Update vs. Note creation in Fusion

[tibormolnar]

Hi All,

I've created a few simple Fusion scenarios already and when an update was needed on a Task/Issue/Project/etc., I always used the Workfront "Create a record" Fusion module, selecting "Update" as record type:

When I added a URL to the "Update Text" (as seen above) Workfront conveniently displayed that as a clickable link.

But I always thought that it's not possible to create a link with a displayed text other then the URL, i.e. something like this:

<a href="https://{{workfrontDomain}}/project/{{projectID}}">My Project</a>

Maybe I tried it earlier and it didn't work, or I just made this up - I don't know any more.

Today I set out to find a solution and I learnt a lot:.

• Updates are actually note records in Workfront.
• The note records have a noteText field and a html field. If both have a value, WF displays the html field's value.
• When using the Create Record module in Fusion and selecting "Update" as Record Type, Fusion actually creates a note record.
• In the same module (Create Record) it's possible to select "Note" as Record Type. With the proper mappings (i.e. Audit Type = Note, Is Message = Yes) this will bring the same results.
• When selecting "Note" as Record Type to create, the field html is mappable. This option doesn't exist when selecting "Update" as Record Type.
• Contrary to my preconception, both the noteText and the html fields take HTML code. For example, this works like a charm, in both fields:

Here's <a href="https://{{workfrontDomain}}/project/{{projectID}}"><b>My Project</b></a>

This is despite the fact that Fusion advises me: "For Rich Text support, please fill in the 'html' field."

So, although I found that it's actually pretty simple to create a link (or apply formatting), I have a few new questions:

1. If both the noteText and html fields take HTML code, what's the point of the html field?
2. If I set the html field, should I also populate the noteText field?
3. Do I ever need to use the JSON based Rich Text syntax for ceating links or formatting in the noteText?
4. Why does Fusion pretend that "Update" is a separate object, if it's actually the same as a "Note"?

I appreciate any feedback / thoughts about the above.

Thanks,

Tibor

[Lawson02 · Accepted solution]

My take on #4. An update is a "top comment" while a note can be either a "top comment" or a reply to a "top comment". I usually only use the create update module because my automations always leave "top comments" so I don't have much insight on the other questions but if I had to guess its probably has to do with internal processes for #1.