topic Re: Java Activiti Inputs in Alfresco Archive

Java Activiti Inputs

chunnu — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 14:35:09 GMT

I am learning Java Activiti in order to connect a process through Java Spring MVC.I have used the Java Service Task and my code executes. What I want to do is when the process starts I want the client to send inputs. For example send a name. How is this possible through Java Activiti? I have tried a

Re: Java Activiti Inputs

jbarrez — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 15:06:58 GMT

What you need is a form that is displayed to the user. All the input of the user is then sent to the engine as process variables.
Check the startProcessInstance method that accepts a map of variables. Same for completing user tasks.

Re: Java Activiti Inputs

chunnu — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 20:52:59 GMT

Hi

Actually there is no user interface. The data input will be coming through JSON.

Data wil come through JSON into Spring MVC. Then the Activiti engine will start. So in this case how should I do it for input and output?

Re: Java Activiti Inputs

chunnu — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 21:45:15 GMT

Hi

When replying could you please give an example of how it is done.

Re: Java Activiti Inputs

jbarrez — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 09:02:00 GMT

Just convert the json to whatever object you want, and call the runtimeService.startProcessInstance method and pass your variables there. It would be an example of two lines 😉

Re: Java Activiti Inputs

chunnu — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 17:50:37 GMT

Hi

Ok, I got the input process variable to work.

The code will exeucte like a Service without any user involment. Basically there is a user interface. User interface adds information to JSON. The Java code which is the JavaDelegate will execute to do something that doesn't involve a user. When the code has finished it will give a success back to JSON which in turn will tell client.

The sucess is the output variable. How can this be created? I can create it in the JavaDelegate but when the code has completed how can it be accessed through the process instance?

From the output variable I would like to print the result.

Re: Java Activiti Inputs

jbarrez — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 08:29:09 GMT

So if I understand you correctly, when the user fills in a form, a fully automated process is started and finished. And you need the outcome of that process.

First of all: do you really need a workflow/process for this? Feels like mis-using a bpm engine.

But to answer your question: the easiest is probably storing the outcome as a process variable, and fetching the last value of that variable from the process history.

Re: Java Activiti Inputs

chunnu — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 19:29:39 GMT

Hi

Yes that's right and for now I do need it.

I am unable to locate the method in the HistoryService. Can you tell me which method should be called to get the output variable?

Re: Java Activiti Inputs

jbarrez — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 09:20:39 GMT

Check

/** Creates a new programmatic query to search for {@link HistoricDetail}s. */
HistoricDetailQuery createHistoricDetailQuery();

if you're on 5.10.

If you're adventurous and want to have an easier way, check trunk:

/** Creates a new programmatic query to search for {@link HistoricProcessVariable}s. */
HistoricProcessVariableQuery createHistoricProcessVariableQuery();

Re: Java Activiti Inputs

chunnu — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 08:12:39 GMT

Hi

I am on version 5.10. I am not sure which method to call on the 1st 1 you are saying and for the other 1 HistoricProcessVariableQuery I cannot see this on the API. Is this version 5.10?

Re: Java Activiti Inputs

jbarrez — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 09:08:51 GMT

Read my quote:

If you're adventurous and want to have an easier way, check trunk:

Which means that it is the unreleased version of the next Activiti, yes 😉

So you'd need to use the first option if you stick with 5.10.

Re: Java Activiti Inputs

chunnu — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 19:26:08 GMT

Hi

For the 1st option I get a NullPointerException when trying the following

I get the History service, invoke createHistoricDetailQuery method. I then use the processInstanceId singleResult method.

When using the HistoricDetail object returned gives a NullPointerException.

Any ideas why?

Also I would like to downcast this to HistoricVariableUpdate so I can get the value of the process output variable. Still I get a NullPointerException.

Re: Java Activiti Inputs

jbarrez — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 08:09:28 GMT

I'm not following: can you copy the exact line you try to execute. The Query api shouldn't give any null pointer exceptions

Re: Java Activiti Inputs

chunnu — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 19:39:50 GMT


ProcessInstance processInstance =getRuntimeService().startProcessInstanceByKey(“process1“, map);
HistoricDetail j =getHistoryService().createHistoricDetailQuery().processInstanceId(processInstance.getProcessInstanceId()).singleResult();

j is null map is a Map<String,Object> = new HashMap<String, Object>

Re: Java Activiti Inputs

jbarrez — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 11:39:22 GMT

DId you enable history? What history level are you running on.

To be safe, set the history level to 'full', you should at least get something back then.

Re: Java Activiti Inputs

chunnu — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 19:36:55 GMT

Hi

How do you turn it on?

Re: Java Activiti Inputs

ronald_van_kuij — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 19:58:56 GMT

Uhhhmmm… By reading the documentation?