Alert vs. Error Messages in Workday

This article will walk a user through the differences between Alert and Error Messages in Workday.

Alert Messages

An orange alert message appears on a screen in Workday when a potential issue exists. The alert enables you to continue with the task you are trying to perform without having to resolve the issue.

The alert message typically appears at the top of the screen as well as next to the field or object causing the alert message.

For example, if a student tries to add a course to their academic plan for an academic period in which the course is not typically offered, Workday displays an orange alert message. While not recommended, the student can proceed without resolving the issue.

An example of an alert message in Workday. Alert messages also appear on the page with an explanation of why there is an alert message. In this example, the alert is related to a course. The user tried to plan a course during an academic period that the course is not typically offered. The alert message suggests the user select a different course for the academic period.

Error Messages

A red error message appears on a screen in Workday if the user does not fill in all required fields or complete all required actions. Until the user resolves the error(s), they will not be able to proceed.

The error message typically appears at the top of the screen as well as next to the field or object causing the error message.

For example, if a student tries to register for a course where they do not meet the academic requirement(s), they will not be able to continue registering for that course.

An example of an error message in Workday. Error messages also appear on the page with an explanation of why there is an error message. In this example, the error is related to a user not fulfilling academic requirements. The user will not be able to continue with their process until the errors are resolved.

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