Siebel Applications Administration Guide > Configuring the Inbox >

Planning for Inbox Configuration

Before you start configuring the Inbox, you need to do some research and planning.

This task is a step in Process of Setting Up and Configuring Inbox.

To plan an Inbox Configuration

1. Choose the feature object you want to integrate with the Inbox.

   For example, Employee Self-Service forms, Service Requests, Opportunities.

2. Analyze how the object is currently accessed. Consider the following questions:
   1. Is the object accessed from the UI or from workflow processes? Is the object accessed from one place or many?
   2. How is the object related to other objects? Are other objects dependent on the object?
   3. What operations do users perform on the object?
3. Determine the integration mechanism by considering what needs to happen to the object after it enters the Inbox.

   There are two kinds of integration with the Inbox:

   • Inbound. It is typically triggered through workflows, eScripts, run-time events, or Workflow Monitor agents.
   • Outbound. It is typically triggered through workflows and eScripts.

     For example, if users access the feature object in other ways besides using the Inbox, you need to synchronize (inbound) the Inbox with the object's current data. (See also Figure 5.)

4. Consider the following best practices:
   • Interact with the Inbox only through the methods in the Universal Inbox business service. Do not edit the Inbox fields directly.
   • Do not customize the fields in the Inbox.
   • You cannot reactivate an Inbox item after the item has been deactivated for the owner. Instead, you must create a new Inbox item for that owner.