Question 1

How do I create routing via rules / logic flows in a Workflow?

Accepted Answer

When creating a Workflow (you might prefer to call it a form or a user journey) you may want to vary what is presented to the user based on their earlier inputs. For example if you sell different types of product and want to build a returns form the information you ask for might vary from product to product. So you'd ideally ask the user to choose the type of product they want to return, then show them further relevant questions that related to that type of product only.

Rules and routing in Malcolm! Workflows let you do just this - you can create complex and adaptive multi-step user journeys / forms easily via this feature.

Below is a simple example of how rules and routing work. In this example we create a simple form that asks a user for some basic details (their name, email address and "further details"). If they select "yes" to the question "Do you have documents or files to upload?" we'll include a screen for them to upload those files before they complete the form. If the user selects "no" we won't show them this screen and they will go direct to the Thank You screen.

Here is the setup in the Workflow builder in MyMalcolm:

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/HwJyEPPI3q/resources/LFuUvRSKYT/screenshot-my.malcolm.app-2019.08.18-12_06_04.png (Building a Workflow with conditional routing in MyMalcolm)

Conceptually it is important to understand that rules and routing works at a page level (not at a question level). So where you have questions that will only be shown to the user in certain scenarios you should put those questions on their own page. You then use rules to show or hide those pages.

In our example we have set the "Include page by default" setting on page 2 to be off. By doing this page 2 is "hidden" and can only be seen by routing to it via a rule.

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/HwJyEPPI3q/resources/sAdJrWv6tR/screenshot-my.malcolm.app-2019.08.18-12_10_51.png (Include page by default setting in Workflow builder in MyMalcolm)

You configure rules at a question/element level.

So in our example we now need to set up a rule on the "Do you have files or documents to upload?" question/element. To do this click on that question/element.

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/HwJyEPPI3q/resources/xQvhNmZZk4/screenshot-my.malcolm.app-2019.08.18-12_09_39.png (Question elements in Malcolm! Workflow Builder)

In the overlay that appears select "rules". Then add the rule that if the value is equal to yes to include page 2.

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/HwJyEPPI3q/resources/iVFe0tmYNZ/screenshot-my.malcolm.app-2019.08.18-12_09_10.png (Configuring rules in the Workflow Builder of MyMalcolm!)

The available options in values will vary according to the type of question/element you are editing. In "Then...." you have the option of including a page, hiding a page or moving to it. If you move to a page the Workflow will then continue from that page and jump over any pages before.

You can see the full range of options for this element type below.

Question 2

Can I set Workflow values in a URL?

Accepted Answer

A very powerful feature of Malcolm! is the ability to populate one or more values within a Workflow via the URL to the Workflow itself.

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/HwJyEPPI3q/resources/4pDguyLGuN/Set%20Workflow%20Values%20via%20URL.png (Set Workflow Values via URL)

This is extremely powerful if - for example - you want to pass into a Workflow information that lets you identify who has completed it - such as a customer ID or perhaps some other form of unique reference that lets you know what the information relates to (eg an order or transaction id)

For example, let's say a customer has created an order with order ID 12345 and you need some further information to fulfil the order. Rather than send them a Workflow which asks them for their order ID as one of the questions (or relies on you manually linking the submitted Workflow with a completed order your side) you could send them a link in the format https://url.com/workflows/order-info-needed?orderid=12345

You can put values for multiple fields in the URL too eg https://url.com/workflows/order-info-needed?orderid=12345&anotherfield=abcde

You can choose whether the user filling in the Workflow will see the Order ID repeated on their Workflow or not. If they can see it you can choose whether they can edit it or not. You can also choose what the descriptors in the URL (in the example above the "orderid" part) actually are. All these configurations are made by clicking on the individual element in the Workflow builder in MyMalcolm and scrolling to the "Settings" area.

When the Workflow is submitted you will receive the Order ID (and any other fields you have completed via the URL) as part of the submitted information.

When you combine the ability to populate fields by variables in the URL with the integration functionality of Malcolm! it becomes even more powerful as you could programmatically send out Workflows for completion (with some identifying information inserted via an auto generated URL) and then combine them with your other systems on submission via an integration or a webhook using the identifying information to link things together.

This becomes a great way to send out surveys, create follow ups to marketing campaigns, extend the functionality you offer to "logged in" users etc etc - the possibilities are endless!

Question 3

Can users save Workflow progress and complete later?

Accepted Answer

It can be very useful to give your users the option to save progress on a Workflow and come back to complete the rest later. It's especially helpful if a you have built a long multi-stage Workflow like an application form.

You turn this feature on in MyMalcolm - go to the Configure screen of each individual Workflow.

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/HwJyEPPI3q/resources/r3sEcA2Ugh/screenshot-my.malcolm.app-2019.08.18-16_09_11.png (Turn Resume Workflow on in MyMalcolm)

When turned on users will see an option to "Finish Later" at the bottom of each Workflow screen. When clicked this will bring up an overlay asking them to enter their email address. A unique link will then be emailed that when clicked will take the user back to the same stage of the Workflow they were previously at.

