Documentum Workflow for dummies -II ( Automatic activities)

Lets look at how we can add an automatic activity to the workflow we created in the previous blog post.

Creating a workflow method for automatic activity
1. Here is a template workflow method. Create one like this using your IDE and compile it


2. drop the compiled class in C:\Documentum\dba\java_methods, including the package structure if any.
3. open up Documentum Administrator and go to Job management->Methods
4. Select menu File->new and create a new method object. The properties page of the newly created method should look like this

5. log out of DA and open up a IAPI command window and login to the docbase through iapi
6. type

retrieve,c,dm_method where object_name='SampleAutomaticActivity'

7. this will retrieve the object id of the method object we just created.
8. type

dump,c,l

9. This will dump the method object. if you look at the object dump the attribute a_special_app will not have a value assigned.
10. Assign the a_special_app attribhute the value 'Workflow' without the quotes. Type the follwoing line to do that.

set,c,l,a_special_app
SET>Workflow

11. save the property change. Now the workflow method is ready to be attached to an automatic activity

save,c,l

Creating automatic activity in the process
1. open up the workflow/process created in the previous blog in process builder.
2. uninstall the process/workflow.
3. click on 'create automatic activity' icon on the top toolbar(its the one with the image of a gear wheel)
4. Click anywhere in the workspace. An automatic activity instance will be palce where you clicked.
5. go back to the 'selct objects' mode by clicking the mouse pointer icon on the toolbar.
6. Drag and place the automatic activity between manual activities activity-2 and activity-3(or anywhere you choose between initiate and end)
7. re-connect the connectors so that the process now flows through the automatic activity.
8. Open up the automatic activity's activity inspector and go to performer tag
9. Drop down the combo box named 'Executed this method automatically'.
10. Select the method created above. it should show up in this list otherwise dump the method object(dm_method) you created and check the value of a_special_app property. It should be 'Workflow' without the quotes. Only methods with a_special_app value set to Workflow will show up in this list.
11. save, validate and install the workflow. The workflow will look similar to this

12. Executing the workflow now will execute the automatic activity, try running it from webtop. To see this working in the process builder we can use the debug feature of the 6.5 process builder. Will explain how to use the debug feature in antoher blog.

Documentum Workflow for dummies

The hardest part of learning a new product is during the first few hours, especially if you are trying to learn it on your own. Here is a quick and dirty tutorial to spring board you into BPM. Before getting into the tutorial some clarifications on the latest product name changes in the TCM(transactional Content management) space.

BPM is old name for Process Builder
BPS/BPI is old name for Process Integrator

Process builder is the 'big brother' of Workflow Manager.

All products mentioned here is of version 6.5. To create and run a basic work flow in process builder the following products are essential.

Content Server(of course!)
Process Builder(obviously!)
Webtop(without this you can only create a workflow not run it)

Install Sequence
1. Content Server
2. Process builder
3. Forms builder docapp(even if you don't need forms builder, process builder docapp neeeds forms builder docap)
4. Process builder docapp
5. Webtop(ideally on a diff machine which runs an app server)

Pre-req steps
1. log into webtop as superuser/docbase owner
2. Go to Administration -> User management-> Users
3. Create the following users( make them iniline users, leave everything else other than the mandatory fields default/blank)

• performer1
• performer2
• performer3

Steps to create a quick workflow
1. Open Process builder and connect to a docbase
2. Click on create manual activity icon on the tool bar and click anywhere in the work area(where the initiate and end activity shows up)
3. Click 3 times in the work area, this will create 3 activities 'activity-1', 'activity-2' and 'activity-3'.
4. Click on the create flow icon from the tool bar and draw flow lines from

• initiate to activity-1
• activity1 to activity-2
• activity-2 to activity-3
• activity-3 to end
  

5. click on 'create reject flow' icon on the tool bar and draw a flow line from activity-2 to activity-1

6. Select 'activity-1' and open 'activity inspector' from the right click menu.
7. In the 'activity inspector' go to performer tab.
8. select the tab 'by one or more manual performers'
9. click on the select performer button and select 'specific user' from the drop down, make sure 'assign performers now' radio is selected and hit next

10. In the groups list box select '' and in the users list box select the 'performer1' user and hit finish.
11. repeat steps 6-10 2 more times for

• activity-2 assigning performer2
• activity-3 assigning performer3

12. Select 'activity-2' and open 'activity inspector' from the right click menu.
13. select the 'transitions' tab for the drop down 'when this activity completes' select the option 'let performer select the next activities'
14. hit apply and ok.
16. Save(provide a name for the template and install it in a subfolder of your home folder), validate and install(process builder will automatically prompt for validation and installation when saving a process template).

Running the work flow

17. Login to web top and navigate tot he folder where the workflow is saved. If you don't see anything select the filter on right to 'show all objects and version'.
18. right click and select 'start' from the menu.
19. hit next and finish.
20. login to webtop as performer1 and goto inbox, you should see a task in your inbox. Right click and view. The hit finish, the task show disappear from your inbox.
21. login to webtop ad performer2 and goto inbox, you should see the task in your inbox. Right click and view, here you should see 2 options 'Forward' and 'Reject'. Hitting forward will take the task to performer3's inbox,rejection will take the task back to performer1's inbox. hit forward.
22. login to webtop as performer3 and goto inbox the task will be there. View the task and hit finish. This will complete the workflow.

In step 21 hitting the 'reject' will take the workflow task back to performer1's inbox. This simulates a rejection path in a workflow.

I have not addressed the technical side or the application side of the workflow because this is meant to be a quick and dirty lesson to help you break the ice with the Documentum process builder. The Process Builder user guide, content server fundamental and other documentation will explain in detail the associated types, objects etc of workflows. Hopefully this will tutorial will make it easier to go through those detailed specs.