Within a SharePoint Document Library, or List, the standard function of a Nintex Workflow is to automatically add a column, that allows a user to see the Workflow Status.

This is familiar to developers – it will show “In Progress” – or “Error Occurred” – or “Cancelled”.

This is great for users to click “In Progress” – and thus view the “Current User Task”, and the history of what’s occurred.

But – unfortunately – there’s a few clicks required to view the ‘display workflow’.   The Nintex Workflow ‘visual’ diagram is a great way for users to get an understanding of the actions at play – but here’s the click-thru :

• Click the drop-down for the item/document
• Click Workflow History
• Click on the ‘Running Workflow’

That’s THREE clicks – and a bunch of potential confusion (and/or training) for users.

Here’s a great tip to include a “View Process Flow” link, within the list view.

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Add a new column to the SharePoint list/library :

• Name = “Workflow Process”
• Column type = “Hyperlink”

Edit the Workflow :

• Create a new variable – eg.  View Process
• Add an activity for “Build Dynamic String”
• Click Add Reference – and choose “Workflow Status URL”
• Add manual text after that – make sure to include a SPACE and a COMMA – and then the URL text.
• It should then look like this :

{Common:WorkflowStatusUrl}, View Workflow

• Next, add an “Item Update” activity
• Select to update the “Workflow Process” column

• Save the activity
• And then Publish the workflow

That’s it !    Just need to run the workflow process – and see it in action.

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Here’s what the list/library will look like – with the new column.

When the user clicks on this link, it will go immediately to the Workflow Status page.

This technique can be very useful – much easier for users to understand – and there are many other ways you can use this approach.

Simply (1) build a string – including the URL + SPACE + COMMA + TEXT – and (2) set the URL hyperlink field.

Hope this is a cool + useless tip for someone out there…!