Frequently asked questions on upgrading IBM Case Manager to IBM Business Automation Workflow
Traditional:
To
learn more about
FileNet®
, WebSphere® Application
Server,
migration, Content Platform Engine,
Case Analyzer, plug-ins and other support considerations, see these
frequently asked questions.
FileNet and IBM Case Foundation related
- Can I use Business Automation Workflow with IBM® Case Foundation?
- Yes.
- Do I have to upgrade my FileNet Content Manager before augmenting it with a Business Automation Workflow server?
- No. For a list of supported FileNet Content Manager versions for each Business Automation Workflow release, see the IBM Business Automation Workflow detailed system requirements.
- Is IBM Case Foundation still supported outside of IBM Case Manager for FileNet P8 processes?
- Yes, the FileNet Process Engine is supported.
- What is the difference between Process Designer in Business Automation Workflow and FileNet Process Designer in IBM Case Manager?
- In IBM Case Manager, processes are authored by using the FileNet Designer Applet and they run on the FileNet process engine. In Business Automation Workflow, business processes are authored by using the web-based Process Designer and they run on the process engine built on the former IBM BPM process engine.
- If FileNet P8 process engine currently remains, should I use the FileNet P8 process engine or the Business Automation Workflow engine for new workflows?
- The strategic workflow engine is Business Automation Workflow. You can continue to use your FileNet P8 processes in your case projects. Over time, you can replace or add new processes to these projects using Business Automation Workflow business processes to take advantage of the enhanced capabilities.
- Is FileNet P8 Process Engine included in the on-premise installation?
- Yes. Because FileNet P8 Process Engine is part Content Platform Engine, it is automatically included in the on-premise, traditional installation.
- How do I deal with two different user interfaces for Case Manager and business process tasks?
- Business Automation Workflow process tasks that are related to a case show in the same user interface as the case or FileNet P8 Process Engine tasks. The tasks from any case activity from either process engine are shown in the same in-basket in the case solution. The task user interface opens in a case tab as before and you can control how that user interface looks, especially if you are using the client-side human service capabilities.
Migration related
- How do I migrate my FileNet P8 processes to Business Automation Workflow processes?
- There are no tools to convert FileNet P8 processes to Business Automation Workflow processes. You can continue to use your FileNet P8 processes after upgrading to Business Automation Workflow. Over time, you can refactor your projects to take advantage of the new capabilities offered by business processes.
- Do I need to migrate my custom widgets to the Business Automation Workflow server or can they still run on the IBM Content Navigator server?
- In the new topology, the case code and custom case widgets and
extension packages are located on different servers, Business Automation Workflow versus IBM Content
Navigator.
After you upgrade, your custom widgets will continue to run as usual.
However, when you install or re-install a package, you must redirect
the references in your plug-in code to the Business Automation Workflow server
in one of the following ways:
- Using the case configuration tool, as described in the topic Using an external IBM Content Navigator. If your custom widget references any Case JavaScript APIs, you must make the changes described in this topic.
- Manually update your deployed application to run on the same server.
Content Platform Engine and Navigator related
- I understand we must create the Case Content Platform Engine database in order to install or use Business Automation Workflow. Can this database be removed later? Will it cause Business Automation Workflow to fail if removed?
- The Content Platform Engine database is used for attachments in BPMN processes. It is required for Business Automation Workflow and will likely cause errors if it is missing at startup. You should keep the Case database to secure smooth upgrades, even if you are not using the Case Manager capability.
- Can you upgrade to the internal Content Platform Engine and IBM Content Navigator that is part of Business Automation Workflow? Or must you upgrade to an external Content Platform Engine and IBM Content Navigator?
- If you use an external IBM Content Navigator and Content Platform Engine, you don't need to migrate. If you use the Content Platform Engine and IBM Content Navigator that are part of Business Automation Workflow, you must move all your documents and settings as there are no migration tools available. This approach is not recommended. For case or content use cases, we recommend External Content Platform Engine or IBM Content Navigator for production.
- How is the database design different from IBM Case Manager?
- There are additional databases (sets of schemas) for Business Automation Workflow. There is no change to the databases in IBM Case Manager or FileNet Content Manager.
Case Analyzer related
- Can I still use Case Analyzer with Business Automation Workflow?
- Yes. Case Analyzer is part of Case Foundation. The components of IBM Case Foundation are included in the Business Automation Workflow bundle.
- Is the Case Analyzer database moved or migrated during the upgrade to Business Automation Workflow?
- Case Analyzer uses its own database and schema for storing its configuration and data. When you upgrade from IBM Case Manager to Business Automation Workflow, you configure Business Automation Workflow with an external Content Platform Engine that uses the servers and databases that are used for your existing IBM Case Manager environment. As Content Platform Engine is not changed but rather reconfigured to be used with Business Automation Workflow, your Case Analyzer database does not need to change either.
Support related
- Do IBM Content Navigator or IBM Case Manager plug-ins that are developed on a previous version need to be rewritten?
- No rewrite is needed. However, as the case component now runs on the Business Automation Workflow server instead of the Navigator server, you might need to modify widgets to point to the Navigator server.
- Does Business Automation Workflow still support custom IBM Content Navigator plug-ins as before?
- Yes.
- Can Business Automation Workflow and IBM Case Manager work in the same domain as side by side installs?
- This is not supported.
- What support options are available for IBM Case Manager V5.3.x going forward?
- For revised information about the software support for IBM Case Manager V5.3.x, see this document.
Others
- Can we create multiple DE environments?
- You can. However, it is a safer to go with a new cell for Business Automation Workflow.
- Is WebLogic supported?
- No, WebLogic is no longer supported in Business Automation Workflow.
- How can I size a Business Automation Workflow installation when you upgrade from a Case Manager installation?
- If you do not plan to change anything on your existing case solution, your overall hardware footprint should be similar. If you have additional new case types and processes you might want to do a new sizing.
- Are functions in IBM Case Manager such as exporting queue display, sending email, available in Business Automation Workflow?
- Yes, it’s the same engine. You keep all of these functions, and you also gain capabilities from Business Automation Workflow capabilities.