Skip to main content
A derived value is a value that Reqflo resolves by looking it up from another source rather than requiring the user to supply it directly. Instead of entering the value manually, you point to where it should come from — a previous step’s response, a variable preset, or another declared value — and Reqflo resolves it at run time.

​
When to use it

Use derived values when:
  • A step needs data that was returned by an earlier step in the same journey (for example, an order_id created in step 1 that gets passed to step 2).
  • You want a variable to be filled from a preset configuration rather than typed in each time.
  • A value can be derived consistently from another source and there is no reason to ask the user for it explicitly.
If the value is entirely new and must come from the user or a data file, use a run input. If the value is a literal that never changes, use a hard-coded value.

​
Key concepts

Three derived sources. A derived value can come from:
  1. A previous step output — data extracted from a completed step’s response. The step must have run successfully and the output must be declared on that step. See Step output values.
  2. A variable preset — a named, reusable preset that supplies values for one or more variables. See Variable presets.
  3. Another declared source — a variable or run input whose value feeds into a downstream field.
Resolution at run time. Derived values are resolved when the journey runs, not when it is built. If the source is not yet available (for example, a step output from a step that has not run yet), Reqflo resolves it in execution order. Dependency tracking. Reqflo tracks which steps depend on which derived values. If a step that supplies a value fails, downstream steps that depend on it will report the dependency as unresolved.

​
How it works

1

Identify the source

Decide where the value should come from: a step output, a preset, or another declared value.
2

Configure the step value

In the step’s value configuration, set the field to derive from the chosen source. For step outputs, select the step and the output name. For presets, select the preset.
3

Run the journey

At run time, Reqflo resolves each derived value in order. Step outputs are resolved after the producing step completes. Preset values are resolved at the start of the run.

​
Examples

Deriving from a step output (YAML): 
steps:
  - name: Create order
    request: create-order
    outputs:
      - name: order_id
        from: $.body.id

  - name: Get order
    request: get-order
    values:
      orderId: ${{ steps.create-order.outputs.order_id }}
Deriving from a variable: 
steps:
  - name: Get subscription
    request: get-subscription
    values:
      userId: ${{ variables.base_user_id }}
Deriving from a preset — configure the variable to use a preset in the Values panel. When the preset is selected (or loaded via a case), the variable’s value is filled automatically.