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Set Element

Use the Set Element step to write a value or record reference into an element that was created by a Create Element step earlier in the flow. Because an element is a single slot, Set Element overwrites it — the latest value wins. Run the step as often as you need to keep the element up to date.

Typical use cases include:

  • Updating a status or intermediate value as the flow progresses (state tracking).
  • Storing the result of a mapping or computation for later steps to read.
  • Pointing a reference element at the record the flow is currently working on.

Configure the step​

Open the flow editor, add Set Element, and fill in the configuration card.

Description​

  • Purpose: Explain what this particular update does in the flow.
  • When to fill it: Always. The description is shown in the editor and execution history.
  • Tips: Be specific, for example, Mark dispatch channel as e-mail.

Element​

  • Purpose: Selects which element to write to. Must be a SmartField placeholder pointing to the output of a Create Element step (e.g. {{create-elem_state}}).
  • When to fill it: Required. The selector cannot use a dotted path — elements are always top-level outputs of a Create Element step.
  • Tips: Use the assist-edit (...) or Alt+S to open the SmartField picker and paste the placeholder as-is.

Resolved type​

  • Purpose: Read-only. Shows the element type and (for Reference elements) the linked table that AutoFlow derived from the Element placeholder. Use it as a sanity check before configuring the Value.
  • When to fill it: Auto-derived. If the field is empty or shows a warning, the Element placeholder doesn't resolve.

Value​

  • Purpose: The value to store. The expected shape depends on the resolved element type:
    • Value element — any text. Supports {{name}} placeholders that resolve when the step runs, so you can mix literal text and SmartField references (e.g. Customer {{customer.No}} – {{customer.Name}}). Leave empty to clear the slot.
    • Reference element — a single SmartField placeholder pointing to a Reference SmartField that links to the same table as the element (e.g. {{find-records_results}} for a Sales Header element when Find Records is configured for table 36).
  • When to fill it: Required for reference elements. Optional for value elements — an empty value is a valid state reset.
  • Tips: Use the assist-edit (...) or Alt+S to open the SmartField picker. The configuration card warns when the placeholder doesn't resolve, when it resolves to the wrong type (Value vs. Reference), or when the linked table doesn't match the element's table.

Outputs​

Set Element does not produce its own outputs. It writes into the element created by the corresponding Create Element step. Downstream steps should reference the Create Element output to read the current value.

Best practices​

  • Trust the resolved type: AutoFlow derives the element type from the element placeholder. Don't try to write Value text into a Reference element — the configuration card surfaces a warning and the flow refuses to publish.
  • Latest write wins: Unlike Add to Collection, Set Element does not append. Each run replaces the single slot, so use it freely to update state as the flow runs.
  • Create first: Set Element requires a matching Create Element step upstream; it cannot create the element on its own.