topic Re: how to start workflow using java in Alfresco Archive

how to start workflow using java

pamela — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 07:59:47 GMT

what if i already have a defined and deployed workflow and i just want to start it automatically using java? could my java file just contain all the details needed for the workflow? (admin as the assigned to the task and notified in email)(we figured out how to upload files from UI (flex) to java t

Re: how to start workflow using java

mrogers — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 10:44:16 GMT

Yes you can do this.

The process is roughly, create a package, set up your properties, get the workflow, start a new instance of the workflow.

Here's a snippet of some java code I am working on at the moment that kicks off a new workflow and runs the start task.

      NodeRef wfPackage = this.workflowService.createPackage(null);

      Map<QName, Serializable> workflowProps = new HashMap<QName, Serializable>(
            16);
      workflowProps.put(WorkflowModel.ASSOC_PACKAGE, wfPackage);
      workflowProps.put(WorkflowModel.ASSOC_ASSIGNEE, inviteeNodeRef);
      workflowProps.put(
            WorkflowModelModeratedInvitation.ASSOC_GROUP_ASSIGNEE,
            roleGroup);
      workflowProps.put(
            WorkflowModelModeratedInvitation.WF_PROP_INVITEE_COMMENTS,
            inviteeComments);
      workflowProps.put(
            WorkflowModelModeratedInvitation.WF_PROP_INVITEE_ROLE,
            inviteeRole);
      workflowProps.put(
            WorkflowModelModeratedInvitation.WF_PROP_INVITEE_USER_NAME,
            inviteeUserName);
      workflowProps.put(
            WorkflowModelNominatedInvitation.WF_PROP_RESOURCE_NAME,
            resourceName);
      workflowProps.put(
            WorkflowModelNominatedInvitation.WF_PROP_RESOURCE_TYPE,
            resourceType.toString());

      // get the moderated workflow

      WorkflowDefinition wfDefinition = this.workflowService
            .getDefinitionByName(WorkflowModelModeratedInvitation.WORKFLOW_DEFINITION_NAME);
      if (wfDefinition == null) {
         // handle workflow definition does not exist
         Object objs[] = { WorkflowModelModeratedInvitation.WORKFLOW_DEFINITION_NAME };
         throw new InvitationException("invitation.error.noworkflow", objs);
      }

      // start the workflow
      WorkflowPath wfPath = this.workflowService.startWorkflow(wfDefinition
            .getId(), workflowProps);

      String workflowId = wfPath.instance.id;
      String wfPathId = wfPath.id;
      List<WorkflowTask> wfTasks = this.workflowService
            .getTasksForWorkflowPath(wfPathId);

      // throw an exception if no tasks where found on the workflow path
      if (wfTasks.size() == 0)
      {
         Object objs[] = { WorkflowModelModeratedInvitation.WORKFLOW_DEFINITION_NAME };
         throw new InvitationException("invitation.error.notasks", objs);
      }

      try {
         WorkflowTask wfStartTask = wfTasks.get(0);
         this.workflowService.endTask(wfStartTask.id, null);
      } catch (RuntimeException err) {
         if (logger.isDebugEnabled())
            logger.debug("Failed - caught error during Invite workflow transition: "
               + err.getMessage());
         throw err;
      }

Re: how to start workflow using java

pamela — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 05:47:23 GMT

thank you! i've managed to call my workflow through webscripts though, using java scripts.

Re: how to start workflow using java

nowhere — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 15:37:21 GMT

Hi,
can someone show me the foundamental steps to follow to start a workflow from a rule?
If my advanced workflow needs input from user (that'is assignee for example), how can I implement this? Is still possible to use a webscript?

Any help will be appreciated, I'm very confused now :roll:

Re: how to start workflow using java

pamela — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:48:28 GMT

yes you can use webscripts,

insert in your javascript the details you want your workflow to carry..

Re: how to start workflow using java

nowhere — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 14:05:26 GMT

Hi,
Thanks for answer…
I meant that I would show a dialog to allow user insert information needed by my workflow. Is this still possible using javascript?

