Core Activities

Version: 1.0.8 · ID: zoan-packages-core · Author: Zoan Software

The Core package contains the fundamental activities that structure any automation: making decisions, repeating actions, handling errors, storing data and recording what happens. They don’t automate a specific system (Browser, Excel, etc. do that); they organize the flow of the playbook.

They are installed by default: you will always find them in the palette under the Core group.

Activities by group

Decisions

Activity	Type	What it does
If / Elseif / Else	`if`	Runs one branch or another depending on a condition

Repetition (loops)

Activity	Type	What it does
For Each	`foreach`	Repeats for each element of a list or table
For Loop	`for-loop`	Repeats a counted number of times
While	`while`	Repeats as long as a condition is true
Break	`break`	Exits the loop immediately
Continue	`continue`	Skips to the next pass of the loop

Error handling

Activity	Type	What it does
Try / Catch	`try-catch`	Catches errors and lets the flow continue
Retry	`retry`	Retries a block that fails
Throw	`throw`	Throws an error on purpose
Should Stop	`should-stop`	Tells whether someone asked to stop the execution, to stop cleanly

Variables and data

Activity	Type	What it does
Set Variable	`set-variable`	Assigns a value to a variable

Flow and debugging

Activity	Type	What it does
Log	`log`	Writes a message to the execution log
Log to File	`log-to-file`	Appends a log line to a file
Comment	`comment`	Documentation note on the canvas (no effect at run time)
Delay	`delay`	Waits for a while before continuing
Invoke Playbook	`invoke-playbook`	Runs another playbook and brings back its results
Invoke Process	`invoke-process`	Runs another process published in Zoan Cloud and brings back its results

Which activity do I need?

I want to…	Use
Do something only if a condition is met	If
Process each row of an Excel sheet / each email in a list	For Each
Repeat N times (e.g. 10 pages)	For Loop
Repeat until something changes	While
Keep one error from stopping the whole bot	Try / Catch
Retry an unstable action (slow website, network)	Retry
Stop the bot with a clear error message	Throw
Stop at a safe point when someone asks to stop the execution	Should Stop
Store or change the value of a variable	Set Variable
Keep a record of what happened (to diagnose)	Log
Keep a log in a file of your own	Log to File
Document the flow with a note	Comment
Wait for a system to react	Delay
Reuse logic in another playbook	Invoke Playbook
Reuse an already published process (for example, a login)	Invoke Process