M416: Create your own Auto-Step for Business Process Definitions

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Hirotaka NISHI
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If you want to automate a Processing step to, for example, obtain the number of characters and the hash value, you have to write scripts using a [Script Task]. If you need to use the same [Script Task] in different places you should consider packaging the script as an [Add-on XML]. (Service-Task Addon)

1. Overview of the Advantages of Creating Addon XML (Packaging)

a. Aspects of IT skill requirements (compared with a Script Task)
A flow designer who does not have script knowledge should be capable of process automation as well.
b. Aspects of the modelling cost (compared with Script Task)
There will be no need to write the same script repeatedly.
  • The boundary between the IT Department's and the Process owner's responsibilities should be considered
  • Go to M415 for more info on how to import a pre-existing [Addon XML]
  • Go to M416 (Bottom of this page) or to "Download" in M415 for Sample codes

2. Determine the Package Name

a. Aspects of output by auto-step
E.g. contents of data to be stored, contents of external system auto-operation, etc.
b. Aspects of input by auto-step
E.g. business data to be inspected, data name in external system to be referenced, etc.
  • You can set the file name of the package file (Add-on XML) with 52 characters or less.
  • The name of the auto-step (Service Task) is defined in <label> element (64 characters max.)
  • Sample of a: <label>Random Number Generator</label>
  • Sample of b: <label>Weather Info Getter</label>
  • You can define an overview in <summary> element (250 characters max.)
  • You can define the URL of the help page in <help-page-url> element (250 characters max.)
  • You can define the last modified date in <last-modified> element (YYYY-MM-DD)

3. Determine the Configuration Items Required

a. Business Data Items which are to be referenced by the Step (SELECT)
E.g. To write to Data A, To read Data B. etc.
b. Fixed values used in the Step (TEXTFIELD, TEXTAREA, QUSER, OAUTH2)
E.g. Maximum value: "100", Status: This Draft is at the "not yet approved" stage, etc.
  • List configuration items with <config> which is a child element of <configs>
  • You can list up to 20 configuration items using <config>
  • Mandatory element <config> can also be grouped with its parent element <tab> (from v15.0)
  • When using the grouping element <tab>, the parent element (root element) <tabs> is required
  • The <config> element can be shown or hidden depending on the values of other configuration items by specifying the depends-on attribute

R4160: Addon-XML Attributes of config element
R2272: Output of Strings via EL syntax

4. Determine Automatic Processing Behavior

1. Write a server-side script
Write in ECMA code that can be used in the script Step (M230).
  • Knowledge of ECMAScript (JavaScript) is required
  • Using parts of Java classes is also possible
  • Script is described between <script><![CDATA[ and ]]></script>
  • Use the special method configs.getObject("♦configName♦") and configs.get("♦configName♦") for referring to config
    • configs.getObject("♦configName♦") will return the following objects :
      • form-type="QUSER" : QuserView object
      • form-type="SELECT" : ProcessDataDefinitionView object
        • If typing in a text field with the config defined as editable="true": null
        • configs.get("♦configName♦") will return the strings entered in the text field
    • configs.get("♦configName♦") will return  java.lang.String object
  • Use findData( ♦dataDef♦ ) and findDataByNumber( "♦dataId♦" ), etc. for referring to Business Data (M230)
  • Use setData( ♦dataDef♦, ♦value♦ ) and setDataByNumber( "♦dataId♦", ♦value♦ ), etc. for updating Business Data (M230)
  • When setting the processing engine to "GraalJS" <engine-type> 3 </ engine-type> is specified
    • <engine-type> 2 </ engine-type> : GraalJS (Nashorn Compatible Mode) (Deprecated (Ver. 16.0))
  • HTTP requests must be up to 10 per one automatic Task

R2300: Java Classes available in Script Task
R2301: Script Data Retrieving / Updating
Script Engine GraalJS (Nashorn Compatible Mode) Discontinued (April 2024)

5. Determine the Process Logo (Optional)

1. Prepare an image file
Prepare a image file of less than 64px (JPEG, GIF, PNG only)
2. Encode to Base64
Use converter software or a web service
  • Define using the icon data <icon> element
  • The logo will be displayed upon placement using Drag & Drop

6. Support Multiple Languages (Optional)

1. Add label elements with the locale attribute
Add <label> for as many languages as you need for your Workflow designers
  • E.g. Configure <label locale="es">Generador de Numeros aleatorios</label> for Spanish designers
  • en(default), ja, de, es, fr, ko, pt, zh_CN

416-2-en.png

A. Sample of Addon XML

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><service-task-definition>

<label>#Number: Generate Random</label>

<summary>Generates a random number. When a token reaches this automated step, a numerical value within the specified range is generated each time. The decimal part is rounded down toward 0 according to the workflow data definition.</summary>

<license>(C) Questetra, Inc. (MIT License)</license>

<help-page-url>https://support.questetra.com/addons/number-generate-random-2021/</help-page-url>

<configs>
<config name="conf_Lower" required="true" el-enabled="true" form-type="TEXTFIELD">
<label>A: Set Lower Limit (e.g. "0", "-0.5")</label>
<config name="conf_Upper" required="true" el-enabled="true" form-type="TEXTFIELD">
<label>B: Set Upper Limit (e.g. "10", "0.5")</label>
</config>
<config name="conf_DataIdC" required="true" form-type="SELECT" select-data-type="DECIMAL">
<label>C: Select NUMERIC DATA for Generated Number (update)</label>
</config>
</configs>

<engine-type>3</engine-type>
<last-modified>2023-08-08</last-modified>

<script><![CDATA[// GraalJS Script (engine type: 3)
// GraalJS Script (engine type: 2)
// (c) 2021, Questetra, Inc. (the MIT License)

//////// START "main()" ////////
main();
function main(){


//// == Config Retrieving ==
const lower = configs.get( "conf_Lower" ) + ""; // config required
const upper = configs.get( "conf_Upper" ) + ""; // config required
const dataIdC = configs.get( "conf_DataIdC" ) + ""; // config required
// 'java.lang.String' (String Obj) to javascript primitive 'string'

// Design-time Config Format Check
const numLower = parseFloat( lower );
engine.log( " AutomatedTask Lower Limit: " + numLower );
const numUpper = parseFloat( upper );
engine.log( " AutomatedTask Upper Limit: " + numUpper );
if( isNaN(numLower) ){
throw new Error( "\n AutomatedTask ConfigError:" +
" Config {Lower} is not a number \n" );
}
if( isNaN(numUpper) ){
throw new Error( "\n AutomatedTask ConfigError:" +
" Config {Upper} is not a number \n" );
}
if( numLower > numUpper ){
throw new Error( "\n AutomatedTask ConfigError:" +
" Config {Lower} is greater than {Upper} \n" );
}


//// == Data Retrieving ==
// nothing (This Service Task is a CREATE type)


//// == Calculating ==
let numDiff = numUpper - numLower;
let mathRand = Math.random(); // Math.random(): 0.00 to 0.99
engine.log( " AutomatedTask Math.random(): " + mathRand );
let numRand = mathRand * numDiff + numLower;
engine.log( " AutomatedTask Generated Random: " + numRand );


//// == Data Updating ==
engine.setDataByNumber( dataIdC, new java.math.BigDecimal( numRand ) );


} //////// END "main()" ////////

]]></script>


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</service-task-definition>

Please also see each Add-on XML file (Add-on example) that is publicly available.
Support site:  Add Automatic Processing Process (Addon)

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