Oracle Workflow Guide
Release 2.6.2
Part Number A95265-02 |
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Contents |
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Glossary |
Preface
Audience for This Guide
Welcome to the Oracle Workflow Guide.
This guide assumes you have a working knowledge of the following:
- The principles and customary practices of your business area.
If you have never used Oracle Workflow, Oracle suggests you attend one or more of the Oracle Workflow training classes available through Oracle University.
See Other Information Sources for more information about Oracle Applications product information.
The Oracle Workflow Guide also assumes you have a basic understanding of operating system concepts and familiarity with Oracle database server, PL/SQL, and Oracle9i Application Server technology. If you have not yet been introduced to any of these systems, Oracle suggests you attend one or more of the training classes available through Oracle University.
How To Use This Guide
This guide contains the information you need to understand and use Oracle Workflow.
- Chapter 1 provides an overview of Oracle Workflow.
- Chapter 2 describes how to implement Oracle Workflow for your site.
- Chapter 3 describes how to begin defining a workflow process.
- Chapter 4 describes how to define the components necessary to build a workflow process.
- Chapter 5 describes how to draw and define a workflow process diagram.
- Chapter 6 describes the standard activities provided with Oracle Workflow.
- Chapter 7 describes the standard APIs for the PL/SQL and Java functions that can be called by Oracle Workflow.
- Chapter 8 provides detailed information about Oracle Workflow's APIs.
- Chapter 9 describes the Oracle Workflow home page, where users and administrators can centrally access all the web-based features of Oracle Workflow.
- Chapter 10 discusses how a user can view and act on a workflow notification.
- Chapter 11 describes how to use the Workflow Monitor to administer or view the status of a workflow process.
- Chapter 12 describes how to launch a workflow process for testing purposes.
- Chapter 13 describes how to manage business events.
- Chapter 14 describes the standard events provided with Oracle Workflow.
- Chapter 15 describes the demonstration workflow processes included with Oracle Workflow.
- Chapter 16 describes the miscellaneous administrative SQL scripts included with Oracle Workflow.
- Appendix A describes the Oracle Workflow Builder menus and toolbar.
- Appendix B lists the predefined workflow processes that are included with the Oracle Applications-embedded version of Oracle Workflow, the Oracle Applications features that leverage the Business Event System, and the Oracle9i platform features that leverage Oracle Workflow. This appendix also includes the Oracle Workflow support policy.
- Appendix C describes concepts and techniques that you can use for performance gain when running Oracle Workflow.
At the end of this guide, we include a glossary of Oracle Workflow terms.
Documentation Accessibility
Our goal is to make Oracle products, services, and supporting documentation accessible, with good usability, to the disabled community. To that end, our documentation includes features that make information available to users of assistive technology. This documentation is available in HTML format, and contains markup to facilitate access by the disabled community. Standards will continue to evolve over time, and Oracle Corporation is actively engaged with other market-leading technology vendors to address technical obstacles so that our documentation can be accessible to all of our customers. For additional information, visit the Oracle Accessibility Program Web site at http://www.oracle.com/accessibility/.
Accessibility of Code Examples in Documentation
JAWS, a Windows screen reader, may not always correctly read the code examples in this document. The conventions for writing code require that closing braces should appear on an otherwise empty line; however, JAWS may not always read a line of text that consists solely of a bracket or brace.
Accessibility of Links to External Web Sites in Documentation
This documentation may contain links to Web sites of other companies or organizations that Oracle Corporation does not own or control. Oracle Corporation neither evaluates nor makes any representations regarding the accessibility of these Web sites.
Other Information Sources
You can choose from many sources of information, including online documentation, training, and support services, to increase your knowledge and understanding of Oracle Workflow.
If this guide refers you to other Oracle Applications documentation, use only the Release 11i versions of those guides.
Online Documentation
If you are using the version of Oracle Workflow embedded in Oracle Applications, note that all Oracle Applications documentation is available online (HTML or PDF).
- Online Help - The new features section in the HTML help describes new features in 11i. This information is updated for each new release of Oracle Workflow. The new features section also includes information about any features that were not yet available when this guide was printed. For example, if your administrator has installed software from a mini-pack or an upgrade, this document describes the new features. Online help patches are available on MetaLink.
- 11i Features Matrix - This document lists new features available by patch and identifies any associated new documentation. The new features matrix document is available on MetaLink.
- Readme File - Refer to the readme file for patches that you have installed to learn about new documentation or documentation patches that you can download.
Portions of this guide are also available online in Windows Help format. The Windows Help is available from the Oracle Workflow Builder Help menu.
