---
title: "Create a New Decision Table"
slug: "create-a-new-decision-table"
updated: 2025-03-24T23:34:49Z
published: 2025-03-24T23:34:49Z
canonical: "docs.processmaker.com/create-a-new-decision-table"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.processmaker.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Create a New Decision Table

Create a new Decision Table that can be referenced from any [Decision Task](/v1/docs/decision-task-connector) in a process.

**Permissions**

Your user account or group membership must have the following permissions to create a new Decision Table unless your user account has the **Make this user a Super Admin** setting selected:

- Decision Tables: Create Decision Tables
- Decision Tables: View Decision Tables

See the [Decision Tables](/v1/docs/permission-descriptions-for-users-and-groups#decision-tables) permissions or ask your Administrator for assistance.

Follow these steps to create a new Decision Table:

1. [View your Decision Tables](/v1/docs/decision-tables#view-all-decision-tables). The **Decision Tables** page displays.
2. Click the **+Table** button. The **Create Table** screen displays.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/Create a Decision Table.png)
3. In the **Name** setting, enter the name of the Decision Table. Decision Table names must be unique and can only use apostrophe characters (`'`) and spaces.
4. In the **Description** setting, enter the description of the Decision Table.
5. From the **Category** drop-down menu, select one or more [Decision Table Categories](/v1/docs/decision-table-categories) to associate with this Decision Table. To remove a Decision Table Category that is currently selected, click the ![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/3320b8f6-e3ac-4aed-ae33-a6b310028cc0.png) icon for that selection or press `Enter` when the drop-down is visible.
6. From the **Project** drop-down menu, optionally select the [Project(s)](/v1/docs/projects) for this Decision Table. This setting only displays Projects where you are a member. To remove a Project that is currently selected, click the ![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/3320b8f6-e3ac-4aed-ae33-a6b310028cc0.png) icon for that selection or press `Enter` when the drop-down is visible.
7. Click **Save** to create the Decision Table.

> See an example of how to create a [Decision Table that uses a Collection and variables and inputs](/v1/docs/example-decision-tables-using-collections-and-variables-in-the-inputs).

---

## Add or Remove Input and Output Columns

Decision input columns display immediately below the **Inputs** section. Decision output columns display immediately below the **Outputs** section. Dots above each column separator indicate where to add a new column to the right of the existing column.

![Decision Table.png](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/Decision%20Table.png)

Follow these steps to add or remove an input or output column:

1. To add a column, do one of the following:
  - **Add a new column to the right of a selected column:** Hover over the dot to the right of the existing column to add a new column, and then click the ![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/0efc87b8-658b-43c1-995c-39aa3152fd09.png) icon.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/2116481c-dca4-4e01-bf6c-727274e8af40.png)
  - **Add a new column to the left or right of a selected column:** Right-click the column, and select one of the following options:

![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/72b832da-008b-4665-9dfe-0eff12e9f344.png)
    - Select the **Add Column Left** option to add a new column to the left of the selected column.
    - Select the **Add Column Right** option to add a new column to the right of the selected column.
2. Replace the placeholder values for the input/output labels.
3. Replace the decision variable names, if needed.
4. To remove a column, do one of the following:

The **Caution** screen displays to confirm the removal of the decision column.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/4fe0fc63-fa85-4110-972e-28e64a184237.png)
  - Click the label of the column to be removed, and then click the ![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/4462125c-5c29-4616-8aba-bd174a725b7d.png) icon. A Decision Table must have at least one Input and one Output column. Attempts to remove a column when it is the only column in that section are ignored.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/08c3e379-7865-4ab7-aafd-ef4a0382fc1c.png)
  - Right-click on the label of the decision column to be removed, and then select the **Remove** option.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/a2c085a0-bc1e-472e-91c3-4601e9b26c1f.png)
5. Click **Confirm**. The decision column will be removed.

> See the example in [Use of Quotation Marks in Decision Output for](/v1/docs/decision-table-best-practices#use-of-quotation-marks-in-decision-output-for-string-data-type) `String` Data Type when using quotation marks as punctuation in the output string.

---

## Change the Data Type for a Decision Variable

Follow these steps to change the data type for a decision variable:

1. [Edit the Decision Table](/v1/docs/manage-a-decision-table#edit-a-decision-table).
2. Identify the decision input or output variable you want to change. The current data type is displayed in the lower-right corner of the decision variable.
3. Right-click on the current data type.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/dab2192b-ec3f-42a5-9b3b-de3f058c597c.png)
4. Select one of the following data types:
  - **boolean:** The decision variable represents one of two possible values (usually denoted `TRUE` and `FALSE`).
  - **date:** The decision variable represents a date. The date is in the following format: `YYYY-MM-DD`. Example: `"2020-07-01"`.
  - **datetime:** The decision variable represents a datetime. The datetime is in the following format: `YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS`. Example: `"2020-07-01 14:25:15"`.
  - **number:** The decision variable represents a number.
  - **string:** The decision variable represents a string.
  - **time:** The decision variable represents a time. Example: `14:25:15`.
  - **formula:** The decision variable is calculated using a formula (only available for input columns). Example:` income-(income*tax)`

---

## Add a Formula to a Column

> The **formula** data type can only be used for input columns.

