How to let parent process instance continue when child process instance is deleted

[steve_cgi]

Hi all,

I want to model a multi-level workflows:

+ top level workflow will perform "call-activity" (this will create child process instance).

+ If the child process instance is "DELETED", the parent "call-activity" will wait forever.

What I want is:

+ the parent process instance to continue after the child process instance is deleted.

QUESTIONS:

How to accomplish that?

Can I use some API to implement that? If yes, what API?

Can I use additional BPMN constructs to implement that? If yes, what constructs?

If the above do not exist,  are there other approaches?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Steve

[martin_grofcik]

Hi Steve,

I would recommend to do not delete child process. Instead of delete child (or external system) could throw a message to inform parent to cancel the child. Parent's call activity can catch the message and continue in the execution.

Regards
Martin

[steve_cgi]

First, thanks Martin for the suggestion.

Let me make sure I understand:

+ I will have a message boundary event attached to the call-activity in the top level process

+ I can use the REST API to send the message to the call-activity by the execution ID

+ The call-activity will get "cancelled" by default, and move on to the next "step" in the process
(or do I need to specify explicitly a path for the message event in BPMN?)

Is that about right?

How happens to the child process instance after the call-activity is cancelled? Does it hang around? Do I need to "delete" it?

Thanks,

Steve

[steve_cgi]

I tried it out.

I have to attach the additional path to the message boundary event otherwise it will just hang in the associated call-activity; it will not transit to the next activity.

Also the child process instance will be gone.

I hope in the history table there will still be history for the child process instance and its associated activities. Will it?

Thanks.

Steve

[martin_grofcik]

Yes, depends on the history level. 🙂

Martin