Starting Workflows with Object References: Details

Use

Detail: Establishing the reference object

When starting workflows manually, the reference object is established in different ways depending on the call method:

  • Start workflow with reference as a function of the workflow inbox, workflow outbox or workflow resubmissions:

    The reference object that determines the tasks that can be selected is derived from the column in which the cursor is positioned when the start workflow with reference function is called.

    • The cursor is positioned on the column Object:

      The reference object is the object referenced in the _WI_Object_ID element of the work item container.

    • The cursor is positioned on the Group column:

      The reference object is the object referenced in the _WI_Group_ID element of the work item container.

    • The cursor is on a different column:

      The reference object is derived from the object references in the work item container. If there is more than one object, a dialog box containing all the objects in the work item container is displayed. You must then choose one object from this box.

    For this function, it is only useful to use work items for business purposes which have a reference to an application object in their workflow container. Therefore, work items that reference instance-independent methods (such as Find or Create) cannot be used.

  • Start workflow as a Generic Object Service:

    The reference object is the object being processed when the function is called.

Detail: Which workflows are offered for selection?

The following criteria must be fulfilled for a workflow to be offered for selection:

  • You must be one of the possible agents of the workflow.

  • An import element of the workflow container must be defined with a reference to the object type that is defined as the basis for the selection (see above). When the workflow is started, this element is assigned the object reference.

    If the workflow contains mandatory import elements that do not refer to the reference object type found above, it is not suitable and is not offered for selection.