Formulas in a Decision Table are built using process variables, constants, and arithmetic operators to generate values for input columns. Follow these steps to add a formula to a Decision Table column:

1. [Edit the Decision Table](/v1/docs/manage-a-decision-table#edit-a-decision-table).
2. Identify the input or output variable you want to change. The current data type displays in the lower-right corner of the decision variable.
3. Right-click on the current data type.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/98f031c2-f5e7-4ea3-8b9e-7dbf3423a948.png)
4. Select the data type **formula.**
5. Click the formula icon ![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/21288fcf-bc88-466e-9228-6c102858bc88.png) to open the editor and enter your formula. The column's value will be calculated based on the specified formula. In the example shown here, income and expense are process variables that will be assigned values during a case.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/5488b46a-983b-4be7-9fa3-08081f5c868b.png)
6. Click **OK** to save your changes, otherwise, click **Cancel**.

> [See a detailed example of using formulas in a Decision Table](/v1/docs/example-using-formulas-in-decision-tables)

---

## Add or remove a Decision

Follow these steps to add a decision to a Decision Table:

1. [Edit the Decision Table](/v1/docs/manage-a-decision-table#edit-a-decision-table).
2. Do one of the following:
  - **Add a new decision below a selected decision:** Hover over the dot to the right of the existing row to add a new row, and then click the ![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/0efc87b8-658b-43c1-995c-39aa3152fd09.png) icon.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/56d049ef-a42f-4307-98dc-e16735bca0e6.png)
  - **Add a new row above or below a selected decision:** Right-click on the decision, and select one of the following options:
    - Select the **Add Row Above** option to add a new decision above the selected decision: .
    - Select the **Add Row Below** option to add a new decision below the selected decision:
3. Enter the business rule (input and output values) for the new decision.
4. To remove a decision, do one of the following:
  - Click the index number for that decision row, and then click the ![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/4462125c-5c29-4616-8aba-bd174a725b7d.png) icon.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/b8f769dd-7d95-4d59-be60-acb2862fa554.png)
  - Right-click on the index number for that decision row to be removed, and then select the **Remove** option.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/16c55e08-c8f4-43f8-b321-59aa53e2d051.png)

The **Caution** screen displays to confirm the removal of the decision.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/b541cd93-aa26-4952-a17f-c887dfc0f8c5.png)
5. Click **Confirm**. The decision is removed if it was not the only decision in that Decision Table.
6. Note that the Decision Table must have at least one row. Attempts to remove a decision row when it is the only decision displays the following message: **It cannot be delete because there should always be a rule.**.

---

## Move an Input or Output Column in a Decision Table

Follow these steps to move an input or output column in a Decision Table:

1. [Edit the Decision Table](/v1/docs/manage-a-decision-table#edit-a-decision-table). Decision input columns display immediately below the **Inputs** section. Decision output columns displays immediately below the **Outputs** section.

![Decision Table.png](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/Decision%20Table.png)
2. Do one of the following:
  - **Move a decision input column to the left or right of other input columns:** Right-click on the decision input's label, and then select the **Move Column Left** option or the **Move Column Right** option to move that column to the left or right of its current position in its section, respectively. **Note:** Decision input columns cannot be moved outside of the **Inputs** section. Attempts to move a decision input column to the **Output** section are ignored.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/48222d7b-5141-42b7-a67d-e805907cba2a.png)
  - **Move a decision output column to the left or right of other output columns:** Right-click on the decision output's label, and then select the **Move Column Left** option or the **Move Column Right** option to move that column to the left or right of its current position in its section, respectively. **Note:** Decision output columns cannot be moved outside of the **Outputs** section. Attempts to move an output column to the **Input** section are ignored.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/78b375e5-4805-43bd-a222-1d162fd1d1e7.png)

---

## Resize an input or Output Column in a Decision Table

Input and output columns of a Decision Table can be resized to improve data visibility. Follow these steps to remove an input or output column from a Decision Table:

1. [Open a Decision Table for editing](/v1/docs/manage-a-decision-table#edit-a-decision-table).
2. Hover your mouse between two column headers until the shape of the cursor changes.
3. Drag the column to the desired width.

---

## Save and Close a Decision Table

Follow these steps to save a Decision Table:

1. [Edit a Decision Table](/v1/docs/manage-a-decision-table#edit-a-decision-table).
2. Click **Save**. The following message displays: **The Decision Table was saved.**

> [!NOTE]
> Changes made to a Decision Table are also automatically saved. The date and time of the last save are displayed in the top right corner of the Decision Table Editor.
> 
> ![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/c6406305-67c2-4e9e-8861-c1d6a9eaf7d4.png)
3. To save a Decision Table, click **Close**.
4. If the Decision Table has unsaved changes, then the **Caution** screen displays to confirm saving the changes prior to closing the Decision Table.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/2d311614-fcb7-4424-8b4c-d4d3091eebeb/Images/Documentation/3a7db749-f418-4811-b3ef-14a23e8a94d0.png)
5. Click **Confirm** to save changes prior to closing the Decision Table.

## Related

- [Decision Tables](/decision-tables.md)
- [Decision Table Categories](/decision-table-categories.md)
- [Import and Export a Decision Table](/import-and-export-a-decision-table.md)
- [Test and Use a Decision Table](/test-a-decision-table.md)
- [Manage a Decision Table](/manage-a-decision-table.md)