Support for data objects

[dan1]

Hi,

Are there plans to support data objects in the designer?

Thanks,
Dan

[frederikherema1]

There is no way to add data-objects and their associations in the eclipse designer.

[dan1]

Using the tool, I can see that it isn't possible to add data objects. My question was actually aimed at your roadmap. Do you plan to support data objects in the future? If so, when?

[jbarrez]

I'm not yet convinced of the usability of data objects. What would the addition of data objects solve for you?

[gutlez]

Dan,

Are you meaning Data Objects and Collection Data Objects, or do you mean more of the general class of Data notations (Data Inputs, Data Outputs, Data Stores, and Data Associations)

I can see value in having Data Stores and their Data Associations in the Diagram, as that identifies which Data Sources are needed, and where they are being interacted with.

Data Inputs and Data Outputs make sense as well.

However, I'd be hard pressed to use Data Objects as the specific case rather than the general class.

[jbarrez]

Let me rephrase what I said: I do see the use case for data objects.
I'm just not sure if they are the right way to go, given that we are a Java framework, which goal is too make it easy for developers. The way data objects are implemented in bpmn 2.0, sure don't make that easy for developers.

[dan1]

Thanks for responding! Sorry I haven't gotten back sooner…

I'm very new to BPMN and trying to model processes in general. As I started to play with using BPMN, it seemed like I needed to show data objects in the process. For example, a user task where the user models something via a tool. The output of the tool is an XML document. That is fed into the next step of the process. When I model it, it seems useful to show the XML document as output from the first task and then input into the next task. Make sense?

But as I said, I'm very new to this type of modeling so I might be focused on the wrong things (i.e. I realize now that I don't even know what questions to ask yet).

Hopefully my example made sense.

Thanks,
Dan

[jbarrez]

Sure, like I said I understand it completely from the 'modelers-only' point of view.

However, our first goal is to make it as easy as possible for developers to integrate into Java, and I'm not sure data objects have a fit there.
The reason for this, is that it's very complex to have data objects mapped to valid Java ….

Of course, I can be wrong here … so that's why I'm asking for 'real' use cases.

[dan1]

I'm starting to actually write and develop some processes. As I proceed I'll post back up if I find real use cases for this.

Thanks,
Dan