How to Run a Flow

This step-by-step guide will show you how to run a flow. While our example focuses on running the Globus-provided Two Stage Globus Transfer flow, the steps are similar for other flows.

Tip

The Two Stage Globus Transfer flow provides a handy way to transfer data through an intermediate location, which can be used to enable or improve performance in some firewalled or other network configurations.

1. Open the Flows Page

2. Navigate to the Run History and Flow Library

When first-opened, the Flows management page displays your run history—including runs that are in progress. For now, select the Library tab to browse the flows available to you.

3. Search for a Flow

To find a specific flow, enter the name of the flow (or a portion of it) into the search field and press return. To follow this example, search for "two stage globus transfer."

Search Flows Library for Two Stage Globus Transfer

Tip

You can further filter your search results using the Quick Filters below the search field.

Quick Filter Flows Library search results with Quick Filters

4. Select a Flow to Run

To open a flow’s Guided Input page, select the Start button next to the flow that you would like to run.

Note

The Start button is only displayed for flows which which you own or have been granted permission to run.

5. Set Run Parameters

Most flows provide parameters that can be used to control aspects of what the flow does when it runs. On the Guided Input page, you can see a list of the parameters that this flow provides (you can use the Advanced tab if you prefer to provide JSON-formatted input).

Choose your source, intermediate, and destination collections and paths. In this example, we’ll use the Globus Tutorial Endpoint collections (see below).

Tip

Collection is a live search field. Simply begin typing the name of the collection you want to use and continue until the correct collection appears in the list of suggestions below the field. Select a result from this list to apply your choice.

Run Source Intermediate and Destination Selection

Note

At least one of the collections used with this run must be a 'managed' endpoint.

If you do not have a managed endpoint available, you can use the Globus Tutorial Endpoint collections (Globus Tutorial Endpoint 1 and Globus Tutorial Endpoint 2) which are managed and available to all Globus users.

Provide a name for this run using the Label This Run parameter.

Notice that some of the parameters displayed in the Guided Input indicate that they are "[OPTIONAL]". These fields may safely ignored.

Tip

In the Two Stage Globus Transfer flow, the "label" transfer parameters can be used to apply a custom label to the transfer operations that this flow will perform on your behalf. The "tags" parameters for the run are useful for keeping your run history organized.

6. Start the Run

Once you’ve set all of the required parameters, the Start Flow button will become enabled. When you are ready, use this button to initiate a run of the Two Stage Globus Transfer flow.

Once the run has successfully launched, you should see the Run Successfully Started page, which displays your run’s label and unique ID.

7. Monitor Your Run’s Progress

To view the details for your newly submitted Run, select View Run Details.

To view the status of all of your runs, select View All Runs.

8. Next Steps

For more information on monitoring runs, see: How to Monitor a Flow Run.

You can also run flows via the Globus Automate CLI. If you are ready to create a flow, see How to Create a Flow to get started.