> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.work-relay.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.work-relay.com/processes/working-with-processes/proceeding-and-changing-steps.md).

# Proceeding and changing steps

Proceeding of steps is a key feature of the Work-Relay application. It allows to:

* change step statuses
* visually track process walkthrough
* notify users
* create, update and delete records
* start other processes
* create tasks and issues
* execute program code
* send web requests and get responds
* etc.

## Proceeding a step

Proceeding actually means moving from one step to another on their connections and updating step statuses. There are 3 types of steps proceeding: "Proceed", "Approve" and "Reject". Actually these types of proceed do the same things, they differ only by availability for different step types and by look of the buttons.

When step is proceeded/approved/rejected, several things happen:

* Step becomes changed to other one:
  * if the next step is connected after the current step, the current step becomes completed (step status becomes updated to proper value). Completed step is shown with green color on [Progress bar](/functional/process-progress-component/progress-component-overview.md#progress-bar)
  * if the next step is connected before the current one (that is, if there's a loop in the process, which is often the case with Reject connectors of the Approve steps - they offer return the process to the previous step), the current step becomes future (inactive).
* Actions set on this step with "After Step" start type get triggered
* All actions set on next connected steps with "Before Step" start type get triggered
* The next steps connected by default connector, [branch starting connectors](/processes/connectors/branches.md) or connector that matches conditions for current situation, will become active (or pending, if there are any restrictions)

Step can be proceeded (approved, rejected) in different places:

* **on the** [**Progress Bar**](/functional/process-progress-component/progress-component-overview.md#progress-bar) (either at Process Details page, or at any other where Progress Component is built in) - by clicking proper button
* **on the** [**Task Manager**](/functional/dashboards/task-manager-dashboard.md) dashboard - by clicking proper button at the card layout header
* **on the Planning Dashboard** - if click step name, a [Step Properties popup appear](/functional/dashboards/planning-dashboard/introduction-to-planning-dashboard.md#step-properties) with step information and proper buttons
* **on the** [**Progress Dashboard**](/functional/dashboards/progress-dashboard/introduction-to-progress-dashboard.md) - if click step cell (a square), a Step Properties popup will appear with step information and proper buttons
* **automatically by the system** - for automatic steps; user does not required to do something by himself

![](/files/10a9b0e85e6bdad3c2c8bdb0bd7c34c16b6fa5b2)

![](/files/dfd67faf39cd499ec86d78c4a14caae8421acb50)

![](/files/de72cc75ed6b5139632e642a0388ddc501734ae3)

![](/files/d4dafe3db18e54189e4419db6321bd306fef06ad)

## Changing a step

Active step can be changed to another one, if there is a necessity to immediately pass to another step. In order to do step change, just select a necessary step. The "Proceed/Approve/Reject" buttons will be substituted with "**Change**" button - click it. New step will became active, and other steps will change their status accordingly to their connection order (like when step has been proceeded). The differences between steps proceeding and changing are:

* When step is changed, no actions are launched
* Changing step does not restart sub-processes
* Step to be changed to can be either future or completed
* Step to be changed to will always get "Active" status, even if it should get "Pending" status due to some reasons (e.g., constraints) when it had been reached through the common process walkthrough.

![](/files/695da68eb3134e0e04c47504b4b393eead41b71d)

{% hint style="warning" %}
In a nutshell, Step change is a "jump" that bypasses any actions or rules that would normally go along with proceeding the step. It is important to keep in mind that when changing step, they will not be executed or validated.
{% endhint %}