1 2 Previous Next 15 Replies Latest reply on Jul 26, 2006 10:09 AM by kukeltje

    Ability to choose from determined values

    ccelgun

      I am trying to make a JBoss jBPM application.While forming the process, i came across a problem.

      All I want is to force program user to choose one of the determined values in a given list instead of asking program user to enter a text into a textbox.

      In order to make it more clear, let me give an example.

      Suppose that we have users that may request to go on holiday. Instead of asking the users to write down their reasons into a textbox <like "I need a break immeadiately" or "I just want it!!" or anything else...>
      I want to determine some possible reasons <lets say "honeymoon","funeral","need a break"> and want the users to choose one of these.

      It seemed easy to accomplish at first. But i couldn't find out how to do it.

      A little help will be very nice at this point. Thanks..

        • 1. Re: Ability to choose from determined values
          ccelgun

          [quote =gkestor]I am new about jbpm. In processdefinition.xml, there are task instances. How can I obtain controller that has multiple values? Like combobox in html.

          for example :
          task -> controller -> variable name = "color"

          variable color may has red,yellow,....

          • 2. Re: Ability to choose from determined values
            ccelgun

             

            "gkestor" wrote:
            I am new about jbpm. In processdefinition.xml, there are task instances. How can I obtain controller that has multiple values? Like combobox in html.

            for example :
            task -> controller -> variable name = "color"

            variable color may has red,yellow,....


            I found out that the same question already exists but no answer yet. I hope i'll get a reply soon.

            Thanks..

            • 3. Re: Ability to choose from determined values
              kukeltje

              In one form or another this has been answerd: build your own webapp. De webapp that comes with jBPM is for RAD purposes and will maybe one day grow to a full ui, but not for now.

              • 4. Re: Ability to choose from determined values
                ccelgun

                 

                "kukeltje" wrote:
                In one form or another this has been answerd: build your own webapp. De webapp that comes with jBPM is for RAD purposes and will maybe one day grow to a full ui, but not for now.

                Well, i understood that it is impossible to put a combobox like structure into the application using standart jBPM. But i didn't understand your suggestion.
                "Building my own webapp" means building a new plugin for eclipse?? or I just have to create an another existing web application type that comes with eclipse??
                Thanks for your attention..

                • 5. Re: Ability to choose from determined values
                  ccelgun

                  I 'm a bit confused..It will be really great if you could explain "building my own web application". A brief explanation will be great help.

                  Thank you very much for your help...

                  • 6. Re: Ability to choose from determined values
                    kukeltje

                    Take your favorite framework (jsf, struts, whatever), look at the jbpm webapp to see how the jbpm api is used . This all has nothing to do with a plugin for eclipse or anything.

                    • 7. Re: Ability to choose from determined values
                      ccelgun

                      I think i'm beginning to understand a little. I was trying to build an application like the example in the link, but with a list of possible values.

                      http://docs.jboss.com/jbpm/v3/demos/movies/jbpm-overview.htm

                      I am new to this environment as you see.So is it possible to give more details? Which application type are you talking about? i don't see anyhing possible other than jBPM things in my eclipse window.

                      Will i have to simulate combobox structure or an existing structure is available already??

                      At least can you inform me about tutorials or examples of this sort of things?

                      • 8. Re: Ability to choose from determined values

                        You need to deal with a "Web Application" which really has nothing to do with jBPM, it is something totally seperate. You will need some sort of java web app, the starter kit is currently using JSP technology (http://java.sun.com/products/jsp/) so you can take what is created there and expand upon it, that is probably the easiest way, but if you havnt done any JSP pages, then you are in for a little work learning the system.
                        Basically it is similar to php or perl pages, but it can call all the API's attached to the jBPM system, so you can interact there.

                        Our info:
                        JBMP JSP and Java Beans

                        JSP Pages
                        /home/broccol/jbpm/jbpm-starters-kit-3.1.1/jbpm/src/resources/jbpm.war

                        We changed the login.jsp to have a username login box, and added a password box.

