Is there a way to generate Start Process link in process model?

RE: Is there a way to generate Start Process link in process model?

Mike Cichy — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 17:02:19 GMT

I think this can work since the user will have to login (unless they have a valid session) and you can kick off the process to download documents in web api and then close the window with JS. You will have to pass parameters in the link and then validate them in the web api for the given loggedinuser.
That said, you are saving one click in some situations since if the user does not have a valid access token, they will have to reauthorize.
If you can use OIDC token or SAML Bearer Assertion that would eliminate the need to reauthorize when the access token expires.

RE: Is there a way to generate Start Process link in process model?

adithyay811 — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 18:21:39 GMT

Hi James

This may still not resolve the issue since it would continue to execute the process as a System.

RE: Is there a way to generate Start Process link in process model?

adithyay811 — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 18:20:56 GMT

The goal is to minimize user interaction with the system. If we assign a task, it becomes a 3-step process:

User sends an email with the Box link
User receives a task link via email
User opens the task and clicks "Authorize"

We're exploring whether it's possible to skip the task creation and allow the user to authorize directly from their mailbox, effectively making it a 2-step process without leaving Outlook.

That said, the process still needs to run in the context of the user, not as a guest, system, or designer.

Let us know if this is achievable or if there are any recommended alternatives.

RE: Is there a way to generate Start Process link in process model?

Mike Cichy — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 17:38:16 GMT

Can you explain the expected flow a bit better? e.g. Once the email is ingested and recognized that it's to download documents from Box, you want to notify a user and have them authorize the download?
Why not just assign the user a task?

RE: Is there a way to generate Start Process link in process model?

James Lepone — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 15:55:10 GMT

Perhaps the answer in this post could help you? community.appian.com/.../redirect-user-to-a-task-form-using-appian-webapi

RE: Is there a way to generate Start Process link in process model?

Mike Schmitt — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 16:44:57 GMT

A Start Process Link isn't so much a URL, as it is a target for SAIL form link components that can be used strictly in the context of a logged-in user (or in portals, where there is a service account user context that can be used). AFAIK there is no way to translate this to an externally-accessible URL or in any other way use it as a workaround to force the "started by" context into something specific.

If there was such a workaround (and i suspect there might not be), I assume the answer won't be in a *link* per se, but in some way to run under the context of a target user. Sadly, controlling this in Appian has always been a little opaque.