Start Process

Start Process asynchronously starts one or more new Instances. Asynchronously means that the new Instance is started and the current Instance immediately continuous without waiting for the new Instance to complete. Furthermore, the new Instance does not get access to the context of the current Instance. I.e., the context of both Instances is completely separated. Therefore, Start Parameters are the only way to pass data to the new Instance.

Start Parameters for the new Instance can be specified as a fixed value, by Process Context Expressions and they can come from arrays or SQL results. If the Start Parameters are coming from arrays or SQL results, one new Instance per array element or SQL result row is created.

This Activity can have an arbitrary amount of Outcomes, but all Outcomes must have the same name. The script of each Outcome is evaluated once the Activity has completed. Each Outcome with a script evaluating to true is followed. If more than one Outcome script evaluates to true, the Instance is paralleled. If no Outcome script evaluates to true, the Instance is ended by entering the closed-state.

Activity config

General

• Name - Name of the Activity.
• Version - Version of this Activity used in the Process. If a new version of this Activity is available and you want to use it, you have to manually update the version here. When a new Activity is added to the Process, automatically the latest version is placed.
• Timeout in second - Once this time is elapsed, the Activity is closed and the Instance changes into the faulted-state. The default Timeout is two minutes. The timeout can be shortened and extended by entering a custom duration. If the Activity is left after a timeout, the first Outcome is followed. If multiple Outcomes have the same name as the first Outcome, all of them are followed. However, a continuation after a timeout does not effect the Outcome Scripts, meaning only Outcomes with Outcome Scripts evaluating to true are followed.
• Hide in process graph - Controls if the Activity is hidden (Yes) or shown (No) in the Process Graph on the Execution Screen.
• Continue on error - If this is set to Yes, the execution of the Instance continues even if the Activity failed. If set to No, the Instance fails when the Activity fails by entering the faulted-state. In the case of a continuation after an error, the first Outcome is followed. If multiple Outcomes have the same name as the first Outcome, all of them are followed. However, a continuation after an error does not effect the Outcome Scripts, meaning only Outcomes with Outcome Scripts evaluating to true are followed.

Start Process

Start Process Activity specific configurations

GENERAL

General interaction configuration, shared with most other Activities

• Disable activity - Disables (Yes) or enables (No) the Activity. When disabled, the Activity is not executed and passed like a Connection by following the first Outcome. If multiple Outcomes have the same name as the first Outcome, all of them are followed. Disabling the Activity does not effect the Outcome Scripts, i.e., still only Outcomes with Outcome Scripts evaluating to true are followed.
• Retry on error - If set to Yes, an automatic retry is executed up to ten times. If set to No, no retries are done. Retries are issued when the Activity failed so that the Instance would enter the faulted-state if the retry is disabled.
• Additional text for task list - Description of this Activity shown to the Users in their task list. You can enter this text directly or use Process Context Expressions to compile it.

SETTINGS

Configuration of the Instance to be started and its Start Parameters. The Start Parameters can be entered in Start parameter, loaded from an array by configuring Use array or retrieved by SQL as configured in Use Sql. Either Use array or Use Sql can be configured, but not both at the same time. However, both Use array and Use Sql can be used in conjunction with Start parameter. Start parameter is always evaluated first and then Use array or Use Sql is evaluated next and can potentially overwrite Start Parameters configured in Start parameter.

• Process - The Activity will create an Instance of this Process selected here
• Start parameter - Sets the values of Start Parameters as a fixed value or determined by a Process Context Expression. A new Start Parameter configuration is added by clicking Add:
  • Key - Name of the Start Parameter
  • Value - Value of the Start Parameter entered either directly or as a Process Context Expression.
  • Each Start Parameter can be deleted by clicking on .
• Use array - Disables (No) or enables (Yes) reading Start Parameters from an array. One new Instances will be created for each entry in the array. If the Start Parameters are coming from more than one array, the arrays must have the same length or the execution will fail. This option can only be used when Use sql is set to No. A new Start Parameter configuration is added by clicking Add:
  • Key - Name of the Start Parameter
  • Value - Name of the array entered as Process Context Expression like #[MyVariable.ArrayAttribute]
  • Each Start Parameter can be deleted by clicking on .
• Use Sql - Disables (No) or enables (Yes) reading Start Parameters from an SQL result. One new Instances will be created for each row in the SQL result. This option can only be used when Use array is set to No.
  • Sql query - The SQL SELECT query can be entered by clicking Edit. Query parameters are accessed by their name with a leading @.
  • Parameters - By clicking Add, you can map a fixed value or the result of a Process Context Expression to the Parameters used in the SQL SELECT query:
    • Key - Name of the parameter used in the SQL SELECT query without the leading @.
    • Value - Value of this parameter. You can enter a fixed value or use a Process Context Expression to calculate it.
    • Each mapping can be removed by clicking on .
  • Parameter - column map - Mapping of the SQL result columns to Start Parameters. A new mapping is created by clicking Add:
    • Key - Name of the Start Parameter
    • Value - Name of the column in the SQL result
    • Each mapping can be removed by clicking on .