Starting Workflows in Dialog (SAP Library

Starting Workflows in Dialog

Use

This function can be used to start the workflows you have created in dialog. "In dialog" means that the workflow is not started by a triggering event but manually. It is irrelevant whether triggering events are defined for the workflow.

For further information, refer to Advancing With Immediate Dialog.

Prerequisites

You can only start tasks in dialog if you are entered as a possible agent for them.

Features

Starting workflows

The screen for starting workflows has two parts. The workflows you have defined are listed on the left. The description of the workflow selected on the left is displayed on the right.

You can use the standard toolbar to go to the workflow outbox and the Business Workplace.

You can start a workflow by selecting it and then choosing either in the left screen area or the Start function in the right screen area.

Starting with details

The function Start with details can be used to add information such as attachments, notes or deadlines to the workflow via three tab pages. The attachments and notes are available to all agents of the workflow.

Tab page Properties

You can maintain the priority of the workflow, its latest end and its requested start here. If you set the indicator Create flag for started workflow in inbox, you get a work item in your inbox when the workflow is started, which calls the relevant workflow log during execution. The system deletes this flag automatically when the workflow is terminated.

Tab page Note at start

The note that you create here is added to the workflow as an attachment.

Tab page 0 Attachments

Here you can create (), display (), import () and delete () attachments for the workflow.

You start the workflow with the function Start workflow.

Starting via start transaction

If a start transaction is defined for the workflow, the defined transaction is started instead of detail maintenance.

As with detail maintenance, you can change the priority, add attachments and maintain deadline data via . In contrast to detail maintenance, you cannot create any new attachments. However, it is possible to create ad hoc objects (in contrast to attachments, these are assigned to the container element _Adhoc_Objects ).

Make the entries required in the input fields you have created. This assigns values to the import elements of the interface of the workflow to be started. Use the F4 input help if required.

Starting workflows with object references

Starting a workflow with an object reference allows you to extend a process at runtime and initiate additional subsequent activities on an ad hoc and flexible basis.

This function is not available everywhere. The function assumes that the system recognizes as a reference object a particular application object (for example document, invoice, item of master data) that you are processing.

The process flow is as follows:

The system establishes a reference object from the current call context.

The current call context is, for example, a work item selected in the workflow inbox of the Business Workplace. This work item can then contain the notification of absence xy as a reference object.

The system establishes the object type for this reference object.

The system displays all workflows that refer to this object type so you can make your selection. This uses the same function as Starting workflows (see above). If there is no appropriate workflow, you can create a new workflow ad hoc. For further information, refer to Defining Workflows Ad Hoc .

The system starts the selected workflow and passes the reference object to the task.

Activities

The function Start workflow can be accessed via Office ® Start workflow or via Tools ® Business Workflow ® Development ® Runtime tools ® Start workflow.

The function Start workflows with object reference is available within the Business Workplace in the workflow inbox, the workflow outbox and the workflow resubmissions under Environment.