displaying process states

[krsenthil]

Hi,

I have created a process instance programmatically(I didn't use eclipse plug-in to define the process) and now I want to display the process diagram in my web app. Thought I could use ProcessImageTag but that doesn't work since I defined my process programmatically. Is there any API out there to create a visual image of the process? Please help me

Thank you,

[cpob]

No, the GPD (Graphical Process Designer) is what is responsible for creating the image.

If you programmatically create your Process Definition, you will have no image, unless you make your own :(

[kukeltje]

I assume you created it using the API right? What I did once is to have xmlbeans create a model of the xsd, use that API to create a process and do a writeTo(out) to have an xml file. Use that in the gpd and you have an image. I did not continue this since there was no reason to. What was needed was a businessrule engine (if we needed one now, we'd go for drools ehhhh.... JBoss Rules)

[cpob]

But with that, Ronald, don't you have to still manipulate the graph in the GPD? Because if you bring in a prodef xml, all the nodes are going to be glommed together in the top corner I thought.

[krsenthil]

Thanks for the reply. In our application we do not want to use GPD to design the process as it doesn't reflect the business context also it is too generic for our users. That is the reason we constructed the process definition programmatically. Otherwise xml bean appraoch could have solved our problem.

[kukeltje]

yep, you do have to unclutter the image (one other reason we abandoned it). I was not mentioning you have to use the gpd to design it, but to generate the image.

Could you tell what you miss in GPD to reflect the business context?

[krsenthil]

What we really miss is the ability to design and deploy the processes on online. An process designer applet could have solved this problem. Also ability to customize/add features to the designer tool so that applicable our customers. For example we would like have a predefined set of tasks (upload task, approval task review task etc.,) on the tool bar which captures the certain business rules, so the user can pick and use in their process. I hope this gives some idea of what we are trying to do.

[koen.aers]

Maybe a late reaction, but better late than never ;-)
In fact, you can add your own custom nodes on the GPD toolbar, but it is not very easy. Some GEF knowledge, Eclipse plugin development knowledge and probably a lot of patience are needed...
We are working towards making this much easier in the next generation of the GPD nevertheless.

Regards,
Koen