The Create Workflow JobClosed The Create Workflow Job tool is used to create a task step that dynamically creates Workflow Jobs. A Create Workflow Job step dynamically generates one or any number of web page(s) containing fields for completion by recipients and publishes them to a web site folder on a specified web server. Each of these web pages is called a "Workflow Job" and can be assigned for completion to any number of recipients. tool does not require any global configuration; it can be immediately added to a task.

To add a new Create Workflow Job step to an existing task:

  1. Open the relevant task (if creating a new task, see How to Create a Basic Task).
  2. Either:
► Click and drag the Create Workflow Job icon from the Task Browser to the task Design area.

–OR–

► From the task's Design tab, right-click on empty space and select New > Format > Create Workflow Job.
  1. Configure the General tab parameters.

    The General tab is used to Name and describe (Description) this task step.

    Tip: If this task instance makes use of two or more Create Workflow Job steps, ensure the Name used is unique for each individual step.

    ►Use a Recordset — Enable this parameter if recordset data from a previous task step is required to form the workflow job
    ■Input Recordset — Contains all available recordsets from steps previously created in the task

    For more information, go to the main General tab topic.

  2. Go to the Publishing tab and configure where the job should be pushed to.

    The Publishing tab is used to specify the location to which the Workflow Jobs (web pages) generated by the Workflow step are to be published.

    Create Workflow Job - Publishing Tab

    Click the image to view full size.

    The interface contains the following:

    ►Job — This area contains the following:
    ■Job Name — A name may be manually entered or a dynamic name selected by dragging and dropping an object into the field from the Task Browser.
    ►Web Server — This area contains the following:
    ■Select Web Server — Display a list of available web servers for selection.
    ■Select Publishing Site — Displays a list of web sites available on the selected web server for selection.
    ■Site Sub-directory — A name may be manually entered for the folder to be created under the root of the selected web site into which the web pages are to be published.
    ■Use SSL — If this option is selected then secure sockets communication is used when specifying the URL links for the web pages.
    ►Permissions — This area contains the following:
    ■Permissions — Displays the Permissions interface to specify the available users and groups who have access to the web pages from myBPAPlatformClosed myBPAPlatform is a web portal providing users secure access to manage their assigned Workflow Jobs..
    ►Options — This area contains the following:
    ■Stages — Displays the Stages interface to enable the names of the stages and the order in which they are to be completed for the Workflow Job to be defined.
    ►Memory — Opens the Memory DefinitionsClosed Memory definitions specify the data, generated by a task at run-time, to be memorised. You can save memorised data in an internal Repository, in an ODBC or OLEDB data source, or in an OLEDB data source via a stored procedure. interface to enable a memory definitionClosed Memory definitions specify the data, generated by a task at run-time, to be memorised. You can save memorised data in an internal Repository, in an ODBC or OLEDB data source, or in an OLEDB data source via a stored procedure. to be created for the Step.

    For more information, go to the main Publishing tab topic.

  3. Go to the Formatting tab and create the web page as required.

    Create Workflow Job - Formatting Tab

    Click the image to view full size.

    The Formatting tab incorporates an HTML Editor that is used to create the web page to be used for the Workflow Job.

    The HTML editor provides a number of intuitive toolbars and controls for:

    ►Creating an HTML form
    ►Adding buttons, text boxes, radio buttons, check boxes and combo boxes to the form
    ►Adding custom fonts and colours
    ►Adding custom graphics and backgrounds
    ►Allowing dynamic fields to be dragged from the Task Browser interface onto any area of the design surface
    ►Allowing users to specify whether to use the default form submit confirmation message or to forward to a URL of their choice
    ►Allowing users to specify whether to use the default unknown job page or to forward to a URL of their choice
    ►Allowing users to use their default system HTML editor, including Visual Studio if installed
    ►Allowing users to select from a number of default templates and load them into the edit control. Templates are provided for:
    ■Yes/No
    ■Three way vote
    ■Simple Form. A basic form with 10 text fields, submit button and template labels
    ►Saving the currently loaded page as a new template
    ►Allowing users to import externally created HTML pages into the editor, including any embedded controls
    ►Validation of the HTML code
    ►Descriptions for some of the controls and features provided within the tab are listed below:
    ■Update — One feature of the HTML Editor application that needs to be pointed out is that after you have made any changes to the page contents you must click on the Update button to apply them.

    Scripting — This area contains the following:

    ■Edit — Opens the Workflow Job web form in your default HTML Editor application for editing.
    ■Validations — Clicking on the Validate button opens the Validations interface which lists any validations created for controls contained within the Workflow Job.
    ■Validate on Save — If this option is selected then form validations are automatically triggered when a Workflow Job is saved / submitted in the myBPAPlatform web portal.
    ■Import — Displays a standard file browser interface to enable an externally created HTML page to be selected and loaded.
    ■Calculations — Clicking on the Calculate button opens the Calculations interface which lists any calculations created for controls contained within the Workflow Job.

    Templates — To save time creating new Workflow Job, the current configuration may be saved as a Template and then recalled for use with another Workflow Job.

    For more information, go to the main Formatting tab topic.

  4. (Optional) Go to the Document Formatting tab to format the workflow document as required.

    The Document Formatting tab allows the user to format text which is then available as a document to an Output tool which can read the records from this tool.

    The Document Formatting tab should not be confused with the Formatting tab. The Formatting tab produces output which is suitable for lookup on a web browser. This Document Formatting tab provides a mechanism to format a document which can be sent more easily via email, SMS or other means.

    For more information, go to the main Document Formatting tab topic.

  5. Go to the Options tab and select the relevant error handling options for this task step.

    The Options tab allows you to define how errors in this step are handled at task runtime.

    If an error occurs, you can decide whether the step should Continue processing, or terminate the step immediately (Abort Step).

    If the step is aborted, you can choose to Continue processing onto the next step in the task, or terminate the whole task immediately (Abort Task).

    Additionally, choose the following:

    ► Formatting Options — This area contains the following options to treat the source data as:
    ■ HTML — If this option is selected then any controls contained in source data which would equate to specific functions in HTML are displayed as intended.
    ■ Text — If this option is selected, any controls contained in source data which would equate to specific functions in HTML are converted such that they are displayed as text in the resultant HTML document
    ► Expiry — It is possible to specify an expiry time for each Workflow Job to prevent the BPA Platform store filling up with un-responded Workflow Jobs. After the specified time has expired, the next time the Task is run the Workflow Job is removed.

    For more information, go to the main Options tab topic.

  6. Click  to save the task step.