---
title: "Assigning data in a workflow"
slug: "webbased-workflow-designer-data-assignment"
updated: 2026-05-08T14:51:24Z
published: 2026-05-08T14:51:24Z
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://knowledgecenter.docuware.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Assigning data in a workflow

The workflow activity **Assign data** can automatically add, modify, or remove index data of any document stored in DocuWare.

Example: An invoice is approved in a workflow. The **Assign data** activity enters the correct purchase order number from the CRM into an index field. The invoice is now directly linked to its purchase order for easy tracking.

## 1. Adding an Assign data activity

1. Go to **DocuWare Configurations > Collaboration > Workflow Designer**.
2. Click the button **New Workflow** or **Edit** to open a new or existing workflow in the [canvas](/help/docs/webbased-workflow-designer-canvas-tools).
3. In the left sidebar, click **Assign data**. Don’t worry about the red asteriks in the **Assign data** configuration dialog for now. They show that the configuration is not complete and will vanish when all settings are adjusted.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/0108e24e-b3e8-446c-b670-66b1d2a9e861/Images/Documentation/image(456).png)

## 2. Configuring a data assignment

A data assignment is specified by the destination and source.

The activity **Assign data** populates the destination, which can be any index field of any document in DocuWare.

The source is the origin of the data that will be written to the destination. A source may be the index criteria of an archived document or even external data.

### 2.1 Specifying the destination

1. In the **Action** dialog switch to the tab **Data**.
2. Click the link **Add first assignment**.
3. Click the link **Set data assignment**.
4. Select a **Destination type**.**
5. Select a****Destination entry**.**

See the [list of destination types](/help/docs/webbased-workflow-designer-data-assignment#destination-types-overview) below for more information.

Notes:

- The destination types **Document index**, **Global variable** and **Index table** always target an index field of the **workflow document**.
- The destination type****File cabinet** can address both the workflow document or any other document stored in DocuWare.
- Only one index field can be addressed with each data assignment. To target multiple index fields, add the same count of data assignments in the **Data** tab. Or use table assignment.
- Depending on your selection of the **Destination type**, the options in the **Destination entry** field may vary. See the tabs below for more information:

#### Destination types overview

Document indexGlobal variableIndex tableFile cabinetFill area

When the destination type is set to **Document index**, the **Assign data** activity modifies or replaces the index values of the current workflow document.

As**Document index > Destination entry** you may choose an index field of the document in the workflow.

When the destination type is set to **Global variable**, the **Assign data** activity populates a variable. The values entered in the variable can then fill the index fields of the workflow document.

In addition to that, the variable can be re-used in multiple workflow steps without that you need to add the data again.

As **Global variable > Destination entry** you may a variable you have created in the [variables](/help/docs/webbased-workflow-designer-canvas-tools#1-adding-activities-variables-and-checking-errors) tab.

When the destination type is set to **Index table**, the **Assign data** activity adds or modifies data in one index table of the workflow document. An index table is an index field structured as a table.

As **Index table > Destination entry** you can select the the columns, rows or specific fields of the chosen index table to be added or replaced.

- Read more about [assigning index table data](/help/docs/workflow-designer-web-assigning-data-to-index-tables).

When the destination type is set to **File cabinet**, the **Assign data** activity adds or changes index data to any document in any file cabinet.

For**File cabinet**, there is no **Destination entry**needed. Click the link **Write SELECT statement**instead.

- There are no SQL skills required to build the query. Your filter settings will be transformed in SQL automatically.
- Select the file cabinet and the index field via a drop down list.
- Define the document by filtering.
- To cover more complex use cases, you may also [use expressions](/help/docs/webbased-workflow-designer-expressions) for filtering. To do this, activate the option **Advanced query**.

The destination type **File Cabinet** may change only ONE index field per data assignment.

When the destination type is set to **Fill area**, the **Assign data** activity populates a [merge form](/help/docs/submission-with-merge-form) with index data. As a prerequisite, the merge form has to be selected in the [workflow trigger conditions](/help/docs/webbased-workflow-designer-trigger).

As **Fill area > Destination type** select the merge form you have specified before as workflow trigger.

If the fill area is linked to a form field, any existing values will be overwritten.

### 2.2 Specifying the source

**Source type** and **Source entry** are greyed out until you enter a destination for the assignment.

Enter a [Destination type and Destination entry](/help/docs/webbased-workflow-designer-data-assignment#21-specifying-the-destination) first to be able to add a source:

![](https://cdn.document360.io/0108e24e-b3e8-446c-b670-66b1d2a9e861/Images/Documentation/image(458).png) Notes:

- The source types **Document index**, **Index table** and **File cabinet** are referring to index data stored in DocuWare.
- You may also enter fixed values, expressions or variables to fill the index fields of the destination.
- To embed sources from outside DocuWare use **Local database connection/External sources**.
- Only these entry types are shown, which are appropriate to the destination.