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/HwJyEPPI3q/resources/R3FxUMpkNL/screenshot-support.malcolm.support-2019.08.18-16_41_46.png (Finish Later option on a Workflow)

If you need to retrieve these links (for example someone completing the form didn't receive or has lost the email with the resume link in) you can also get to the link via the Completions area of the Workflow section of MyMalcolm - click the link under "Resume link" to copy the URL your clipboard.

Question 4

What is an Instance?

Accepted Answer

An instance is a collection of related FAQ’s and/or Workflows that your users will see and interact with plus a set of management tools that you and other members of your staff or team will use.

Each instance also includes an optional hosted hub that you can customise and brand.

If you decide to use Malcolm! in two distinct areas of your business it can make sense to have two different instances. For example you could use one instance of Malcolm! to support customers of your product or service and another instance as an internal HR portal.

You can see some examples of how Malcolm! instances can be used here

Instance Billing

Our billing is based around instances. You can start an instance any time and enjoy a 14 day trial. This can be great for trying ideas out. If you want to keep using the instance beyond 14 days you'll need to choose a plan and give us your card details, or agree an enterprise plan with us.

Instance Owners

Each instance will have an owner. This is the master user who is ultimately responsible for the instance. If you are on a Team or Enterprise plan you can invite other users to the instance too. If you need to transfer ownership of the instance to another user (for instance if you are leaving a company or organisation) you can do that as long as the proposed new owner agrees.

Question 5

How do I turn off my hosted hub?

Accepted Answer

Every instance of Malcolm! comes complete with a hosted hub. But you might not want to use it and may prefer to turn it off. No problem!

To turn off your hosted hub go the settings section of MyMalcolm, then select "visibility" in the vertical left hand navigation. You can then select "Disable the instance Hosted Hub"

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/HwJyEPPI3q/resources/kzMmGw4DCl/screenshot-my.malcolm.app-2019.08.12-16_35_15.png (Disable the instance Hosted Hub in MyMalcolm)

Once disabled, any traffic hitting your Hosted Hub URL will see a 403 error. If you'd prefer to redirect that traffic somewhere else you can do this by selecting "Advanced" in the vertical left hand navigation then entering your redirect URL.

Question 6

Can I put Malcolm! Widget code into another site via Google Tag Manager?

Accepted Answer

If you are using Google Tag Manager on a site or application it is very easy to deploy the Malcolm! widget into that property via GTM.

Here is a step by step guide:

Set up your widget in the Share section of MyMalcolm (there is a guide here) and copy the embed code to your clipboard
In GTM click "Add a new Tag"
In Tag Configuration select a "custom HTML" tag type
Paste in the embed code from your clipboard
You don't need to support document.write
For your trigger use page view on all pages (assuming you want the widget to appear on all pages)

Question 7

Can I change the terminology/rename FAQs and/or Workflows?

Accepted Answer

Within Malcolm! you can choose the title of your FAQs and Workflows, but you may want to use Malcolm! in a way where the terminology "FAQs" and "Workflows" doesn't make sense. For example you might want to rename FAQs "Policies" or "Help Articles". You might want to rename Workflows "Requests" or "Tasks".

This is no problem - you can rename both things in the Brand section of MyMalcolm.

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/HwJyEPPI3q/resources/QlfRt4MTdW/screenshot-my.malcolm.app-2019.08.06-17_22_37.png (Renaming FAQs in MyMalcolm)

Edit your chosen theme, then navigate to the "FAQ" and "Workflow" section in the vertical side navigation.

MyMalcolm will still refer to FAQs and Workflows but any references your users see will be updated to the value you set above.

Question 8

How can I review the activities of other Team members on my Instance?

Accepted Answer

You can do this via the Team section of MyMalcolm. Click on a user name and you will see their activity within the instance. You can apply filters to this information via the filter icon.

Question 9

What can I change in the Settings Section of MyMalcolm?

Accepted Answer

The Settings Section of MyMalcolm offers a variety of configuration options for your Instance.

Within this section you can change the following things:

The name and description of your Instance (this is seen within MyMalcolm by other Team members)
The subdomain used for your Malcolm! Instance and/or setup your own custom domain
Manage third party Javascript tracking tags
Turn the Hosted Hub off/on and configure whether it appears in search engines
Turn approvals off/on
Redirect base URL if Hosted Hub not used
Transfer Instance ownership to someone else
Delete your Instance
Turn FAQs on/off
Turn Workflows on/off
Manage your Integration credentials

Question 10

How do I see completions of my Workflow?

Accepted Answer

When one of your customers completes a Workflow that is called a completion. You can review the data collected via MyMalcolm. Go to the Workflow Section and then select the Completions tab. You can also review completions for an individual Workflow by navigating to that Workflow via the Library and then selecting Completions.

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/HwJyEPPI3q/resources/RSwK2v0l7v/screenshot-my.malcolm.app-2019.08.06-19_56_29.png (Workflow Completions in MyMalcolm)

You can export all the Completion data by selecting Exports within an individual Workflow.

Don't forget that you can also configure email notifications each time a Workflow is completed and use Integrations and Webhooks to pass collected data into other systems.