Workflow in Oracle Application

Introduction to workflow

• Tool from Oracle
• Works with Oracle Database
• PL/SQL Based
• Widely Used with Oracle Applications
• Can be Used Stand-Alone or with Oracle Apps

Need of workflow

Workflow can be described as the flow of information and control in a business process.

• Routing the information
• Defining and modifying business rules
• Delivering electronic notifications
• Integrating systems

Workflow Advantages

• Human Element in Decision Making
• Flexible Processes
• Electronic Notifications
• System Integration
• PL/SQL Based Architecture

Workflow Components

• Workflow Engine
• Workflow Builder
• Workflow Definition Loader
• Notification System
• Business Event System
• Directory Services

Workflow architecture

 

Workflow Engine

• Embedded in database
• Uses the process definition created with Oracle workflow Builder to coordinate the routing of activities of a Process
• Monitors each activity in a workflow Process
• Signals any change in the workflow state using calls to PL/SQL or JAVA APIs
• Guarantees consistency between application and workflow state because of Oracle database transnational Integrity

Workflow builder

Workflow Builder is the development tool for oracle workflow

• Define and customize workflow definitions
• You can save the definitions to a flat file or database
• At any time you can add, remove, or change workflow activities, or setup new prerequisite relationships among activities

Notification system

• Routes notifications to a role, which can be a single user or group of users
• Enable users to receive or respond to notifications
• Provide access to notification worklist from E-business suite.

Email Notification

• The notification system interfaces with the notification mailer program to send email notification to users and Roles
• Users can reply to email notifications using their email client.
• A notification mailer can send an individual email for each notification, or a summary email listing all the outstanding notifications for a user.

Directory services

• As a set of views that are mapped with user tables.
• The workflow engine and notification system uses to determine who should receive the notifications.
• User can be associated with more than one role and one role may contain more than one user.

Workflow definitions loader

• Is an utility that load process definitions between database and flat file.
• Runs on server machine
• Also integrated into workflow builder 

Some standard workflows in oracle apps

• Payable Expense Report (Payable)
• Candidate Offer Approval Process (HR)
• PO Confirm Receipt Process (PO)
• Journal Approval Process (GL)
• Order Header and Line Process (OM)
• Procurement Workflow (Purchasing)
• Credit Memo Workflow (AR)

 Workflow example

 

 

Workflow Responsibilities 

• Workflow User Web Applications
• Workflow Administrator Web Applications

Monitoring of Workflow

• Searching Workflow Instance
• Activity History
• Workflow Details
• Workflow Status Diagram
• Cancel and Suspension of workflow
• Rewind of Workflow

Who can monitor workflow

• Owner of the Workflow
• Workflow System Administrator

                Can be a Particular User (Mostly SYSADMIN) 
                Particular Responsibility

• Finding out Workflow Administrator

     SELECT text FROM wf_resources WHERE name = ‘WF_ADMIN_ROLE’;

• Changing Workflow Administrator to a Responsibility                    

UPDATE WF_RESOURCES SET text = ‘FND_RESP|FND|FNDWF_ADMIN_WEB|STANDARD’ WHERE name = ‘WF_ADMIN_ROLE’

Workflow design approaches

• Bottom up Approach

In the bottom up approach, we first create all the components (attributes, messages, functions, notifications etc.) and then use them to build a workflow process.

• Top-Down Approach

In this approach, we directly start with the graphical representation of the work flow process and create all the components as required in the building process.

• It is generally better to use Bottom up approach as it gives more clarity on the components required. 

Workflow terminologies

• Store
• Process
• Item Type
• Access Level
• Protection Level
• Activity
• Attribute
• Node
• Lookup Code
• Lookup Type
• Result Type
• Notification
• Performer
• Role
• Message
• Function
• Timeout 
•  Transition

Workflow Navigator

Item type

• Is name of the identifier of a business.
• Other components are associated with item type.
• Must be unique.
• All the components of the workflow process contain the item type as the foreign key.

 item Attribute