For example, for a number field, only number index fields like**amount****or document ID are provided.

Refer to the list below for detailed information about the sources types:

#### Source types overview

Fixed valueGlobal variableSystem variableIndex tableFile cabinetExpressionLocal database connection

When the source type is set to**Global variable,**the **Assign data****activity**adds a value from a global variable to the destination.

As **Global variable > Source** **entry** choose a variable you have created in the [variables](/help/docs/webbased-workflow-designer-variables) tab.

A global variable as source type is NOT available for the destination type **Index table**.

When the source type is set to**Index table,**the **Assign data****activity**writes data from any index table in DocuWare to the index table of the current workflow document.

The source type **Index table** is only available for destination type **Index table**.

As **Index table > Source entry** select an index tableand choose if you want to append data or replace data in the destination.

Then, specify the source table data.

- Read more about [assigning index table data](/help/docs/workflow-designer-web-assigning-data-to-index-tables).****
- Read more about****[comparing Variables in Conditions](/v1/docs/assigning-data#variable-comparisons-in-conditions).

When the source type is set to**File cabinet,**the **Assign data****activity**adds Index data from any file cabinet to the index data of any document stored in DocuWare.

For**File cabinet**, there is no **Source entry**needed. Click the link **Write SELECT statement**instead.

- There are no SQL skills required to build the query. Your filter settings will be transformed in SQL automatically.
- Select the file cabinet and the index field via a drop down list.
- Define the document by filtering.
- To cover more complex use cases, you may also [use expressions](/help/docs/tutorials-step-by-step) for filtering. To do this, activate the option **Advanced query**.

When the source type is set to**Fixed value,**the **Assign data****activity**adds a fixed value into the destination.

For **Fixed value > Source** **entry** enter the values. Use values which are appropriate to the destination. For example, if a date field is defined as destination, only dates are possible as source, not text or numbers.

When the source type is set to**System variable,**the **Assign data****activity**adds a the value from a system variable to the destination.

**As System variable > Source** **entry,** select a [system variable](/help/docs/webbased-workflow-designer-variables) e.g. the last decision maker.

Notes:

- System variables are defined by DocuWare and cannot be changed.
- **System variable** as source type is not available for the destination type **Index table**.

When the source type is set to**Expression**the **Assign data****activity**enters**a user-specific value to the destination, e.g. a combination of different variables.

For**Expression**, there is no **Source entry**needed. Click the link **Write Expression** to enter an expression.

- Read more about how to [use expressions](/help/docs/webbased-workflow-designer-expressions).
- Read the [Workflow Expression Parser manual](/help/docs/workflow-expression-parser)

When the source type is set to**Local database connection,**the **Assign data****activity**adds a value from a source outside of DocuWare to the destination.

- The source type is labeled for DocuWare Cloud: **Local database connection**
- The source type is labeled for DocuWare on-premises: **External****source**

For**Local database connection**, no **Source entry**is needed. Click the link **Write SELECT statement** to enter an expression.

- There are no SQL skills required to build the query. Your filter settings will be transformed in SQL automatically.
- Select the database and the columns name via drop down list.
- Define the document by using the[query builder](/help/docs/export-and-import-configurations).
- To cover more complex use cases, you may also [use expressions](/help/docs/tutorials-step-by-step) for filtering. To do this, activate the option **Advanced query**.

Notes:

- Your filtering will be be transformed in SQL automatically.
- To enable rapid data synchronization between Cloud and on-premise systems, install the Local Data Connector in your Cloud system. This is possible if the DocuWare Desktop Apps were installed from within a Cloud organization.
- In on-premise systems, the Connector is not available. In the External data dialog, the Local Data Connector enables you to select a local database connection.

## 3. Handling errors

If the automated data assignment fails because for example the CRM is down, you can configure the workflow to direct the document to another automated activity, such as sending an email notification to request to manual enter the missing information.

Specify the error handling to prevent loops:

1. Go to **Assign data > Action** to the tab **Errors**.
2. Choose one of the following options:
  - **No error handling**:****This option is acitvated by default.
  - **Restart workflow**: The document is routed through the workflow steps from the beginning again automatically.
  - **End workflow**: The document is routed to the end of the workflow automatically. All changes made up to this point will remain.
  - **Go to step**: This option adds an **Error** output to the Assign data activity. Connect it with another activity to route the workflow document manually:

![](https://cdn.document360.io/0108e24e-b3e8-446c-b670-66b1d2a9e861/Images/Documentation/image(504).png)

## Supported versions: DocuWare Cloud + 7.14