09 01 tasks

SAP Workflow Course

Section 09-01: Tasks

November, 2001

SAP Workflow Course – Section 09-01: Tasks 2

Tasks

Contents:

• Basics for defining a task

• Advanced components for defining a task

• Task Groups

• Business Workflow Explorer


Tasks: Objectives

At the conclusion of this section, you will be able to:

• Create a task

• Define the basic components of a task

• Define the advanced components of a task

• Define and use Task Groups for structuring tasks

• Use the Business Workflow Explorer


Tasks: Business Scenario

• You realize that in a workflow only a task brings about functionality

• You want to build the new task (Display Material) to fulfill some requirements of your business process

• You must discover all characteristics of your task to correctly integrate it into your workflow definition

• Existing tasks are to be grouped into a Task Group

• Tasks are to be managed by the Business Workflow Explorer


TasktypesTasktypes

SAP functionality

Object type

Attribute Method

Workflow

Organizationalplan

Organizationalplan

workflow definition

Task

Task Types


TaskReference to object

method or manual activity

WorkflowReference to workflow

definition

Standard task

TS

Workflow templateWS

Tasks


Material: My_part

Old Material:Original_part

New_part

Change documents

EventZBUS1001.

Old_Material_changed

TaskDisplay Material

(completion flag)

Org-PlanEngineering unit Designer position Holder: Mary

ZBUS1001.Display

Attributes and Keyof ZBUS1001

WHO ?Possibleagents

What ?

Work item andLong Texts

Example for a Task


Object type withobject methodObject type withobject method

Standard task

Properties

Who is responsible for the task?

What is to be executed bythe task?

Work item text: title of work item in worklist

Long texts: Description Notification Missed deadlines

Texts

Terminating events

Triggering events Only if the task is not used in a workflow

Events

Organizational planOrganizational plan

“General” Task:all SAP users“General” Task:all SAP users

Define a Dialog Task


Settings for a Task

• Background

– Based on the Object Method, the task can be flagged as background

• Completion flag

– During runtime, the user has the chance to create an attachmentafter the work item is finished.

• SAPphone

• Form (SAPforms Indicator)

• Flag for Internet-enabled task


Example :

Please process request from &_WI_Object_ID.CreatedBy&

Work Item Text

• Work item text

– Title of work item in the Business Workplace

– First create the work item text and place the cursor to include a variable

– Afterwards choose object attributes from the task container


asynchronousasynchronousobject methodobject methodasynchronousasynchronousobject methodobject method

single-stepsingle-steptask task

Task with Terminating Events

• Tasks based on a synchronous method can have terminating events

• Tasks based on an asynchronous method must have at least one terminating event

– The asynchronous method is onlystarted by the Workflow system

– The asynchronous method is callinga transaction of an SAP application

– The application will eventually raise the terminating event

– The task is completed when one of the terminating events is raised

Terminating event


• Terminating event

_WI_Object_Id_WI_Actual_Agent

Task container

Element Element _WI_Object_ID of _WI_Object_ID of task container ...task container ...

Element Element _WI_Object_ID of _WI_Object_ID of task container ...task container ...

Object type Notif. of absence

Event Deleted

Element

Terminating events

_WI_OBJECT_ID

FORMABSENC

DELETED

... or another element of ... or another element of the task container, which the task container, which refers to the triggering refers to the triggering object type of the event.object type of the event.

... or another element of ... or another element of the task container, which the task container, which refers to the triggering refers to the triggering object type of the event.object type of the event.

Terminating Events


synchronoussynchronousobject methodobject methodsynchronoussynchronous

object methodobject method

single-stepsingle-steptasktask

Task with Synchronous Method

• The task is completed when the method reports back to the workflow system or is terminated by the terminating event

• Dataflow between the task and method parameter containers are in both directions

terminating event


Key fieldsKey fieldsKey fieldsKey fields

AttributesAttributesAttributesAttributes

number

date of approval

date of creation

MethodsMethodsMethodsMethods

display notif. of absence formcreate notif. of absence formdelete notif. of absence formupdate notif. of absence formapprove notif. of absence form

