Using the Pass By Reference Feature with a Sub Process

If a sub process modifies a large amount of data, then it must also copy a large amount of data. This configuration can result in a negative impact on performance and scalability. You can use the Pass By Reference feature so that Siebel CRM passes a pointer to the data instead of copying the data.

The following figure includes an example Workflow Process that passes a large property set from the Create Siebel Message step to the 11i Process Order step. This figure contains the following steps and connectors:

1. A Start step

2. A Create Search Spec step

3. A Create Siebel Message step

4. An 11i Process Order step

5. An End step

6. The following Connectors: A connecter between step 1 and 2, step 2 and 3, step 3 and 4, step 4 and 5.

If you configure a sub process step to support Pass By Reference, then it is not necessary to map the output argument in the sub process step for the hierarchical properties that Siebel CRM passes. The sub process step overwrites the passed input hierarchical argument. Optionally, you can define the sub process step to modify the passed input hierarchical argument.

To use the pass by reference feature with a sub process

1. In the Workflow Processes list, choose a Workflow Process that another Workflow Process references as a sub process.

2. In the Properties pane, set the Pass By Ref Hierarchy Argument process property to TRUE.

   In the Worfklow Processes list, the repository definition now includes a check mark for the Pass by Ref Hierarchy property of the Workflow Process that is the sub process.