Design and run workflows

This section contains information to help you design and run workflows.

Attachments
An attachment is a link to information a participant uses to complete a step in a workflow. For example, in a workflow for processing insurance claims, the submitted claim form and associated medical reports could be attachments.
Open XPDL 2.0 documents in Process Designer
Easy to use diagramming tools that support BPMN (a graphical notation with standardized shapes for business processes) and mapping to XPDL enable business users to exchange process maps with developers who implement the process in advanced process modeling applications, such as Process Designer.
Component Integrator
The Component Integrator makes it possible to import custom Java™ components as code modules, making them available in a workflow. In addition, a Java Platform, Enterprise Edition JMS queue can be configured as a component queue where the work object, in XML format, is sent to the JMS queue when the work item is routed to the component queue in the workflow.
Using Content Extended Operations in a workflow definition
To facilitate manipulation of documents in either Content Platform Engine or IBM® Content Manager repositories, FileNet® P8 uses the Component Integrator infrastructure to provide the Content Extended Operations (Java methods) that can be used in component steps of a workflow.
Workflow inheritance
To establish consistent processing and expedite creation of workflow definitions across a group of related processes, you can create workflow definitions that inherit the workflow maps, data fields, attachments, workflow group definitions, and other properties from other previously defined workflow definitions.
About launching a workflow
Launching a workflow begins the process specified in the workflow definition.
Integrating business rules
Workflow authors and business analysts can create and add business rules to individual steps of a workflow definition.
About operations
To provide custom processing in a workflow, a software developer can create applications that are used to complete specific steps.
Milestones
To track the progress of a workflow, the workflow author can define key points, also called milestones, in the workflow.
Work schedules
A work schedule defines the work hours of the day for each day of the week. You can define special days such as holidays.
Service-level agreements
As a matter of company policy, a service-level agreement defines the maximum number of work hours for responding to a customer service request. The phrase work hours refers to the hours when the company is open for business. You can define more than one service-level agreement for an isolated region.
Day adjustment options
Routing concepts
To specify how work will progress from one step to the next, you define routes between the steps in a workflow definition.
Step processor concepts
A step processor is an application that provides the information and resources for a participant to complete a step in a workflow.
System fields definitions
This section contains definitions and brief descriptions about system fields.
Select fields
You can select user and system database fields for use in in-basket columns, filters, and queries.
Workflow definition transfer
You can transfer a workflow definition or collection to the isolated region.
About Web Services in workflows
Workflow system leverages Web Services technology to enable workflow authors to define message interaction between FileNet P8 processes, as well as between FileNet P8 workflows and other business processes.
About workflow maps
A workflow map is a graphical representation of a workflow that shows the sequences of steps needed to complete the business process.
Workflow and database fields
There are two main types of fields that are used in the workflow system: workflow fields and database fields.
Workflow participants
A workflow participant is any user or group who is assigned to process work in a workflow.
Region fields
Region fields store values that are accessed globally for all workflows. Any changes to region field values take effect for all work items and steps in the region.

Parent topic: Process applications concepts