Edit, test, and deploy workflows with drafts
- Latest Dynatrace
- How-to guide
- 5-min read
- Published Sep 28, 2026
A workflow can have two versions at the same time: a Draft and a Live version. This lets you build, test, and iterate without touching what's already running.
Draft and live versions
When you create a workflow in the 
Workflows, it starts as a draft.
Deploying the workflow makes it live.
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Draft means the workflow is not triggered automatically and does not consume workflow hours. You can edit it freely and run it manually to test changes.
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Live means the workflow runs on its trigger and its executions appear in the Executions tab. Live standard workflows consume workflow hours; live simple workflows don't.
A live workflow can also have a draft: a separate in-progress copy that you edit alongside the running live version. Deploying that draft makes it the new live version.
Draft and live workflow lifecycle
A typical workflow authoring cycle looks like this:
- You create a workflow in Workflows by selecting Workflow.
The workflow starts as a Draft.
- Select Run to test the draft manually.
- Select Deploy to go live. The trigger activates, and the workflow starts consuming workflow hours.
- When you need to make changes, select Edit in draft, make your changes, and select Create draft > Save draft. A new draft is created alongside the running live version.
- Test your draft by selecting Run.
- From the draft banner menu, select Compare draft changes to see what changed. You can compare draft versions or drafts with the live version.
- Select Deploy again to have the changes in the live workflow version. The draft becomes the new live version, and a new entry is saved in Version history.
- To pause a workflow entirely, Undeploy it. The live version becomes the draft, replacing any existing draft. The trigger stops, workflow hours billing stops, and you can continue editing or redeploy later.
Run a workflow manually
You can run any workflow manually, whether it is in draft or live state.
To run a workflow manually:
- Go to Workflows.
- Select the workflow.
- Select Run.
The Executions dropdown in the toolbar shows recent runs scoped for the current view: draft executions when viewing the draft, and live executions across all previous live versions when viewing the live version.
Draft executions don't appear in the Executions tab of the Workflows app.
Running a draft manually can still trigger billable consumption of other capabilities, for example, AppEngine function invocations or DQL queries. Only workflow hours themselves aren't charged for drafts.
Deploy a draft
Deploying makes the draft workflow live, activates its trigger, and saves a new version in Version history. For details on versions, see Compare and restore versions.
To deploy a draft:
- Go to Workflows.
- Open the workflow in Draft.
- Select Deploy.
For a new workflow, workflow hours billing starts at this point. For an existing live workflow, deploying the draft updates the live workflow.
Edit a workflow
You can edit a workflow with a live version in two ways:
- Edit in draft opens a separate copy alongside the running live version without affecting it. Select Save to create a draft.
- Edit live directly saves changes immediately to the running workflow, without creating a draft.
Edit in draft
Use this when the change needs testing, involves multiple steps, or must not affect the live workflow until you're ready.
- Go to Workflows.
- Open the workflow.
- From the live banner, select Edit in draft.
A draft is created alongside the live version. The live workflow continues running with its current configuration while you work.
Edit live directly
Use the option to edit a workflow directly in the live version for small, low-risk changes when you don't need to test first.
- Go to Workflows.
- Open the workflow.
- If you have a draft workflow, the editor opens in Draft mode.
- Select Switch to live.
- Make the changes.
- Select Save.
If a draft exists, editing and saving a live workflow discards the draft. This is because the draft is no longer based on the latest live version.
Compare draft to live
Before deploying, you can review exactly what changed between the draft and the live version.
- Go to Workflows.
- Open the workflow.
- Open the menu in the draft or live banner.
- Select Compare draft changes.
The two versions are shown side by side with all differences highlighted.
Undeploy a live version
Undeploying converts the live version to draft. Its trigger stops, and the workflow hours billing stops.
To undeploy:
- Go to Workflows.
- Open the workflow.
- If you have a draft, the editor opens in draft mode.
- Select Switch to live.
- In the live banner, open the menu.
- Select Undeploy workflow.
If you have an unsaved draft alongside the live version, the draft is discarded, and the live definition becomes the draft. You can continue editing, and once you're ready, you can redeploy at any time.
Delete a draft
To discard draft changes without affecting the live workflow:
- Go to Workflows.
- Open the workflow.
- In the draft banner, select .
- Select Delete draft.
The live workflow is unaffected. Your draft changes are permanently removed.
Download the draft or live version
You can download either the draft or the live version of a workflow, as a workflow or as a template. Open the menu in the banner of the version you want to download, and select Workflow or Template.
For details, see Download a workflow and Download a template.