Basic Data Objects versus Complex Data Objects

Handling Information in Your Process Design 8-5

8.3 Working with Process Data Objects

You can add new process data objects to the process you are working on. You can also edit or delete them. Typically the services in your process modify the value of the data objects in your process, but you might assign them an initial value, or change their value during the process.

8.3.1 How to Add a Process Data Object

To add a process data object: 1. In the BPM Project Navigator, select the process where you want to add the data object.

2. In the Structure window, right-click the Process Data Objects node.

3. Select New.

4. Enter a name to identify the data object.

5. Select a type from the Type list or click the Browse More Types button to select a

type that is not included in the list.

6. Optionally, check Auto Initialize to initialize the data object with a default value.

7. Click OK.

8.3.2 How to Edit a Process Data Object

You can modify the name and type of an existing process data object. To edit a process data object: 1. In the BPM Project Navigator, select the process that contains the data object you want to edit.

2. In the Structure window, expand the Process Data Objects node.

3. Right-click the data object you wan to edit.

4. Select Edit.

A dialog to edit the data object name and type appears. 5. Make the changes you want.

6. Click OK.

Bool false Interval ’0’ Note: You can also add process data object from the Data Object tree in the Simple Expression Builder, XPath Expression Builder, and Data Association Dialog. Table 8–1 Cont. Default Values Data Type Default Value 8-6 Modeling and Implementation Guide for Oracle Business Process Management

8.3.3 How to Delete a Data Object

You can delete a data object that you do not need or use. To delete a data object: 1. In the BPM Project Navigator, select the process that contains the data object you want to edit.

2. In the Structure window, expand the Process Data Objects node.

3. Right-click the data object you want to edit.

4. Select Delete.

A confirmation message appears.

5. Click OK.

8.3.4 How to Assign a Value to a Process Data Object

You can assign values to process data objects using a script task. To assign a value to a process data object: 1. In the Process Editor, add a script task to the process. 2. Edit the implementation properties of the script task. 3. Define the data association or transformation to assign the value to the process data object. See Section 8.13, Introduction to Data Associations for information on how to define a data association. See Section 8.14, Introduction to Transformations for information on how to define a transformation.

8.4 Introduction to Activity Instance Attributes

Some data, like the status of the process, applies to all the process you define. You can use this data to trigger an event based on its value, or to provide it as input to a service. In both cases the process flow depends on the value of this data. Oracle BPM tracks this data using a predefined set of activity instance attributes. You can access these activity instance attributes in the same way you access regular data objects, but you cannot assign them new values. You can access activity instance attribute from the following components: ■ Data associations ■ Simple Expression Builder ■ XPath Expression Builder Table 8–2 provides detailed information about the activity instance attributes available for the different elements of a process.