Workflow tutorial


Overview:
This article will illustrate how to create or define workflow attributes, notifications, messages, roles or users, functions, processes and last but not the least, how to launch a workflow from PL/SQL. The workflow concepts are better explained using an example. 
Business Requirement:
When an item is created in inventory, workflow needs to be launched and it should collect the details of the item created and sends a notification to group of users along with the details and link to master item form.
Process flow:
When an item is created it will create/insert a record in MTL_SYSTEM_ITEMS_B so create a database trigger on the table and launch workflow from that trigger. All you need to do is create the workflow, create the trigger, pl/sql package, roles and finally create an item in inventory.
  • Open WFSTD and save as new workflow
  • Create Attributes
  • Create Functions
  • Create Notification
  • Create Messages
  • Create Roles
  • Create database trigger
  • Create PL/SQL Package
1) Open WFSTD and save as new workflow:
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Navigation: File >> Open
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Click Browse then navigate to Workflow installation directory
Navigation: Workflow Installation Directory\ WF\DATA\US\WFSTD
Now Click File >Save as, Enter “ErpSchools Demo” and click OK
Right click on WFSTD and select New Item type
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Enter the fields as below
Internal Name: ERP_DEMO
Display Name: ErpSchools Demo
Description: ErpSchools Demo
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Now you will see ErpSchools Demo icon in the Navigator
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Expand the node to see attributes, processes, notifications, functions, Events, Messages and lookup types.
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Double click on Process to open up the properties window as shown below
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Enter the fields
Internal Name: ERPSCHOOLS_PROCESS
Display Name: ErpSchools Process
Description: ErpSchools Process
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Double click ErpSchools Process Icon
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2) Create Workflow Attributes:
Navigation: Window menu > Navigator
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Right click on Attributes and click New Attribute
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Enter the fields
Internal Name: ERP_ITEM_NUMBER
Display Name: Item Number
Description: Item Number
Type: Text
Default Value: Value Not Assigned
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Click Apply and then OK
Create one more attribute
Right click on Attributes and click New Attribute
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Enter the attribute fields
Internal Name: ERP_SEND_ITEM_FORM_LINK
Display Name: Send Item Form Link
Description: Send Item Form Link
Type: Form
Value: INVIDITM
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Click Apply and then OK

3) Create Workflow Function:
Right click and then click on New Function
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Properties window will open as shown below
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Change/Enter the fields as below
Change Item Type to Standard from ErpSchools Demo
Select Internal Name as Start
Remaining fields will be populated automatically
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Click Apply then OK
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Again Right click on white space and click New Function
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Change the properties as below
Item Type: Standard
Internal Name: END
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Click Apply and then OK
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Right click on white space and then click New Function
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Enter the fields
Internal Name: ERP_GET_DETAILS
Display Name: Get New Inventory Item Details
Description: Get New Inventory Item Details
Function Name: erpschools_demo_pkg.get_item_details
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Click Apply and then OK
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4) Create Workflow Notifications:
Right click on white space and then click New Notification
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Enter fields
Internal Name: ERP_SEND_ITEM_DET
Display  Name: Send Item Detials
Description: Send Item Detials
Message: Sned Item Details Message
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Click Apply and then OK

5) Create Workflow Messages:
click on Message and click New
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Properties window will pop up as show below
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Enter the fields
Internal Name: ERP_SEND_ITEM_DET_MSG
Display Name: Send Item Details Message
Description: Send Item Details Message
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Go to Body Tab and enter as shown below
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Click Apply and then OK
Navigation: Window Menu > Navigator
Select Item Form Link Attribute
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Drag and drop both attributes to “Send Item Details Message”
6) Create Roles: 
Adhoc roles can be created through PL/SQL from database or they can be created from Applications using User Management Responsibility. If you use PL/SQL to create roles make sure you give all user names and role names in UPPER case to avoid some problems
 Script to Create a Adhoc Role
 Script to Add user to existing Adhoc Role
 Script to Remove user from existing Adhoc Role
 Using Adhoc roles in workflow notifications
 Adhoc Roles Tables
Script to Create a Adhoc Role
Script to Add user to already existing Adhoc Role
Script to Remove user from existing Adhoc Role
Using Adhoc roles in workflow notifications:
Navigation: File > Load Roles from Database
Select roles you want to use and then click OK.
Open the notification properties and then navigate to node tab, select performer as the role you just created and loaded from database.
Tables:
WF_ROLES
WF_USER_ROLES
WF_LOCAL_ROLES
WF_USER_ROLE_ASSIGNMENTS
7)Launching workflow from PL/SQL:
First create a database trigger as below to call a PL/SQL procedure from which you kick off the workflow.
  • Create Database Trigger
  • Create PL/SQL Package to kickoff workflow
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