                        Here is the actual login java
                        /home/broccol/jbpm/jbpm-starters-kit-3.1.1/jbpm/src/java.webapp/org/jbpm/webapp/bean/UserBean.java
                        /home/broccol/jbpm/jbpm-starters-kit-3.1.1/jbpm/build/classes.webapp/org/jbpm/webapp/bean/UserBean.class

                        After editing the files, you must recompile with ant:

                        ant -f build.deploy.xml clean build.webapp build.service.archive

                        and then copy over two files (from the jbpm/build directory)

                        cp build/jbpm.[sw]ar ../jbpm-server/server/jbpm/deploy/

                        To shutdown and start server

                        bin/shutdown.sh shutdown
                        bin/run.sh -c jbpm > & jbpm.log &


                        So as you see there, in the jbpm.war file are a few of the jsp pages that create the webapp, you can go in there and mess aroudn with them a bit, save, rebuild and check your changes.

                        The
                        /home/broccol/jbpm/jbpm-starters-kit-3.1.1 is just the location that we installed the starters kit in.

                        Be aware though, that the 3.2 version of jBPM will be using "faces" a different, hopefully better system than JSP, so if you intend to use the next version, you might should wait for that.

                        James Ratcliff

                        • 9. Re: Ability to choose from determined values
                          kukeltje

                          My compliments James.....

                          • 10. Re: Ability to choose from determined values
                            ccelgun

                             

                            "kukeltje" wrote:
                            My compliments James.....

                            From me too..It was a great help..Thank you so much James for spending your time..I will work on it..

                            Thanks again...

                            • 11. Re: Ability to choose from determined values
                              gkestor

                              I want to thank everyone for their attention.It was really helpfull to understand the environment. Before going on to my question, i must tell that ccelgun was a friend of mine that wrote the questions for me as i was unable to connect to internet for some time.I am the one that deals with the project.

                              @falazar (James) thank you for your attention.Your suggestion was great but i have to implement the project with something like jBPM.It's the way i was asked. By "something like jBPM" actually I mean "graphical business process management software tools". I know that this is jBPM forum, but do you have any advices or experiences with different tools? Or any other tools exist working on JBoss environment?<tools that provide combobox structure of course>

                              As the last word, graphical business process management software tool is a must in my project. Also i have to use a combobox anyway..But i haven't met any so far.

                              I have spent days examining and understanding jBPM. I haven't really thought that i have to throw those days' work away because of a combobox.

                              Thanks for your great help..I'm looking forward to any replies..

                              • 12. Re: Ability to choose from determined values

                                Welllllll, good luck, we have been tasked with the job of finding a good near-complete workflow for over a month now, and truly have met with limited results (short of jBPM) first we were fleshing out the details for our own system, but were told of increasing requirements, so started looking on the web for other solutions... We came upon Bonita first, which seemed to fit the bill. We spent a month on it, and were very frustrated with the lack of being able to do anything and serious gaps in all the documentation.
                                So we switched to jBPM, we were able to get it compiled and up and running fairly quickly, within a few days. The other features have taken a little while to get to, and as you can see it is not complete, and the web app provided was just a sample. Someone else has mentioned another system recently "Initia" or something like that. We havnt looked at that.

                                So far with jBPM though we have been able to show everything except the Group Task assignment. And that appears to work, just not show up on the web app.
                                Now the combobox I assume you need will be in the web app? If so that is really a small detail, (concerning a workflow system) and would probably be something you will have to do for yourself, as the web app part is more open and easier to implement anything you need.. Or wait fo rthe next set of web tools to come out.
                                That appears to be one thing that will be focused on next, and an upgraded interface is definitely a necessary item for afull complete system.

                                James Ratcliff (Falazar)

                                • 13. Re: Ability to choose from determined values
                                  kukeltje

                                  James,

                                  For the process to show up in the processlist, you have to have a task in the startnode.

                                  For the group tasks, I got committer access recently, so can try to find out how to implement this. For the combobox, I'm creating a small demo process which uses lots of ui components (list, radiobutton, date etc) with input from one process variable and output into another. It will demonstrate how to define a list in the pd or get it from a file/db/... and display it. The selection will go into the other process variable. It will also be possible to display the lists from another backingbean (your own) and put the result in the other processvariable. So stay tuned for a much more usable ui.

                                  • 14. Re: Ability to choose from determined values
                                    gkestor

                                    @falazar and @kukeltje

                                    Thanks for your great attention and help..

                                    For now , i would prefer waiting for the next ui supported version as wanted from my company.

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