Layout Concepts
Every flow is divided into three sections: Pre, Middle, and Post. Understanding these sections is the key to building effective flows.
The 3 Sections
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ PRE SECTION │
│ Runs ONCE before the main data. │
│ Use for: Opening apps, navigating, logging in, setup. │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ MIDDLE SECTION │
│ Runs ONCE PER ROW of data. │
│ Use for: The actual data entry — typing values into fields.│
│ This is where your extracted data gets typed. │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ POST SECTION │
│ Runs ONCE after all rows are processed. │
│ Use for: Saving, closing, cleanup, final reporting. │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Pre Section — "Before the Data"
The Pre section runs once, before any data rows are processed. Think of it as your setup phase.
Common Pre Commands
- Open the target application (via command or click)
- Navigate to the correct screen or form
- Log in (type username, press Enter, type password, press Enter)
- Click "New Entry" or "Create Invoice" button
- Set any default values (date, reference number)
Pre Columns
Columns defined in the Pre section hold setup data that doesn't change per row. For example: a login date, a default party name, or a starting reference number.
Example
Pre Commands:
1. LEFT CLICK AT {"X":340,"Y":250} ← Click on Tally icon
2. DELAY WITH PARAMETER: 2000 ← Wait for app to open
3. TYPE COLUMN DATA (from "Login Date") ← Type today's date
4. ENTER ← Confirm
5. TYPE TEXT WITH PARAMETER: "admin" ← Type username
6. ENTER ← Submit
Middle Section — "The Data Entry Loop"
The Middle section is the heart of your flow. It runs once per row of extracted data. If you extracted 50 invoices, the Middle section runs 50 times — once for each invoice.
How It Works
- DashX reads the next row of data from the extracted table
- Each column value is available via the
TYPE COLUMN DATAcommand - Commands in the Middle section execute in order
- After all commands run, DashX moves to the next row and repeats
Middle Columns
These are the data fields that change per row — invoice numbers, dates, amounts, party names, item descriptions. Each Middle column maps to a column in your extracted data.
Example
Middle Commands (runs once per invoice):
1. TYPE COLUMN DATA (from "Invoice No") ← Type invoice number
2. TAB ← Move to next field
3. TYPE COLUMN DATA (from "Date") ← Type date
4. TAB ← Move to next field
5. TYPE COLUMN DATA (from "Party") ← Type party name
6. TAB
7. TYPE COLUMN DATA (from "Amount") ← Type amount
8. ENTER ← Save this entry
Data rows:
Row 1: INV-001 | 15/06/2026 | Acme Corp | 12,500
Row 2: INV-002 | 16/06/2026 | Beta Ltd | 8,750
Row 3: INV-003 | 17/06/2026 | Gamma Inc | 23,100
Execution:
Run Middle commands with Row 1 data → Run Middle commands with Row 2 data → Run Middle commands with Row 3 data
Key concept: The Middle section is where the automation happens.
The Pre section sets up, the Middle section does the work (per row), and the Post section wraps up.
Post Section — "After the Data"
The Post section runs once, after all Middle rows have been processed. Use it for cleanup.
Common Post Commands
- Save the current entry or batch
- Close the form or application
- Navigate back to the home screen
- Type a summary or final value
- Press a confirmation button
Post Columns
Columns defined in the Post section hold finalization data — summary values, total counts, or closing information that's only needed after all rows are done.
Columns — Your Data Fields
Columns are the data fields your flow reads from. They map directly to the columns extracted by the AI tool from your documents.
| Column Section | Purpose | When It's Read | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre Columns | Setup / configuration data | Once, before data processing | Login Date, Default Party |
| Middle Columns | Main data that changes per row | Once per row, during data entry | Invoice No, Date, Amount, Party |
| Post Columns | Finalization / summary data | Once, after all rows are processed | Total Count, Final Status |
Adding Columns
- In the Flow Editor, look at the left panel with Pre/Middle/Post column boxes
- Click the + button in the appropriate section
- Enter a column name — this should match the column name in your extracted data
- Repeat for all data fields
Items vs Commands
| Term | What It Is | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Column | A data field the flow reads from | Left panel (Pre/Middle/Post column lists) |
| Command | An action the flow performs (type, press, click) | Right panel (command palette) → dragged into center sections |
| Command Chip | A placed command in a section (with parameter and order) | Center panel (inside a section dropzone) |
Complete Example: Entering Invoices into Tally
WORKSPACE: Tally Invoice Entry
TOOL: Table Extraction (extracts invoices from images)
COLUMNS:
Pre: [Login User, Login Pass]
Middle: [Invoice No, Invoice Date, Party Name, Amount]
Post: []
FLOW:
PRE COMMANDS:
1. LEFT CLICK AT {"X":100,"Y":200} ← Click Tally icon
2. DELAY WITH PARAMETER: 3000 ← Wait for Tally to open
3. TYPE COLUMN DATA (Login User) ← Type username
4. ENTER
5. TYPE COLUMN DATA (Login Pass) ← Type password
6. ENTER
7. DELAY WITH PARAMETER: 1000 ← Wait for home screen
8. LEFT CLICK AT {"X":450,"Y":300} ← Click "Create Invoice"
MIDDLE COMMANDS (per row):
1. TYPE COLUMN DATA (Invoice No) ← Type invoice number
2. TAB
3. TYPE COLUMN DATA (Invoice Date) ← Type date
4. TAB
5. TYPE COLUMN DATA (Party Name) ← Type party name
6. TAB
7. TYPE COLUMN DATA (Amount) ← Type amount
8. ENTER ← Save invoice
POST COMMANDS:
1. ENTER ← Confirm
2. DELAY WITH PARAMETER: 500
3. CUSTOM KEYS: ^{w} ← Ctrl+W to save/close
EXECUTION:
For each extracted invoice:
→ Run PRE once (login, navigate)
→ For each data row: Run MIDDLE (type invoice data)
→ Run POST once (save and close)
Next: Understand how the execution pipeline works
in detail — per-row processing, the data context model, and column matching.