NETWORK DEVICE MANAGEMENT
PROJECT
DRAG & DROP INTERACTION
Visual Interaction to Create a Workflow Using Drag & Drop Feature
SUMMARY
The drag-and-drop feature enables users to visually manipulate elements within a workflow, making it easier to create, customize, and manage complex processes.
USE CASE OVERVIEW
This use case highlights the design of a drag-and-drop interface that empowers Network Administrators to efficiently organize intents and responses, creating workflow templates for testing. The focus is on enhancing user interaction through intuitive design elements.
It allows network administrators to arrange various intents and responses, building a workflow template for testing.
VIEW THE EXPERIENCE
Intent creation workflow
Intent
A set of operational goals (that a network should meet) and outcomes (that a network is supposed to deliver), defined in a declarative manner without specifying how to achieve or implement them.
Preconditions
The Network Administrator has access to the application and is logged in.
The system has predefined intents and responses available for use.
Postconditions
The Network Administrator can create and save workflow templates.
The created templates are ready for testing and can be easily modified or reused.
WORKFLOW
01
Accessing the Interface
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The Network Administrator navigates to the workflow management section of the application.
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The drag-and-drop interface loads, displaying the workflow canvas and a palette of available intents and responses.
02
Creating a New Workflow Template
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The Network Administrator selects an intent from the palette.
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They drag the selected intent onto the workflow canvas.
03
Organizing Intents and Responses
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The Administrator continues to drag additional intents and responses onto the canvas, positioning them according to the desired workflow sequence.
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As items are dragged, potential drop zones are visually highlighted to indicate where components can be placed.
04
Connecting Components
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The Administrator connects intents and responses by dragging connection lines from one component to another, visually representing the flow of interactions.
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Feedback mechanisms (like color changes or animations) indicate valid connections.
05
Adjusting Workflow Elements
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The Administrator can click and drag existing components to rearrange them within the canvas.
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Resizing options are available to modify the visual representation of intents and responses.
06
Saving the Workflow Template
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Once the desired workflow is organized, the Administrator clicks the “Save” button.
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A confirmation message appears, indicating the template has been successfully saved for future testing.
DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
A clear and organized palette with categorized intents and responses.
Implement hover effects and animations to indicate active drag-and-drop zones.
Ensure the drag-and-drop functionality is usable with keyboard shortcuts and assistive technologies.
IMPACT OF THE DRAG AND DROP FEATURE
Intuitive Interaction
The drag-and-drop feature simplified the user experience, allowing network administrators to easily manipulate intents and responses without needing extensive training. This intuitive interaction reduces cognitive load and speeds up the workflow creation process.
Faster Workflow Creation
By enabling users to visually arrange elements, the feature significantly accelerates the setup of workflows. Administrators can quickly experiment with different configurations, leading to faster implementation of changes and testing.
Visual clarity
The visual aspect of dragging and dropping helps users see the relationships between different intents and responses. This clarity aids in understanding complex workflows and ensures that configurations are logically organized.
Flexibility and Customization
Users can easily modify workflows on the fly, allowing them to adapt to changing requirements or test different scenarios without starting from scratch. This flexibility fosters creativity and experimentation.
Instant Validation
As users arrange intents and responses, real-time feedback confirms their actions, providing reassurance and helping them understand the impact of their changes immediately.
Improved Collaboration
The drag-and-drop feature facilitates collaboration among team members, as multiple users can interact with the workflow simultaneously. This promotes teamwork and enhances communication within the organization.
Minimized Input Errors
The visual manipulation of elements decreases the likelihood of errors that can occur with manual input or coding. This leads to more accurate configurations and reduces the need for rework.