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Using Process Automation

The default user interface for managing content, processes and tasks is the Alfresco Digital Workspace. An instance of Digital Workspace is deployed with every application and used to manage the processes associated with that application.

Users need to have been given user access to an application in order to access and manage content and processes in the Digital Workspace.

Note: The Digital Workspace can be extended or replaced with a custom interface built using the Application Development Framework.

Processes

The Processes section is used for monitoring all the process instances in the application. The three default views are:

  • Running which displays all in-flight process instances.
  • Completed which displays all process instances that have been completed.
  • All which displays all in-flight, completed, cancelled and suspended process instances.

Properties

The properties for each process instance are:

PropertyDescription
NameThe name given to the process instance when it was started.
Process Definition NameThe process definition the instance is using.
StatusThe current status of the process instance. See the table below for a list of possible statuses.
Start DateThe time since the process instance was started.
Completed DateThe time since the process instance was completed. It will be blank if the process instance has not yet been completed.
Started ByThe name of the user that started the process instance.

Note: Further details are available to view for each process instance by clicking on it. A properties panel will appear on the right-hand side of the screen.

The status of process instances are:

StatusDescription
RUNNINGThe process instance is currently running.
COMPLETEDThe process instance has been completed.
SUSPENDEDThe process instance is currently suspended and cannot continue until it is reactivated.
CANCELLEDThe process instance has been cancelled and cannot be completed.

Start a process instance

To start a process instance:

  1. Sign into the Digital Workspace.

  2. Click the NEW dropdown.

  3. Select Start Process.

  4. Choose the process definition to use from the dropdown and give the process instance a name.

  5. Click Start Process.

Start a process instance from a file

Process instances can also be started from a file in the repository. If the process definition contains a start event that contains a form with an attach file field then the content will be attached to the process as it is started.

  1. Sign into the Digital Workspace.

  2. Navigate to, or search for the file to start the process with.

  3. Right click on the file and select Start Process.

  4. Select the process definition to use from the dropdown. If the definition does not contain an upload field then a notice is displayed.

  5. Give the process instance a name and click Start Process.

Filter process instances

The default process instance views can be updated by changing the filters. New views can also be created by editing the filters for a view and selecting saving a new one.

The properties for filters are:

PropertyDescription
Process NameThe name of the process instances to display.
Process DefinitionThe process definition to filter by.
StatusThe statuses of process instances to display.
Sort byThe column to sort by, for example Process Name, Status or Initiator.
Order byWhether the ordering is ascending or descending.
Completed DateThe date range for when the process instances were completed.
Started DateThe date range for when the process instances were started.

Once you have customized a filter, there are two options:

  • Save filter: Selecting this will save the filter over the current view.
  • Save filter as: Selecting this will give you the option to provide a name for a new view for your filter and add it under the Processes section.

You can use the Delete filter option at any time to remove a view.

Tasks

The Tasks section is used for monitoring all the tasks in the application. The three default views are:

  • My Tasks which displays all tasks assigned to the user.
  • Queued Tasks which displays all unclaimed tasks the user is eligible to claim.
  • Completed Tasks which displays all tasks completed by the user.

Properties

The properties for each process instance are:

PropertyDescription
NameThe name of the task.
StatusThe current status of the task. See the table below for a list of possible statuses.
AssigneeThe user assigned to the task. It will be blank if the task is unclaimed.
StatusThe current status of the task. See the table below for a list of possible statuses.
Created DateThe time since the task was started.
Last ModifiedThe time since the task was last updated.
Due DateThe date and time the task is due to be completed by.
PriorityThe relative priority of the task.

Note: Further details are available to view for each task by clicking on it. A properties panel will appear on the right-hand side of the screen.

The status of tasks are:

StatusDescription
CREATEDThe task has been created but not yet assigned.
ASSIGNEDThe task has assigned but not yet completed.
COMPLETEDThe task has been completed.
SUSPENDEDThe task is suspended because the process instance it belongs to has been suspended. It cannot be completed until the process instance is activated.
CANCELLEDThe task has been cancelled and cannot be completed.

Claim and release tasks

Tasks that are assigned to a candidate group can be claimed by an individual user to work on the task. Claiming a task will remove it from other candidates Queued Tasks list.

To claim a task:

  1. Sign into the Digital Workspace.

  2. Click on the Queued Tasks view under Tasks.

  3. Click on the task to claim and select Claim. The task status will update to ASSIGNED.

Tasks that have been claimed from a candidate group can also be released. This will remove it from your My Tasks list and put it back in Queued Tasks.

To release a task:

  1. Sign into the Digital Workspace.

  2. Click on the My Tasks view under Tasks.

  3. Click on the task to release and select Release. The task status will update to CREATED.

Filter tasks

The default task views can be updated by changing the filters. New views can also be created by editing the filters for a view and selecting saving a new one.

The properties for filters are:

PropertyDescription
StatusThe statuses of tasks to display.
AssigneeThe tasks assigned to which user to display.
Process DefinitionThe process definition to filter by.
Task NameThe name of the tasks to display.
PriorityThe relative priority level of tasks to display.
Sort byThe column to sort by, for example Created Date, Status or Priority.
Order byWhether the ordering is ascending or descending.
Due DateThe date range for when the tasks are due by.
Completed DateThe date range for when the tasks were completed.

Once you have customized a filter, there are two options:

  • Save filter: Selecting this will save the filter over the current view.
  • Save filter as: Selecting this will give you the option to provide a name for a new view for your filter and add it under the Tasks section.

You can use the Delete filter option at any time to remove a view.

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