# User information not passed to flow, depending on how the flow is started **URL:** \ **Category:** Questions & Help\ **Tags:** homey-pro\ **Created:** [November 7, 2023, 1:12pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/user-information-not-passed-to-flow-depending-on-how-the-flow-is-started/93954 "2023-11-07T13:12:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Markus\_Trinkner](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/markus_trinkner/32/79282_2.png) [@Markus\_Trinkner](https://community.homey.app/u/Markus_Trinkner)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2023, 1:12pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/user-information-not-passed-to-flow-depending-on-how-the-flow-is-started/93954/1 "2023-11-07T13:12:54Z")
In a simple flow I use the user information, but the information is only available depending on how the flow was started. Do I use the test function, the user information is readily available. Do I use the start arrow displayed with the three dots menu, the user information is not provided. Anybody having an idea, what is wrong here? ---
**Author:** ![DirkG](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/dirkg/32/118897_2.png) [@DirkG](https://community.homey.app/u/DirkG)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2023, 2:56pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/user-information-not-passed-to-flow-depending-on-how-the-flow-is-started/93954/2 "2023-11-07T14:56:35Z")
> First of all, welcome to the Homey Community! > > To make sure you are aware of the forum rules, please read the _ **Welcome to the forum!** _ post [here](https://community.homey.app/t/welcome-to-the-forum/31). ---
**Author:** ![DirkG](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/dirkg/32/118897_2.png) [@DirkG](https://community.homey.app/u/DirkG)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2023, 3:00pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/user-information-not-passed-to-flow-depending-on-how-the-flow-is-started/93954/3 "2023-11-07T15:00:31Z")
Hi Markus, welcome to the Homey Community! Could you please share your flow? Because I have absolut no clue what you’re talking about, sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Markus\_Trinkner](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/markus_trinkner/32/79282_2.png) [@Markus\_Trinkner](https://community.homey.app/u/Markus_Trinkner)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2023, 8:03pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/user-information-not-passed-to-flow-depending-on-how-the-flow-is-started/93954/4 "2023-11-12T20:03:01Z")
The idea, in general, is to send a notification to the user who initiated anything. I have solar roof and I want to control what the inverter is doing. The setup for the logic looks like this: A user initiates a flow A) to change the behaviour of the inverter. This flow presses/releases a virtual button B) to trigger another flow C) which than sends the information to the user who “pressed/released” the virtual button (the information is stored in a global variable). Flow A looks like this: ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/4/1/4159994b66603cc35d6d4fd1a1d821a050155b98.png) When I start the Flow A) with clicking on the Start symbol, the user is being recognized and recieves the message as intended. When I start the Flow A) in the menu by clicking on “Starten”, the user is not being recognized ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/9/a/9a33f6cb5f7e11d67ac7c1b49249d6adad5a9f43.png) Any idea on what causes the different behauviour? ---
**Author:** ![DirkG](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/dirkg/32/118897_2.png) [@DirkG](https://community.homey.app/u/DirkG)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2023, 10:44am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/user-information-not-passed-to-flow-depending-on-how-the-flow-is-started/93954/5 "2023-11-13T10:44:47Z")
No, not really, sorry. But you didn’t post the important flow which contains the information about which user started the flow, if I understood you correctly. The difference between starting an Advanced Flow via the blue “Start Button ▶” within the flow and “Starten” via the menu with the three dots is, that the the blue “Start Button ▶” starts only a simulation. Btw, I have no clue how to fetch the information which user started a flow, but my suggestion is to use a virtual button instead of the blue “Start Button ▶”.