Oracle WorkflowGuideRELEASE 2.6.2VOLUME 1

March 2002

Oracle Workflow Guide Volume 1, Release 2.6.2

The part number for this volume is A9527603. To reorder this book, please use the set partnumber, A9526503.

Copyright 1996, 2002 Oracle Corporation. All rights reserved.

Primary Authors: Siu Chang, Clara Jaeckel

Major Contributors: George Buzsaki, John Cordes, Mark Craig, Kevin Hudson, GeorgeKellner, David Lam, Jin Liu, Kenneth Ma, Steve Mayze, Tim Roveda, Robin Seiden,Sheryl Sheh, Susan Stratton

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iiiContents

Contents

VOLUME 1Volume 1 i. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Preface xix. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Audience for This Guide xx. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . How To Use This Guide xx. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Documentation Accessibility xxi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other Information Sources xxii. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Online Documentation xxii. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Related Users Guides xxiii. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Guides Related to All Products xxiii. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . User Guides Related to This Product xxiv. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Installation and System Administration xxv. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other Implementation Documentation xxvi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Training and Support xxviii. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Do Not Use Database Tools to Modify Oracle Applications Data xxix. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . About Oracle xxix. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Your Feedback xxx. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Chapter 1 Overview of Oracle Workflow 1 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Introduction to Oracle Workflow 1 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Major Features and Definitions 1 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Workflow Processes 1 6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

iv Oracle Workflow Guide

Chapter 2 Setting Up Oracle Workflow 2 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oracle Workflow Hardware and Software Requirements 2 2. . . . . . Overview of Setting Up 2 6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Overview of Required Setup Steps for the Standalone Version of Oracle Workflow 2 6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Overview of Required Setup Steps for the Version of Oracle Workflow Embedded in Oracle Applications 2 7. . . . . . Optional Setup Steps 2 7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other Workflow Features 2 8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Identifying the Version of Your Oracle Workflow Server 2 9. . . Setup Flowchart 2 10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Setup Checklist 2 11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Setup Steps 2 12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Overview of Oracle Workflow Access Protection 2 101. . . . . . . . . . . . . Setting Up a Default Access Level 2 105. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Using the Workflow Definitions Loader 2 107. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Using the Workflow XML Loader 2 112. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Chapter 3 Defining a Workflow Process 3 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Overview of Oracle Workflow Builder 3 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Navigator Tree Structure 3 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Viewing the Navigator Tree 3 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Creating Process Definitions in Oracle Workflow Builder 3 7. . . . . . Opening and Saving Item Types 3 12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Quick Start Wizard Overview 3 18. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Using Oracle Workflow Builder with Different Server Versions 3 21. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Item Type Definition Web Page 3 24. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Chapter 4 Defining Workflow Process Components 4 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Workflow Process Components 4 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Item Types 4 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Allowing Access to an Object 4 17. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lookup Types 4 19. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Messages 4 23. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Activities 4 42. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Voting Activity 4 61. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Deleting Objects in Oracle Workflow Builder 4 68. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Modifying Objects in Oracle Workflow Builder 4 69. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Workflow Objects That Support Versioning 4 70. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Workflow Objects That Do Not Support Versioning 4 71. . . . . . .

Chapter 5 Defining a Workflow Process Diagram 5 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Process Window 5 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Modifying Fonts in Oracle Workflow Builder 5 21. . . . . . . . . . . . Creating a Shortcut Icon for a Workflow Process 5 22. . . . . . . . . .

Roles 5 24. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Chapter 6 Predefined Workflow Activities 6 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Standard Activities 6 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

And/Or Activities 6 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Comparison Activities 6 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Compare Execution Time Activity 6 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wait Activity 6 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Block Activity 6 5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Defer Thread Activity 6 6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Launch Process Activity 6 6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Noop Activity 6 7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Loop Counter Activity 6 7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Start Activity 6 8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .