Tutorials for the Wings Workflow System

Video Introduction to Wings

Running Text Analytics Workflows

Face-to-Face Tutorial Sessions

We give face-to-face tutorials for specific user groups. Watch this site for upcoming tutorials.

On-Line Tutorials for Wings

We have on-line hands-on tutorial materials for three different types of users of Wings (it is possible that you may be all three yourself):

For workflow users: These are users that want to browse and execute workflows that are already pre-defined in the system by others. We give you an easy overview of Wings based on a public ''sandbox'' (a place to play around). You can also create your own workflows using components that others have already pre-defined. Wings works in the browser, so there is no software to install if you use our web site and you can get started right away.
For workflow developers: These are users that want to create workflows using their own workflow components. For this, we have set up a second public site called ''Marbles'' where you can test your own components and workflows without having to install any software.
For workflow system administrators: If you find Wings useful, you will want to install Wings on your own machine or a server in your group. With that installation in place you can then start authoring your own workflow components, datasets, and workflows in your private space and execution resources.

Prospective Workflow Users: Learn About the Unique Features of Wings by Running Workflows in our Public Wings Sandbox

Workflow users are researchers that would like to take workflows that are pre-defined in the system and use them to analyze their data.

This tutorial will allow you to see how workflow users would interact with Wings.
We have set up a Public Sandbox where you can set up and run workflows while learning about the unique features of Wings. You don't have to install anything, you can just access the system remotely to setup and run workflows. Just go to the site and go over the walkthrough and tutorial.
See the Top Ten Reasons Why You Would Want to Use Wings for a high-level step by step overview.

Prospective Workflow Developers: Learn to Define New Components and Use Your Own Datasets

If you have used the Wings Portal Sandbox and you want to learn more about how to use Wings to create your own workflows, you will want to check out the Marbles web site (requires login).

This will allow you to see how workflow developers would interact with Wings.
We have set up a test site where you can create your own components and workflows. You will learn:
- how to define datatypes and their properties:
  - how to use them to describe your own datasets
  - how to upload your own datasets to the portal
- how to create new components, including:
  - how to encapsulate your own programs as workflow components,
  - how to specify the inputs and outputs of components and their semantic constraints.

You would need to:

If you have a local installation of Wings, you can follow along this simple tutorial:

Manage Data -- add datatypes, upload data, add metadata properties
Manage Components -- add components, add categories, upload code
Edit Workflows -- create workflow templates
Run Workflows -- specify inputs and run workflows
Access Results -- monitor runs, access data from the runs
Manage Domain -- set working domain, change execution engine, import system domains

As an additional aid for workflow developers, we have developed the Basic Component Encapsulation (BCE) methodology for creating workflow components. It helps avoid simple modeling errors, but it is not a requirement for Wings. There is detailed documentation in the following documents:

Basic Component Encapsulation provides instructions and tips on how to author components - includes links to Java software for authoring components
Example BCE Compatible Scripts

Workflow System Administrators: Installation Guides

If you will be a workflow system administrator and would like to set up Wings on your site (either on a single machine such as a laptop, or on a grid, cluster, or cloud), you can download the Wings software here. Wings is released under an open source license.