EventsEventsEventsEvents

notification of absence created

dialog synchronous

asynchronous

dialog synchronous

dialog synchronous result

dialog synchronous

notification of absence deleted

created by

approved by

NumberNumber

ApprovDateApprovDate

ApprovByApprovBy

DisplayDisplay

CreateCreate

DeleteDelete

UpdateUpdate

ApproveApprove

CreatedCreated

DeletedDeleted

CreateDateCreateDate

CreatedByCreatedBy

Object type FORMABSENC

Object Type: Notification of Absence


approve

_WI_Result is created automatically

“approve notification of absence from &”

use &_WI_Object_Id.CreatedBy&

confirm completion of processing

job : head of department

not applicable

Object typeObject typeObject typeObject type

PropertiesPropertiesPropertiesProperties

Object methodObject methodObject methodObject method

Work item textWork item textWork item textWork item text

LinkLinkLinkLink

Terminating eventsTerminating eventsTerminating eventsTerminating events

FORMABSENC

Task container definition

Assign container elements

Container element

synchronous method; method with dialog

Long textLong textLong textLong text

notification of absence

AF_approve

Standard Task: Approving a Notif. of Absence


delete

Event : DELETED (notification of absence deleted)

not necessary

background processing

not applicable

not applicable

asynchronous method

Object typeObject typeObject typeObject type

PropertiesPropertiesPropertiesProperties

Object methodObject methodObject methodObject method

Work item textWork item textWork item textWork item text

LinkLinkLinkLink

Terminating eventsTerminating eventsTerminating eventsTerminating events

FORMABSENC

Task container definition

Assign container elements

Container element _WI_OBJECT_ID

Long textLong textLong textLong text

not applicable

notification of absence

AF_delete

Standard Task: Deleting a Notification of Absence


Step type activity in a workflow

Activity 1

Multiple outcomes

Activity 2

Multiple outcomes

... refers a task

... refers a workflow

Insert a Task into a Workflow

After you have created an activityin the Workflow Builder:

• Choose

– task or

– workflow

• Name the subsequent outcomes

• Provide the binding for Task Workflow containerdata exchange

• Define the responsibilities

• Design the deadline escalation


Task Groups

Task group 1

It is possible to have task groups within task groups

Only standard objects (workflow templates and standard tasks)

Task group 2

Workflow template 1

Workflow template n...

Standard task 1

Standard task n

...

Task group 3

Workflow template 1

Workflow template m...

Standard task 1

Standard task m...


Task Groups: Inheritance

USSCHMIDTPA (Patrick Schmidt)


Workflow template x

Task group 2

Task group 3


Standard task x



Workflow template y

Standard task y

Task group 1 USSCHMIDTPA (Patrick Schmidt)


Passes on agentassigned

USSCHMIDTPA

Passes on agentassigned

USSCHMIDTPA


Business Workflow Explorer

• One medium for managing tasks and workflows

• Functions available include...

– Create

– Change

– Display

– Copy

– Agent assignment

– Etc.

• No help values required. All relevant tasks are directly displayed.


Business Workflow Explorer: Operation

Verfügbare Objekte

Query

Task Edit Goto View System Help Business Workflow Explorer

Task Abbreviation Name

All tasks for notifications of absence

Multistep tasks

WS9990000 Notification of absence (test)

WS9990003 Notification of absence (productive)

TS9990003 Create notification of absence

TS9990007 Approve notification of absence

TS9990012 Display notification of absence

TS9990015 Delete notification of absence

Single-step tasks





WS9990003 Notification of absence (productive)





Task Abbreviation Name

All single-step tasks are displayed

Multistep tasks:All single-step and

multistep tasks used are displayed


Tasks: Summary

Two types of tasks: Single- step tasks and workflows

• Single-step tasks refer to object methods

• Workflows refer to single-step tasks and/or other workflows

• Single-step tasks that are:

– synchronous: can have terminating events

– asynchronous: must have (at least one) terminating event(s)

• You can create and maintain Task Groups

• You are now familiar with the Business Workflow Explorer

SAP Workflow Course

PwC ConsultingTM refers to the management consulting services businesses of the member firms of the worldwide PricewaterhouseCoopers organisation.

2001 PricewaterhouseCoopers. All rights reserved.

09 01 tasks

Business

task background

dialog task object type

task container example

tasks task reference

task group tasks

task advanced components

internetenabled task

new task display material