Starting Workflows with Object References: Details (SAP Library)

Starting Workflows with Object References: Details

Details: Establishing the reference object

When starting workflows, 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 in the Object column:

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

The cursor is positioned in the Group column:

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

The cursor is positioned in 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.

Only those work items whose work item container contains a reference to an application object can be used in a meaningful manner from a business perspective for this functionality. 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.

Details: Which workflows can be selected?

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 was determined 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.

If the workflows offered do not provide the functionality required, you can define an ad hoc workflow. For further information, refer to Defining Workflows Ad Hoc .