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A linkage defines the assignment of events to the event receivers interested in them.

The potential receiver of an event must define the linkage. This can be done using function modules provided or a maintenance transaction.

Type linkages and instance linkages are used within Business Workflow. Workflows and tasks can be started when a particular event occurs using type linkages, and work items can be continued using instance linkages.

Caution Caution

It is only necessary to maintain linkages manually if you use events within your own separate developments. If events are used exclusively within the SAP Business Workflow environment, all the definitions required are carried out by the workflow system.

End of the caution.

Features

The workflow system in the form of the event manager evaluates all the events created. In doing this, the event manager carries out the following steps:

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  1. The event manager checks all the active linkages and determines the linkages that are relevant for the event created.

  2. If a receiver type function module is entered, it is called to determine the receiver type.

    Note Note

    Linkages that are evaluated by Business Workflow must have the entry WORKITEM or EVENTITEM or a workflow/task ID as receiver type.

    End of the note.

  3. If a check function module is entered it is called. If its execution terminates with an exception, the linkage is not executed.

  4. The receiver function module is called with the parameters event, receiver type, and event container.

    Note Note

    For more information on using these function modules, see Function Modules for Processing Events.

    End of the note.

If the event manager does not find any relevant linkages, the event has not effect. Events are not buffered so that they can be delivered at a later date.

Note Note

It is, however, possible to temporarily store a receiver to be started due to an event in the event queue. Only those receivers whose linkages were active when the event was generated can be stored. For more information, see Administration of Event Queue.

End of the note.

The linkage between the creator and the receiver can be activated and deactivated at definition time and even at runtime for a specific situation or customer using an indicator.

Activities

For an overview of the type linkages that are defined, choose   Tools   Business   Development   Event   Type Linkages  . For an overview of the instance linkages that are defined, choose   Tools   Business Workflow   Development   Administration   Event Manager   Instance Linkages  .

For more information on the linkages used in SAP Business Workflow, see