Presented By:

Email:

Developing Workflows: Things I’ve learnt along the way

Jackie Pollock

j.pollock@kainos.com

Who am I?

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• Software Engineer at Kainos Software• Enterprise Content Management (ECM)• Technology Stack:

- Autonomy Records Management- ASP.NET / C#- K2 Workflow

• NIMTUG Steering Group Member

Overview

• Defining a Workflow• Designing Workflows• Considerations while developing• Long term maintenance

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What is a Workflow?

• Definition:

The automation of a business process, in whole or in

part, during which documents, information or tasks

are passed from one participant to another for

action, according to a set of procedural rules.

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Workflow Engine Products

• Windows Workflow Foundation (WF)• K2 BlackPearl• SharePoint• K2 BlackPoint

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Workflow GUI Products

• Custom ASP.NET sites• WinForm Applications• InfoPath Forms• SharePoint Lists

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Designing Workflows

• Thought Processes- Pen & paper- Visio

• Process Flow- Keep flow generic- Finishing workflow cleanly- Sleeping processes

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Designing Workflows

• Data Storage- Application database- Process fields- Process database

• Design Patterns- Independent- Sequential- Interdependent/Networked

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Designing Processes- Sequential

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Designing Processes - Interdependent

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Developing Workflows

• Starting Processes- Code linking into API

Database Trigger ASP.NET/ WinForm Application EDRM System Scanning Release Script eg Kofax, Teleform

- Manual start from user

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Developing Workflows

• Separation of Concerns- Process code- Process logic

• Unit Testing- Setup test harness for process- Unit tests on process logic

• Logging- Always give workflow status and unique identifier- Give as much information on current state as possible

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Developing Workflows

• Breaking out of process blocks- Using GoTo within process block

- Use next stage variable instead

- Use flags to block off functionality

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Goto within stage - Initial Setup

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Goto within stage- After goto fires

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Developing Workflows

• Returning to Previous Stages- Resetting values- If statements without else statements

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Supporting/ Maintenance

• Ability to recreate workflows- Data and location in workflow

• Redeployment of code- Workflow/ Logic

• Transferring running processes to new workflow versions

• Long term sleeping processes

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Summary

• Easier to manage simpler processes• Think about loopbacks to previous stages• Data Storage• Log everything about state of affairs• Unit Testing• Recreating workflows and redeployment of code

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Thanks for listening

Any Questions?

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Presented By:

Email:

Developing Workflows: Things I’ve learnt along the way

Jackie Pollock

j.pollock@kainos.com