Back button in an Interface

Question

I have a scenario where i have quite a few user input task with few script task in between them . I want to add a back button which will navigate the user to the previous User input task on the click of that back button .What will be the best approach to accomplish this. 
 Currently i am using a gateway , which will check if the back button is clicked and redirect it accordingly 
 Is this a suitable approach ?

Sandeep Deshmukh · Accepted Answer

Hi Rohit, 
 
We have OOTB functionality available in Appian. 
 
Other Tab In User Input task, we have "When this node is chained:" - Allow users to step back to this node from the next chained activity. 
Check this option n use chaining in you workflow. 
 
Hope this will work. 
 
Else you have to create a manual flow with Back Button in your Interface. 
 
Thanks, 
Sandeep Deshmukh

Sandeep Deshmukh · Answer

Hi krishnaprasadd , 
 
It will work. You will get your previous entered value. 
Please try this : - 
1)Create a process Model with 2 User Input Task with same Interface may be you can use one text box with ri!test and pv!test in Process model. 
2) call that Interface in both the User Input task, Mark chaining and select "Allow users to step back to this node from the next chained activity." this option in both the User Input tast. 
3) Save value in ri!test and Pv!test 
4) once you will come Go back from 2nd User Input Task to first user Input task, you will see the previous entered value only. 
 
I am sure this will work. 
 
Thanks, 
Sandeep

Arpit Bhargava · Answer

Hi Rohit, 
 
The best approach for doing is to do with the help of the process model. 
Make the Back button as a!buttonWidgetSubmit type. When the user will click on the Back button make the process in the way so that it get the previous interface 
Note: Please make that in chaining. 
 
Second best approach to use the milestone for that.

Aditya · Answer

If you have a lot of User Input Tasks, you can use different sections inside one form Layout and depending upon your requirements, you can either go to the next section by clicking next button or go back to the previous section by clicking the back button.
Each time you click a button(either next or back), you should update a local variable and based on the local variable value, change the show when conditions of your sections.
Also, your last section should show a submit button. And all your sections should show a cancel button. This can also be achieved using the value of your local variable.
For a better understanding of this, create a new UI and from the Design tab, select "wizard". This will give you an example of how sections work based on local variable value> The have also made use of milestones in this example.

Also to select different sectionLayouts base on a local variable value, you can make use of the function choose().

Generally, if you have a lot of Forms(User Input Tasks) with no script tasks in between them, using sections is the best solution. Especially if you want better maneuverability between forms.