# Step 1b: Workflow Continuation Handler

<step-meta>
number: 1b
name: continue
gate: false
</step-meta>

## Mandatory Execution Rules

- DETECT existing workflow state from output document frontmatter
- READ complete document to understand current progress
- PRESENT continuation options to user before proceeding
- NEVER proceed without user confirmation

## Purpose

Handle workflow resumption when an existing architecture document is detected. This step is invoked automatically when step 1 finds an existing document with `stepsCompleted` in frontmatter.

## Detection Trigger

Step 1 redirects here when:
1. Output file `{output_file}` already exists
2. Document has frontmatter with `stepsCompleted` array
3. Workflow was previously started but not completed

## Instructions

1. **Read Existing State**:
   - Parse frontmatter for `stepsCompleted` array
   - Identify last completed step
   - Load document content to understand current progress

2. **Analyze Progress**:
   - Which steps are complete?
   - What decisions have been made?
   - Are there any inconsistencies?

3. **Present Continuation Options**:
   Based on current state, offer user choices:

## Actions

- Read: `{output_file}` completely (including frontmatter)
- Parse: `stepsCompleted` from frontmatter
- Analyze: Current document state

## Output

Present to user:

```markdown
## Workflow Continuation

**Document found:** {output_file}
**Steps completed:** {stepsCompleted}
**Last step:** {last_step_name}

### Current Document State
{summary of what's been decided so far}

### Continuation Options

- **[C] Continue** - Resume from step {next_step}
- **[R] Restart** - Start fresh (will archive existing document)
- **[V] View** - Show complete document before deciding
```

## Continuation Flow

After user selects [C]:
1. Load the next incomplete step file
2. Resume workflow from that point
3. Continue normal step progression

After user selects [R]:
1. Archive existing document to `{output_file}.backup-{timestamp}`
2. Return to step 1 for fresh initialization
3. Proceed with new workflow

## Success Metrics

- Existing workflow detected and state loaded correctly
- User informed of current progress
- Continuation or restart handled smoothly
- No data loss (archive before restart)

## Failure Modes

- Proceeding without user confirmation
- Not loading complete existing document
- Losing work by overwriting without archive
- Misreading stepsCompleted array
