Configuring Workflow Inputs

Overview

Most WDL workflows require specific inputs to function correctly. Before running a workflow, you'll need to provide data files for processing and configure various parameters that control how the workflow operates. These parameters allow you to customize tool behavior and resource allocation for your specific needs.

Understanding Workflow Inputs

Workflow engines process inputs in JSON format, a structured text format designed for data exchange. While this is the required format for execution, Workbench provides two ways to configure your inputs:

• Through a user-friendly web form interface

• By editing the JSON file directly

Both methods achieve the same result - Workbench converts your inputs into a JSON file that's provided to the workflow engine along with the workflow script.

Configuring Your Inputs

This procedure assumes you have already selected a workflow to run as described in Finding or Importing a Workflow and have clicked on the workflow inputs configuration page.

When you reach the input configuration page, you'll see a table of all available input parameters. Here's how to configure them:

1. Find the input you want to configure in the table

2. Click the 'expand' symbol that appears when you hover over a row

3. Use either the web form or JSON view to set your values

4. Complete all required inputs (marked with red asterisks)

5. Close the panel when finished with each input

If you miss any required inputs, Workbench will highlight them with a red 'danger' icon. You can quickly fix these by double-clicking the cell in the table or reopening the configuration panel.

Remember that your input configuration is not saved until you submit the workflow run. Navigating away from the page will lose your settings.