Re: how to start workflow using java

mrogers — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 21:54:31 GMT

What you need to do is add a workflow task to gather the information from your user.

Re: how to start workflow using java

pamela — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 02:12:06 GMT

once you've set your workflow for that, and supposed to activate it using javascript,
you can set your script to accept values (or anything from the user).

from your example, you need to pass the bpm_assignee from the user right?
what i did in mine was i have hard coded whom to assign my workflow, like this:

workflow.parameters["bpm:assignee"] = people.getPerson("pamela");

the user "pamela" can be changed to receive values inputted by the current user.

Re: how to start workflow using java

sanket — Fri, 21 May 2010 07:47:19 GMT

I need to add a resource (file attached) when the workflow starts. I have used the same above code.
The task is generated and listed at the initiator's dashboard. But how can I add a resource ?

WorkflowModelNominatedInvitation.WF_PROP_RESOURCE_NAME,
resourceName);
workflowProps.put(
WorkflowModelNominatedInvitation.WF_PROP_RESOURCE_TYPE,
resourceType.toString());

What do I need to pass in the above parameters - resourceName and resourceType ?

I have the nodRef of the file which I need to pass as resource.I just need to know how do I pass it
as parameter ?

Re: how to start workflow using java

sanket — Mon, 24 May 2010 06:35:52 GMT

Problem solved.

http://forums.alfresco.com/en/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=27033

Re: how to start workflow using java

joko71 — Fri, 27 May 2011 06:56:03 GMT

Yes you can do this.

The process is roughly, create a package, set up your properties, get the workflow, start a new instance of the workflow.

Here's a snippet of some java code I am working on at the moment that kicks off a new workflow and runs the start task.

…

I know that your post is old, but my problems are new.

In Alfresco version 2.1 I had a Java method which started worklow, with ugly workaround where I temporarily gave all rights to the user on whole Company Home.

// create workflow package out of package items
NodeRef packageNodeRef = WorkflowHelper.createWorkflowPackage(packageItemList);

Map<QName, Serializable> parameters = new HashMap<QName, Serializable>();

parameters.put(WorkflowModel.ASSOC_PACKAGE, packageNodeRef);
parameters.put(WorkflowModel.PROP_DESCRIPTION, taskComment);
parameters.put(WorkflowModel.PROP_WORKFLOW_DESCRIPTION, taskComment);

parameters.put(ContentModel.PROP_OWNER, initiatorUsername);

// if it is workflow with one assignee
if(workflow41AssigneeFlag) {
   logger.debug("Workflow with one assignee.");
   NodeRef nrAssignee = AlfrescoServices.getPersonService().getPerson(assigneeUsernameList.get(0));
   parameters.put(WorkflowModel.ASSOC_ASSIGNEE, nrAssignee);
} else {
   logger.debug("Workflow with multiple assignees.");
   // if it is workflow with multiple assignees
   ArrayList<NodeRef> assignees = new ArrayList<NodeRef>();
               
   for(String assigneeUsername : assigneeUsernameList) {
      NodeRef nrAssignee = AlfrescoServices.getPersonService().getPerson(assigneeUsername);
            
      if(nrAssignee != null) {
         assignees.add(nrAssignee);
      }
   }
               
   parameters.put(QName.createQName(BPM_ASSIGNEES_QNAME), assignees);
}

// task start date
parameters.put(WorkflowModel.PROP_START_DATE, new Date());
                              
// task and workflow due date
if(dueDate != null) {
   logger.debug("Due date: " + dueDate);
   parameters.put(WorkflowModel.PROP_DUE_DATE, dueDate);
   parameters.put(WorkflowModel.PROP_WORKFLOW_DUE_DATE, dueDate);
} else {
   logger.warn("Due date not set.");
}
                              
// set permission on Company Home for initiator
logger.debug("Setting permissions…");
NodeRef nrCompanyHome = WorkflowHelper.setPermissionForUserOnCompanyHomeNode(initiatorUsername, COMPANY_HOME_SET_PERMISSION);
logger.debug("Setting permissions…done.");

// start workflow
logger.debug("Workflow definition Id: " + workflowDefinition.id);

