Starting Tasks and Workflows 

Use

There are various options for starting tasks and workflows. You must be aware of these options when defining a task or workflow.

Integration

A started workflow is represented by a workflow work item, and a started task by a dialog work item or a background work item.

Features

Tasks and workflows can be started in the following ways.

By an event

The system starts the task or workflow when a triggering event defined for this purpose occurs. The following requirements must be met:

The linkage may be deactivated by the system if the start was unsuccessful. If this occurs, try to analyze and resolve the error by simulating an event.

To use data stored with the event in the execution, a binding can be defined from the event container to the workflow container or task container.

A task or workflow can have several triggering events. If one of the triggering events is generated in the system, the relevant execution is started.

Triggering events are only required for a task if the task is to be executed as a single step in response to an event. If you only want to use the task as a step in a workflow, the task does not require any triggering events.

For further information, refer to Creating Triggering Events.

You can also start a task or workflow defined with a triggering event on a test basis using this event. For further information, refer to Creation of Events for Test Purposes .

Directly in dialog

You start the task or workflow yourself. For further information, refer to:

A task or workflow started by a triggering event is normally provided with input data from the event container. If you start a task or workflow of this kind in dialog, you must enter the input parameters manually. Therefore, you will usually only start a task or workflow with a triggering event in dialog for test purposes.

From a message long text

This function is only available with messages for which an appropriate assignment is maintained. A user can start the relevant workflow when the message is triggered. For further information, refer to Starting Workflows or Tasks from Message Long Texts.

By a workflow

The system starts a task or workflow if the task or workflow is integrated in another workflow as a step. If the task is executed in dialog, possible agents must be assigned to it, or it must be classified as a general task.

To execute a task as a step in a workflow, the task does not require triggering events.

For further information, refer to Maintenance of Activities.