---
title: "Steps overview"
url: "https://docs.robotiq.ai/en/article/steps-overview"
language: "en"
last_updated: "2026-03-13T10:03:48.350Z"
---

# Steps overview

Steps are the individual actions that make up a Robotiq.ai automation process. Each step does a specific task. You combine steps to build complete workflows.

## How to Add a Step

1.  Go to the process editor page.
2.  Click the "+" button.
3.  Select "Step".
4.  In the "Search" bar, type the step name or find it in the view bar.

**Tip:** Each step has an info button. Click it to see documentation for that specific step.

## Step Categories

Robotiq.ai puts steps into groups based on what they do:

-   Text
-   Lists
-   Numbers
-   Date and Time
-   Loops & Conditions
-   Excel, Database, and Datatable
-   Web Browser
-   Windows
-   Email
-   File System
-   Functions
-   Other steps

## Variable Naming Convention

A valid variable name must begin with a letter (a–z, A–Z) or an underscore (\_). It may contain only letters, digits, or underscores. Additionally, it must not be a reserved keyword in Python or C# such as `class`, `return`, `True`, `public`, `while`, `new`, ...

![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/572e9788-45d1-485c-a36c-ec93c747620a)

## Step Options

You can manage individual steps or groups of steps in the process editor.

### Individual Step Options

Click the three dots on a step to see these options:

-   **Delete step:** Removes the step and its information from the process.
-   **Disable step:** Temporarily turns off the step when the process runs. This helps when testing specific parts of your code.
-   **Edit step:** Opens the step editor to change settings and information. You can also right-click a step to open this editor.

### Multiple Step Options

Select one or more steps by clicking the top right corner of each step. Then choose from these options:

-   **Group steps:** Puts selected steps into a group to make them easier to see.
-   **Delete steps:** Removes all selected steps.
-   **Cut steps:** Removes selected steps and copies them to the clipboard.
-   **Copy steps:** Copies selected steps to the clipboard.
-   **Extract to Function:** Saves selected steps as a function you can use again. You can then use this function in other processes within your Headquarters.
-   **Uncheck all steps:** Deselects all currently selected steps.

## Related Articles

-   [Understand how to use reusable functions](https://docs.robotiq.ai/en/article/functions)
-   [Learn about Process Arguments](https://docs.robotiq.ai/en/article/process-arguments)
-   [Create and manage processes](https://docs.robotiq.ai/en/article/processes)

## Need Help?

Can't find what you're looking for? Join the [Robotiq Community](https://community.robotiq.ai/home/) to get help from other users and the Robotiq team.

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