Siebel Business Process Framework: Workflow Guide > Options for Configuring a Workflow Process > Setting the Workflow Mode Property >

Enabling Workflow Persistence

Workflow persistence is a feature that allows Siebel CRM to store the state and values that reside in the process properties of a workflow process instance. It supports transactions that are long lived in a single workflow process. Workflow persistence allows you to create an end-to-end workflow process that can include a wait step, a sub process step, or other interruptions. It can maintain the active state of the workflow process over a long time period while work occurs in different parts of your enterprise. It can save or restore data when the workflow process resumes. If persistence is enabled on a workflow process, then a user can pause it, and then Siebel CRM adds an item for it in the user Inbox. The user can take a work break, and then resume the workflow process at a later time.

Workflow persistence can resume a workflow process if any of the following occurs:

• Pause
• Server failure
• Session time out
• The user logs out of a web session

Siebel CRM saves the workflow process state and process properties in the S_WFA_INSTANCE table and the S_WFA_INST_PROP table. It removes a persistent workflow process from memory after it finishes running.

How Workflow Persistence Works with Different Workflow Process Modes

Siebel CRM uses workflow persistence with the following types of workflow processes:

• Interactive workflow process or 7.0 flow workflow process. You set the Auto Persist property of the workflow process in the Workflow Processes list in Siebel Tools.
• Long-running workflow process. The Siebel Server sets persistence for a long-running workflow process at run time.
• Service workflow process. Siebel CRM cannot use workflow persistence with a service workflow process.

Process Monitoring with Workflow Persistence

Some releases that occur earlier than Siebel CRM version 8.0 use workflow persistence to monitor a workflow process. To control workflow persistence, Siebel CRM adjusted the frequency and level settings on individual workflow process steps. Starting with Siebel CRM version 8.0, process monitoring is separate from workflow persistence and it is not necessary to set persistence for a long-running workflow process. If workflow persistence is enabled for a 7.0 flow workflow process, then Siebel CRM enables workflow persistence for it during an upgrade or import.

Enabling Persistence for a Workflow Process

You can enable workflow persistence for an interactive workflow process or for a 7.0 flow workflow process. The Siebel Server sets persistence for a long-running workflow process at run time.

CAUTION:  Defining Workflow Persistence for a large number of workflow processes can result in Siebel CRM creating a large number of records in the S_WF_PROP_VAL table. For more information, see Avoiding Excessive Records in the S_WF_PROP_VAL Table.

To define persistence for a workflow process

1. Locate the workflow process you must modify.

   For more information, see Locating a Workflow Process in the Workflow Processes List.

2. Set the Auto Persist property to YES.