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Siebel Business Process Framework: Workflow Guide > Manipulating Data in a Workflow Process > Using Process Properties >
Overview of the Process Property
A process property is a container that stores a value that the workflow process gets from the Siebel database or that it derives before or during processing. You can use the value that a process property contains in the following ways:
- Pass information between objects. For example, between steps in a workflow process, between a workflow process and a sub process, or between a workflow process and a business service. You define a process property as an input argument or output argument on a workflow step.
- Base a decision branch on the value that a process property contains.
- Use the value that a process property contains in an expression.
When a workflow process finishes, the final value of each process property is available as a separate output argument that Siebel CRM can pass to another object. For more information about:
Process Property and the Property Set
A property set is a hierarchical structure that contains name and value pairs, known as properties, at each level in the hierarchy. The process property stores data that is associated with the property set. A workflow process uses a property set to send data to and from a workflow process step. Figure 13 describes how Siebel CRM uses a process property in a workflow process.
Figure 13. How Siebel CRM Uses a Process Property in a Workflow Process
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Explanation of Callouts
Siebel CRM does the following when it uses a process property in a workflow process:
- The process property sends data to Workflow Step 1 as an input argument.
- Workflow Step 1 modifies the data according to the configuration for Step 1.
- An output argument on Workflow Step 1 sends data from the step to the process property.
- An input argument on Workflow Step 2 brings the data that Step 1 uses into Workflow Step 2, where the workflow process can use it according to the internal configuration that is defined for workflow Step 2.
You can define the process property and step arguments in the Multi Value Property Window. For more information, see Using the Multi Value Property Window. How Siebel CRM Sets the Starting Value of a Process Property
Table 14 describes how Siebel CRM sets the starting value of a process property when it starts a workflow process.
Table 14. How Siebel CRM Sets the Starting Value of a Process Property
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A process property of type string, number, or date and that includes an In/Out type of In or In/Out. |
The value that the input property with the same name contains, if one exists. |
A hierarchy process property that includes an In/Out type of In or In/Out. |
The value that child input property sets contain. |
A process property that contains a Default String. |
The value that the Value property of the input property set contains. |
How Siebel CRM Sets the Ending Value of a Process Property
Table 15 describes how Siebel CRM sets the ending value of a process property when a workflow process ends.
Table 15. How Siebel CRM Sets the Ending Value of a Process Property
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A process property that is of type string, number, or date, and that includes an In/Out type of In or In/Out, |
Stored as a property in the output property set. |
A hierarchy process property that includes an In/Out type of In or In/Out, |
Stored as a child property set. |
A process property with the name [Value] is defined. You can also use the process property [Value] to send binary data in a sub process step. Siebel CRM can set the starting value of the input argument [Value] of the sub process with data that resides in the main process, and then the sub process step can get this data. For more information, see Passing Data to and from a Workflow Process. |
Stored in the Value property of the output property set. |
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