A process instance can be reset to any specific execution point or step within the instance. This is helpful when debugging an instance. There are two methods to achieve this. 

Approach One:

A process instance in sleeping or aborted status can be reset to its original design by selecting it from the list and clicking the Actions—Reset—To Step menu option. This is useful after executing an instance if the process design has changed. A new instance based on the definition does not need to be created to retest the definition.

The Reset Instance pop-up window appears below. Choose the desired step from the pop-up and confirm. The drop-down menu lists each executed step along with its step execution iteration # next to the step name. After selecting an item from the drop-down, click the “Reset to step” button to revert the instance to that point. 

Click OK to reset the process instance. Note: All data related to the execution will be removed for the selected instance. 

You can go to the Process Instance page to verify the reset instance. 

Approach Two:

On the Process Instances page, select the “sleeping” instance status from the list. Click on the View - Render menu option. The process instance execution flow appears on the new page.  

Here, the process instance is at the Form-Task step, with some steps already completed.

Click on the Decision step to view its properties. This process step is completed. Click the “Reset to Step” button. 

The Reset pop-up window appears for configuration. Check the box to re-execute the instance after reset or to update all master variables after reset. Note: Selecting the checkbox resets all variable values. Uncheck the box to skip resetting the master variables. Use the filters to refresh the design to 'none', 'only the next steps', or the ‘entire process design’. Click OK to confirm the reset. 

The Step properties status is now “Reset”. 

The process instance continued execution after reset and is now sleeping at the next step, as shown below. 

On the Reset pop-up window, if the “Execute instance after reset” box is unchecked, then the process instance status is set to the “Reset” state, requiring a manual restart through the UI to continue. 

The process instance status is “Reset”. Click the Execute - Selected menu option to restart this instance. 

The process instance begins “executing” and the workflow proceeds as configured. 

Select the process instance and click on the View - History menu option. 

The list of events is shown in the table, and as observed, the instance reset action is recorded as an event.