Storing Additional Information in the System 

Use

There are various ways in which you can store additional information about objects (such as a detailed process description) in the system:

·        You can enter free text concerning an object (such as a process) in text boxes as a description or comment.

·        You can specify for an object links to documents stored externally.

·        You can upload documents into the system as an attachment to an object.

·        You can provide links to documents in the More Information area on the start page.

Prerequisites

To upload documents as an attachment, a specific HTTP Service must be activated. For more information, see the documentation on the IMG activity Activate Web Applications in the IMG for MIC.

Features

Textbox

You can enter texts of unrestricted length in a text box. However, no formatting options are available for these texts. Textboxes can be changed in the form view of the detail area of a People-Centric UI application.

Documents and Links

In the case of Web applications that have the Documents and Links tab page in the detail area, you can specify links to externally stored documents for the object that you are currently editing in the Web application. To do this, enter under Link the URL with the prefix http:// for links to the Internet or file:// for links to files on a server, for example.

You can also upload documents into the system. This enables you to store in MIC any process documentation that you have created using process modeling software, for example.

To upload documents, choose Add Document, enter the document details and then upload the document from your PC into the system. Once you have saved, the document can be called up using a link in the Callup column.

When you choose this link, either the document is opened directly in the browser (if the browser recognizes the document type) or it can be opened in the corresponding application or downloaded to the PC. To open it directly in the browser, you can use the corresponding standard browser function to download the document. In the Internet Explorer, for example, you choose Save Target As from the context menu (accessible with a right mouse click). If you want to change the downloaded document and place the changed version back in the system, you have to upload the document again. When repeating the upload, you can decide whether you overwrite the old version, create a new version for the existing document, or create an entirely new entry.

Note that the link for calling up a document only has a validity period of two hours (for security reasons). If you exceed this two-hour limit in the Web application and then select the link, you receive an error message. In this case, update the browser window. Doing this creates a new URL.

Links on the Start Page

You can use the start page  to offer from a central location links to documents stored externally. You create such links under Display Documents with Additional Information on Start Page in the IMG for MIC.