# Skipping shapes

## Introduction

When designing process flow, it can be useful to skip specific shapes to speed up the testing process - for example, you might skip a receiving connector shape so you're not pulling actual data for tests, and enter a small, manual payload instead.

When a shape is marked as `skip`, whatever the shape is designed to do does not happen - this step in the flow is ignored.

## Need to know

* All shapes except the [trigger shape](https://doc.wearepatchworks.com/product-documentation/process-flows/building-process-flows/process-flow-shapes/standard-shapes/trigger-shape) can be skipped.
* You can skip any number of shapes in a process flow.
* Skipping a [route shape](https://doc.wearepatchworks.com/product-documentation/process-flows/building-process-flows/process-flow-shapes/standard-shapes/route-shape) or a [try/catch shape](https://doc.wearepatchworks.com/product-documentation/process-flows/building-process-flows/process-flow-shapes/standard-shapes/try-catch-shape) effectively ends the flow run at that point since any defined routes won't start. 
* When a shape is set to skip and then saved, that shape's appearance in the flow is faded and summary actions are crossed through - a `skipped` label is also shown.
* Skipped shapes show as warnings in logs with a `flow step skipped` message.

## How to mark a shape as skipped

**Step 1**\
In your process flow, click the 'settings' icon for the shape that you want to skip - for example:

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://2440044887-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FLYNcUBVQwSkOMG6KjZfz%2Fuploads%2FD81x0G6jCe88F9z5yRes%2Fskip%20shape%201.png?alt=media&#x26;token=a1ae5105-e9a9-4d27-a953-475a430182b8" alt="" width="326"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

**Step 2**\
Set the **skip** toggle option (at the top of the settings drawer) to ON - for example:

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://2440044887-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FLYNcUBVQwSkOMG6KjZfz%2Fuploads%2FjW7vz5SrKK1EyRweFFGv%2Fskip%20shape%202.png?alt=media&#x26;token=b5cdf153-77c8-4150-850b-81589f5b62ce" alt="" width="375"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

**Step 3**\
Save settings:

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://2440044887-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FLYNcUBVQwSkOMG6KjZfz%2Fuploads%2FwWZEVAbwNQ6gAapTAV5f%2Fskip%20shape%203.png?alt=media&#x26;token=13ec0451-1314-4078-81b1-978b1ba503d6" alt="" width="375"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

**Step 4**\
Repeat for all shapes that you want to skip. These shapes are marked as `skipped` and their appearance is faded with summary actions crossed through - for example:

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://2440044887-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FLYNcUBVQwSkOMG6KjZfz%2Fuploads%2FijIyy2uSRlsuvisLT8Aj%2Fskip%20shape%203a.png?alt=media&#x26;token=90adfdd7-5d94-4f14-a614-df3968824cbb" alt="" width="309"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

**Step 5**\
Run/test your process flow as normal. In the run logs, you'll notice that any skipped shapes are noted as such - for example:

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://2440044887-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FLYNcUBVQwSkOMG6KjZfz%2Fuploads%2Fz56DNdu08ye2pZAYIIUB%2Fskip%20shape%205.png?alt=media&#x26;token=7d9eca4d-f682-4721-b5ba-b6144afe0499" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

**Step 6**\
When you're ready to reinstate a skipped shape, access shape settings and toggle the **skip** option back to OFF, then save changes.