Aborting and Starting Processes

This tutorial describes how to abort existing process instance and start another process instance. Also, check whether the documents attached to the source process instance are copied in the target process instance.

In an organization, process instances are started in the incorrect process definitions. This resulted into manual download and upload of the documents. So, the organization has requested an enhancement to the existing functionality. For detail scenario refer to the Common Usage Pattern section of the Aborting and Starting Processes chapter of the Concepts handbook.

For details on the abort and start functionality, refer to Aborting a Process and Starting a new Instance chapter of the End User Handbook.

This tutorial covers the following:

• Importing the Example Model
• Deploying and Running the Model
• Executing the Workflow
  • Aborting and Starting Processes
    • Viewing the Linking between Processes
    • Viewing the Data
    • Viewing the Process History

So, let's abort the IRA process instance and start the Loan process instance. Also, we need to check that after the abort and start operation; the document attached with the IRA process is copied to the Loan process.

Importing the Example Model

Use the provided AbortStart example model which contains appropriate declarative security.

1. Download the following ZIP file which contains the example model:

   managing-unstructured-workflow.zip
   

2. Create a dynamic Web project designed to deploy Stardust models to run in the Stardust Portal. For detailed information on creating dynamic Web projects for usage with the Stardust Portal, please refer to the Rapid Application Development guide.
3. Right-click the project and select Import > Process Manager Wizards > Process Model. Click Next and browse to the location of the example model extracted from the zip file.
4. Make sure that the Bank Executive role has the Abort Process Instances permission granted for the IRA process.

   
   Figure: IRA - Abort Process Instance

5. Also, make sure that IRA and Loan process support attachments.

   
   Figure: Process Supports Attachments - IRA

Deploying and Running the Model

Perform the following steps to deploy the model and run the project in the Stardust Portal:

1. Start the server and deploy the model. For details on how to deploy a model, please refer to the chapter Deploying a Workflow Model of the Support Case Example.
2. Start the Stardust Portal as described in the chapter Logging in to the Stardust Portal of the End User Handbook. Login as administrator (motu/motu). You can use the Shift-F8 shortcut key.

Executing the Workflow

1. Switch to the Participant Management View of the Administration Perspective.
2. Create a user and assign him the role Bank Executive. For details on how to create a new user, please refer to section Creating a new User of chapter Creating and Editing User Accounts of the Stardust Portal documentation.

   
   Figure: Participant - Role 1

3. Logout and login again as the new user.

Aborting and Starting Processes

1. In the Workflow Perspective, start the process IRA
2. In the toolbar, click Process Documents icon and choose Upload Document

   
   Figure: Upload Document

3. In the Upload File dialog, browse to the location of the document and click Upload. You can upload document of your choice.
4. Now open the Process Details view for the IRA process instance.
5. Expand the Process Documents panel. The uploaded document is displayed under Process Attachments.

   
   Figure: IRA - Process Attachment

6. In the Activity Instance view, click the down-arrow displayed next to the Abort icon and choose Abort Process and Start option.

   
   Figure: IRA - Abort Process and Start

   The Abort Process and Start dialog is displayed.

7. Select the Loan process from the Start Process drop-down list. It contains processes the logged in user is able to start.
8. Enter appropriate comment in the Link Comment text box.

   
   Figure: Abort Process and Start

9. Click OK
10. In the Abort Process and Start confirmation dialog, click Yes to view the process details of the newly started Loan process instance.

    
    Figure: Abort Process and Start Confirmation

Viewing the Linking between Processes

In the Worklist view, the newly started process Loan gets displayed.

1. In the Actions column of the activity, click the Process Details icon.

   
   Figure: Process Details - Loan

2. Expand the Linked Processes panel for the target process - Loan

   
   Figure: Linked Process with Target Process

   The link to the source process instance is displayed.

   
   Figure: Linked Process with Target Process - IRA

3. In the Linked Processes panel of the target process Loan, click the IRA process in the Process column.

   
   Figure: Linked Process - IRA

   The process details of the source process IRA get displayed.

4. Expand the Linked Processes panel of the source process IRA. The link to target process Loan is displayed.

   
   Figure: Linked Process with Source Process - Loan

Viewing the Data

Expand the Process Documents panel for the target process - Loan

Figure: Process Documents

The document from the source process instance IRA gets copied to the target process instance Loan. For more information, please refer to the Data Copy/Mapping Semantics section of the Configuring Sub-process Activities chapter of the of the Modeling Guide.

Figure: Attached Document to Target Process - Loan

Viewing the Process History

Expand the Process History panel for target process - Loan

Figure: Process History - Loan

Note that in the process history of the target process Loan, details of the source process are not displayed.

Figure: Process History - Loan - Target Process

Similarly, if you open the process history of the source process IRA, the process history of the target process is not shown.