# Start flow from any shape

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## Introduction

Previously, running or testing a process flow always meant starting from the very beginning. The **Start from here** feature lets you pick any shape in your flow as the entry point. All actions and scripts *above* that shape are skipped - execution begins exactly where you specify.

This is particularly useful when developing or debugging mid-flow logic, where repeatedly running preceding steps would be time-consuming or have unintended side effects.

{% hint style="info" %}
Actions and scripts **before** the selected starting shape are not executed. Ensure any variables or data those steps would have set are accounted for - you can supply them manually when initialising.
{% endhint %}

## Using start from here<br>

1. Open your process flow in the flow builder.
2. **Right-click** on the shape you want to start from.
3. Select **Start from here** from the context menu.
4. Choose to **initialise immediately**, or set variables and payloads before running.

<figure><img src="/files/SmpF4cWecfOrLHVye1md" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Initialisation options

Initialise flowRuns the flow from the selected shape immediately, with no variable pre-configuration. Best used when the shape does not depend on output from preceding steps.

Set variables and payloadsOpens a configuration panel where you can manually define the variables and payloads that earlier steps would normally have produced. Use this when the starting shape requires input data.

⚠This feature is designed for development and testing purposes. Use caution when running partial flows against production data, as upstream validation steps will be skipped.<br>


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