One of the key feature of Salesforce environment is process automation. We have basically four types of automation tool in it:-

1) Process builder

2) Workflows

3) Approvals

4) Visual workflows

In this post we will be discussing visual workflows

Q) What is the difference between workflows and visual workflows ?

While Workflows are mainly triggered by events, Visual Workflows are triggered by user actions.A workflow is defined on only one object whereas there is no such limitation for visual workflow. For more detailed differences between the two, please refer this help page

Q) When to use it ?

If you have a requirement in which you need the customer to input some data and then doing something with it , visual workflow is the right answer for you.

Important Note:

If you can achieve the functionality with the use of process builder , then that is the recommended way to go, because of its easier to understand UI. The moment you need user input in the process, visual workflow comes into play.

Q)  Where can i create a new visual workflow in my org ?

You need to go to setup -> Create -> Workflow and Approvals -> Flows

Then click on new flow .  

Q) What is a cloud flow designer ?

It is the tool used to design flows.
In short, Visual Workflow is the product name, Cloud Flow Designer is the tool, and flows are the thing that you create.

Q)  Which edition and user permissions are needed to run  and create visual      workflows ?

Available in: Enterprise,Performance, Unlimited, and Developer Editions

User Permissions for running: The user must have either the “Run Flows” user permission or Force.com Flow User selected on their user record

User Permissions for creating: Manage Force.com Flow

Now let’s create a visual workflow which will create a new Account record on user input

When you click on the create new flow the below page is what you see. This is the cloud flow designer it is divided into 3 parts

1.  Button bar 
   It is used to manage the flow you are designing
2. The left-side panel
   It contains three tabs  (i) Palette – Contains all the element you can add to the flow
   (ii)Resources – Contains all the resources you can add onto                                                                                  your flow
   (iii)Explorer – shows all of the elements and resources that                                                                                 you’ve already added to this flow
3. Canvas
             The flow you design will appear here

Step 1 :   Add a screen from palette (drag and drop on the canvas) to collect information  from user .

In General Info tab add a name to this screen , and in Add a Field tab add the fields on the preview pane for which you require user input.

Step 2:   Add a Record Create element from palette to the canvas , give it a name and map the fields of Account object to the screen input fields you just created

Important Note: Make sure that you include all the required fields needed for that object on the screen , otherwise new record won’t get created

Step 3:   Connect the screen and record creation element with the help of connectors ( Just drag the connector from Screen to record creation element) .
And assign the screen as the first element of the flow by clicking on the green arrow on the screen element. Your flow would be looking something like this :

Save your flow by giving it an appropriate name.

Important Note: A flow can consist of multiple flow  versions. Once you’ve activated a flow, you can’t make changes to it. You can, however, make the necessary changes to a new version of that flow and later activate the new version.

Step 4:   For embedding your flow in a visualforce page you need to add the unique name of your flow in the below code

[code language=”java”]
<apex:page>
<flow:interview name = “YOUR_FLOW” />
</apex:page>
[/code]
Your page would be looking something like this .

Now your flow is ready to be distributed to the users

Note:  Make sure the users that are going to use this flow have all the necessary permissions in addition to access to this visualforce page

Limits and Considerations for Visual Workflow :

While designing visual workflow please make sure that you are not hitting the flow limits, following are the few flow limits you might need to keep an eye on:-

For a more detailed list of limits on visual workflow you may want to go this help page