Workflow Stuck in loop

[Brian Lancaster]

We have a workflow and in it if the manager did not exist it would create a task to update the manager in service now.   In one particular workflow the approval was not setup correctly so every time it went for approval it, it would create this task.   I have updated the workflow and published it but these task seem to be using the old workflow.   Is there anyway to force them into the new version of the workflow?

[rob_pastore]

When a workflow is kicked off, it takes a 'snapshot' of the current workflow to follow.   Any changes to the current workflow will not be available to any ticket that was already generated.   It will only work going forward.

(If you think about it - the workflow could be on an activity that no longer exists... it really has to be this way)

[Brian Lancaster]

So what your saying is that there is no way to force it to look at the new version so we can close these tasks.

[rob_pastore · Accepted solution]

Correct, if you want to 'close' the loop, you can go to 'Active Context' under Live Workflow and kill/delete the ones that are still executing.   But you would have to create new tickets if you want the new workflow followed.

[bgworld]

In current scenario, only option you have is to update workflow context.

1. Go to active workflow contexts
2. Find workflow with correct version
3. Go to that workflow and update the related activity.

This fix works if workflow has not reached to that activity, or some way workflow again can come back to same activity.

Be careful while doing this. I would suggest to use this first on non prod instance.

I hope this helps!!!