- Introduction
- Getting started
- Process modeling
- Process implementation
- Working with files in Maestro processes
- Data Fabric operations
- Using agents in Maestro
- Business rules
- Process apps
- Debugging
- Simulating
- Publishing and upgrading agentic processes
- Common implementation scenarios
- Extracting and validating documents
- Process operations
- Process monitoring
- Process optimization
- Reference information
Maestro user guide
Maestro processes can query and update Data Fabric records directly from BPMN task expressions and output mappings. This page documents the supported query prefixes and output actions.
Query prefixes
A query prefix in a Data Fabric expression retrieves records by field value instead of by internal record ID. Two prefixes are supported:
| Prefix | Full name | Return type | No-match behavior | Multiple-match behavior |
|---|---|---|---|---|
qes: | Query Expansion Single | Single record | Returns an empty result | Returns an error |
qem: | Query Expansion Multiple | Array of up to 1,000 records | Returns an empty array | Returns all matching records |
Expression syntax
datafabric.EntityName["qes:FieldName=Value"].FieldToRead
datafabric.EntityName["qem:FieldName=Value"]
datafabric.EntityName["qes:FieldName=Value"].FieldToRead
datafabric.EntityName["qem:FieldName=Value"]
Example — single record lookup:
datafabric.LoanApplicationCase["qes:CaseId=HL-999"].LoanAmount
datafabric.LoanApplicationCase["qes:CaseId=HL-999"].LoanAmount
Example — multiple record lookup:
datafabric.LoanApplicationCase["qem:Status=Pending"]
datafabric.LoanApplicationCase["qem:Status=Pending"]
When to use each prefix
qes: is suited for lookups where exactly one record is expected. When the query matches more than one record, Maestro returns an error and the workflow stops. When no record is found, Maestro returns an empty result and continues execution.
qem: is suited for queries that may return more than one record. Maestro returns an array of up to 1,000 matching records. A process can iterate over the array using a multi-instance marker or a loop, enabling fan-out patterns across multiple Data Fabric records in a single step.
When migrating expressions from qes: to qem:, update downstream variable references. qes: returns a single record object; qem: returns an array.
Output actions
BPMN task outputs that target a Data Fabric entity support three actions. The action determines whether the output inserts a new record, modifies an existing one, or does both depending on whether a matching record exists.
| Action | Behavior | Record must exist |
|---|---|---|
create | Inserts a new record | No |
update | Modifies an existing record identified by record ID | Yes |
upsert | Inserts a new record if no match is found; updates the existing record if a match is found | No |
The output action is configured in the Output section of the task properties panel. For more information about the properties panel, see Configuring properties and data.