WorkflowPath path = null;

path = AlfrescoServices.getWorkflowService().startWorkflow(workflowDefinition.id, parameters);

// end start task
List<WorkflowTask> tasks = AlfrescoServices.getWorkflowService().getTasksForWorkflowPath(path.id);
WorkflowTask startTask = tasks.get(0);
                        
AlfrescoServices.getWorkflowService().endTask(startTask.id, null);
            
// delete permission on Company Home for initiator
logger.debug("Deleting permissions…");
WorkflowHelper.deletePermissionForUserOnCompanyHomeNode(nrCompanyHome, initiatorUsername, initiatorUsername, COMPANY_HOME_SET_PERMISSION);
logger.debug("Deleting permissions…done.");
            
logger.info(String.format("Workflow %s started by user: %s", workflowName, initiatorUsername));
‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍

Code is snipped of a method, and it works in 2.1 version.

But when I put it in 3.2, it does not work, seems like my "magic" with Company Home does not work anymore. I get an error similar to this one (without first line):
http://forums.alfresco.com/en/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=35234

I noticed your post and Java code. I also noticed there is no meddling with permissions, and there are many new parameters unknown to me.

I tried something which worked for me in 2.1 version: I gave manually through web client rights on Company Home to user-initiator, but the error is still the same. Maybe user rights are not the issue after all.

Interesting, the same error occured while I was trying original Ad Hoc workflow from web client:

2011-05-27 09:17:43,351 INFO  [STDOUT] 09:17:43,349 ERROR [ui.common.Utils] A system error happened during the operation: null
java.lang.NullPointerException
   at org.alfresco.repo.workflow.jbpm.JBPMEngine.getCompanyHome(JBPMEngine.java:2675)
   at org.alfresco.repo.workflow.jbpm.JBPMEngine.access$300(JBPMEngine.java:129)
   at org.alfresco.repo.workflow.jbpm.JBPMEngine$11.doInJbpm(JBPMEngine.java:686)
   at org.springmodules.workflow.jbpm31.JbpmTemplate$1.doInHibernate(JbpmTemplate.java:87)
   at org.springframework.orm.hibernate3.HibernateTemplate.execute(HibernateTemplate.java:372)
   at org.springframework.orm.hibernate3.HibernateTemplate.execute(HibernateTemplate.java:338)
   at org.springmodules.workflow.jbpm31.JbpmTemplate.execute(JbpmTemplate.java:80)
   at org.alfresco.repo.workflow.jbpm.JBPMEngine.startWorkflow(JBPMEngine.java:668)
   at org.alfresco.repo.workflow.WorkflowServiceImpl.startWorkflow(WorkflowServiceImpl.java:330)
   at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke0(Native Method)
   at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(Unknown Source)
   at sun.reflect.DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(Unknown Source)
   at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Unknown Source)

…‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍

Maybe something is wrong with the system, JBPM jars?

Can you please elaborate your code, explain the function of parameters which go into Map, and how come there is no messing with properties which was necessary before?

