to accommodate the new node into the graphical layout that the tree graph demands.

Deleting Nodes

Deleting nodes can be done by clicking the x icon in the top right of the node’s display in the canvas. When deleting a node the node will be removed from the flow and the branch leading to the node will be removed. The branch connecting to the node removed will have the node addition button re-added to it.

Deleting a node which has nodes connected to its exits will cause a node dialog to display with options for preserving some or none of its children:

Node Deletion Dialog

This avoids accidentally deleting an important node in the flow and allows nodes to be excised as required. If the first node is deleted, the Start node will be the only node shown in the flow.

Inserting Nodes

N2FE supports the insertion of flow nodes in between two existing nodes. Inserting nodes can be done by clicking the pencil icon which replaces the + icon on a node exit when an exit is in use.

Node Exit Replace

When clicking the node insert button the standard list of available nodes is presented:

Node Exit Replace Menu

Selecting a flow node from the insertion list will perform one of three potential actions:

Node Exit Replace Dialog