Overview

If the Forms in your instance are built out of Salesforce's flow screen, you can utilize the "pause" feature. This feature provides you the ability to "save and continue later" in your Forms. 

To use this feature, there are a few things that you will need to take note of.

Things to note

Look and feel

When you pause the Flow / Form, the saved version will be visible in a list.

But once you "resume", the Form will be displayed in a pop-up window (not in the original size).

Resuming the Form

When you resume the Flow / Form and then change your mind, pause it again.

If you close the Form without pausing it, you will not be able to resume the Form later.

Updating the Flow

If you pause the Flow / Form, and the associated Flow is updated before you resume, the resumed Form will not use the updated flow version.

Instead, it will continue with the Flow version that was active when you paused it.

For example:

1. An application form with 8 pages was deployed as version 1.
   
   
2. An applicant "Fred Smith" started filling up this version 1 form. He paused it halfway through and plans to continue later.
   
   
3. Then, there was an urgent fix that got applied to the application form, which introduced an additional 9th page. It was deployed as version 2.
   
   
4. A new applicant "John Doe" filled up the application form where he was able to see the 9th page, as he was on version 2 of the form.
   
   
5. Meanwhile, when Fred Smith resumed his form, he could only see a total of 8 pages in the form, as he is still on version 1.

Recommendation

Here are some of the recommendations / best practices in adopting the "pause" feature.

1. Manage the change cycle:
   
   • The pause feature is best utilized by anyone who has a well-managed Form change cycle - where the frequency of change cycle is managed properly and kept to minimal. 
     
     
   • Tip: Finalize all the required changes in the Flow / Form before activating it as a new version (best effort).
     
     For example, finalize all the pages required, all the questions required, and all the logic required, before releasing it for use.
     Do not rush into activating and releasing it, to avoid overlooking something and having to make changes.
     
     
2. Be equipped with knowledge on handling changes:
   
   • If the change is inevitable, take note of the change effect (as mentioned in "Updating the Flow").
     
     
   • Equip yourself with the options to handle the change. See below under "Guidelines".

Guidelines

Here are the guidelines to handle paused flows when the Flow / Form version is updated.

Option 1:

Based on the example above, delete the paused session (under version 1) for Fred Smith, and have him restart with version 2 (not ideal).

Option 2:

Allow Fred Smith to resume and complete the Form (under version 1).

Then, get the Admission Officers to contact Fred Smith and collect the additional information manually.