Re: how to start workflow using java

narasimha — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 06:45:22 GMT

Hi,

Getting below error while starting new work flow,

error msg

Caused by: org.alfresco.service.namespace.NamespaceException: Namespace prefix stmwf is not mapped to a namespace URI
        at org.alfresco.service.namespace.QName.createQName(QName.java:99)
        at org.alfresco.service.namespace.QName.createQName(QName.java:121)
        at org.alfresco.repo.workflow.WorkflowQNameConverter.convertNameToQName(WorkflowQNameConverter.java:103)
        at org.alfresco.repo.workflow.WorkflowQNameConverter.convertNameToQName(WorkflowQNameConverter.java:85)
        at org.alfresco.repo.workflow.WorkflowQNameConverter.mapNameToQName(WorkflowQNameConverter.java:71)
        at org.alfresco.repo.workflow.WorkflowObjectFactory.getTaskTypeDefinition(WorkflowObjectFactory.java:409)
        at org.alfresco.repo.workflow.WorkflowObjectFactory.createTaskDefinition(WorkflowObjectFactory.java:209)
        at org.alfresco.repo.workflow.activiti.ActivitiTypeConverter.getTaskDefinition(ActivitiTypeConverter.java:155)
        at org.alfresco.repo.workflow.activiti.ActivitiTypeConverter.convert(ActivitiTypeConverter.java:144)
        at org.alfresco.repo.workflow.activiti.ActivitiTypeConverter.convert(ActivitiTypeConverter.java:311)
        at org.alfresco.repo.workflow.activiti.ActivitiTypeConverter.convert(ActivitiTypeConverter.java:285)
        at org.alfresco.repo.workflow.activiti.ActivitiTypeConverter.filterByDomainAndConvert(ActivitiTypeConverter.java:99)
        at org.alfresco.repo.workflow.activiti.ActivitiWorkflowEngine.getValidWorkflowDefinitions(ActivitiWorkflowEngine.java:1133)
        at org.alfresco.repo.workflow.activiti.ActivitiWorkflowEngine.getDefinitions(ActivitiWorkflowEngine.java:547)
        at org.alfresco.repo.workflow.WorkflowServiceImpl.getDefinitions(WorkflowServiceImpl.java:293)
        at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke0(Native Method)
        at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(NativeMethodAccessorImpl.java:39)
        at sun.reflect.DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.java:25)
        at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:597)
        at org.springframework.aop.support.AopUtils.invokeJoinpointUsingReflection(AopUtils.java:309)
        at org.springframework.aop.framework.ReflectiveMethodInvocation.invokeJoinpoint(ReflectiveMethodInvocation.java:183)
        at org.springframework.aop.framework.ReflectiveMethodInvocation.proceed(ReflectiveMethodInvocation.java:150)
        at org.alfresco.repo.security.permissions.impl.AlwaysProceedMethodInterceptor.invoke(AlwaysProceedMethodInterceptor.java:34)
        at org.springframework.aop.framework.ReflectiveMethodInvocation.proceed(ReflectiveMethodInvocation.java:172)
        at org.alfresco.repo.security.permissions.impl.ExceptionTranslatorMethodInterceptor.invoke(ExceptionTranslatorMethodInterceptor.java:46)
        at org.springframework.aop.framework.ReflectiveMethodInvocation.proceed(ReflectiveMethodInvocation.java:172)
        at org.alfresco.repo.audit.AuditMethodInterceptor.invoke(AuditMethodInterceptor.java:147)
        at org.springframework.aop.framework.ReflectiveMethodInvocation.proceed(ReflectiveMethodInvocation.java:172)
        at org.springframework.transaction.interceptor.TransactionInterceptor.invoke(TransactionInterceptor.java:110)
        at org.springframework.aop.framework.ReflectiveMethodInvocation.proceed(ReflectiveMethodInvocation.java:172)
        at org.springframework.aop.framework.JdkDynamicAopProxy.invoke(JdkDynamicAopProxy.java:202)
        at $Proxy71.getDefinitions(Unknown Source)
        at org.alfresco.repo.web.scripts.workflow.WorkflowDefinitionsGet.buildModel(WorkflowDefinitionsGet.java:52)
        at org.alfresco.repo.web.scripts.workflow.AbstractWorkflowWebscript.executeImpl(AbstractWorkflowWebscript.java:80)
        at org.springframework.extensions.webscripts.DeclarativeWebScript.execute(DeclarativeWebScript.java:64)
        … 25 more
Sep 11, 2013 12:14:15 PM org.quartz.core.JobRunShell run
SEVERE: Job Solr.CoreTracker-alfresco threw an unhandled Exception:
org.alfresco.error.AlfrescoRuntimeException: 08117594 GetModelsDiff return status is 302
        at org.alfresco.solr.client.SOLRAPIClient.getModelsDiff(SOLRAPIClient.java:1010)
        at org.alfresco.solr.tracker.CoreTracker.trackModels(CoreTracker.java:1630)
        at org.alfresco.solr.tracker.CoreTracker.trackRepository(CoreTracker.java:1134)
        at org.alfresco.solr.tracker.CoreTracker.updateIndex(CoreTracker.java:491)