If you are using the standalone version of Oracle Workflow, note that this guide is available online in HTML format, and portions of the guide are available in Windows Help format as well. The Windows Help is available from the Oracle Workflow Builder Help menu. The HTML documentation is available from a URL provided by your system administrator or from the help icon in the Oracle Workflow web pages.
Related User's Guides
Oracle Workflow is used by other Oracle Applications products to provide embedded workflows. Therefore, if you are using the version of Oracle Workflow embedded in Oracle Applications, you may want to refer to other user's guides when you set up and use Oracle Workflow to learn more about the embedded workflows.
You can read the guides online by choosing Library from the expandable menu on your HTML help window, by reading from the Oracle Applications Document Library CD included in your media pack, or by using a Web browser with a URL that your system administrator provides.
If you require printed guides, you can purchase them from the Oracle Store at http://oraclestore.oracle.com.
Guides Related to All Products
Oracle Applications User's Guide
This guide explains how to enter data, query, run reports, and navigate using the graphical user interface (GUI) available with this release of Oracle Workflow (and any other Oracle Applications products). This guide also includes information on setting user profiles, as well as running and reviewing reports and concurrent processes.
You can access this user's guide online by choosing "Getting Started with Oracle Applications" from any Oracle Applications help file.
User Guides Related to This Product
Oracle General Ledger User Guide
This guide provides information about journal entry, budgeting, and multi-company accounting and consolidation.
Oracle Purchasing User's Guide
This guide provides information about entering and managing purchase orders and requisitions.
Implementing Oracle Self-Service Human Resources (SSHR)
This guide provides information about setting up the self-service human resources management functions for managers and employees. Managers and employees can then use an intranet and Web browser to have easy and intuitive access to personal and career management functionality
Oracle Payables User Guide
This guide provides information about entering and managing suppliers, invoices, and payments.
Oracle Projects User Guide
This guide provides information about entering and managing projects, budgets, expenditures, costing, and billing.
Oracle Receivables User Guide
This guide provides information about entering and managing customers, receipts, collections, and transactions.
Oracle Business Intelligence System Implementation Guide
This guide provides information about implementing Oracle Business Intelligence (BIS) in your environment.
BIS 11i User Guide Online Help
This guide is provided as online help only from the BIS application and includes information about intelligence reports, Discoverer workbooks, and the Performance Management Framework.
Oracle Financials Open Interface Reference
This guide is a compilation of all open interface descriptions in all Oracle Financial Applications user's guides.
Oracle XML Gateway User's Guide
This guide explains how to implement the production and consumption of valid, well-formed XML messages between Oracle Applications and trading partners.
Installation and System Administration
Oracle Applications Concepts
This guide provides an introduction to the concepts, features, technology stack, architecture, and terminology for Oracle Applications Release 11i. It provides a useful first book to read before an installation of Oracle Applications. This guide also introduces the concepts behind Applications-wide features such as Business Intelligence (BIS), languages and character sets, and Self-Service Web Applications.
Installing Oracle Applications
This guide provides instructions for managing the installation of Oracle Applications products. In Release 11i, much of the installation process is handled using Oracle Rapid Install, which minimizes the time to install Oracle Applications, the Oracle8 technology stack, and the Oracle8i Server technology stack by automating many of the required steps. This guide contains instructions for using Oracle Rapid Install and lists the tasks you need to perform to finish your installation. You should use this guide in conjunction with individual product user's guides and implementation guides.
Upgrading Oracle Applications
Refer to this guide if you are upgrading your Oracle Applications Release 10.7 or Release 11.0 products to Release 11i. This guide describes the upgrade process and lists database and product-specific upgrade tasks. You must be either at Release 10.7 (NCA, SmartClient, or character mode) or Release 11.0, to upgrade to Release 11i. You cannot upgrade to Release 11i directly from releases prior to 10.7.
Maintaining Oracle Applications
Use this guide to help you run the various AD utilities, such as AutoUpgrade, AutoPatch, AD Administration, AD Controller, AD Relink, License Manager, and others. It contains how-to steps, screenshots, and other information that you need to run the AD utilities. This guide also provides information on maintaining the Oracle applications file system and database.
Oracle Applications System Administrator's Guide
This guide provides planning and reference information for the Oracle Applications System Administrator. It contains information on how to define security, customize menus and online help, and manage concurrent processing.
Oracle Alert User's Guide
This guide explains how to define periodic and event alerts to monitor the status of your Oracle Applications data.
Oracle Applications Developer's Guide
This guide contains the coding standards followed by the Oracle Applications development staff. It describes the Oracle Application Object Library components needed to implement the Oracle Applications user interface described in the Oracle Applications User Interface Standards for Forms-Based Products. It also provides information to help you build your custom Oracle Forms Developer 6i forms so that they integrate with Oracle Applications.
Other Implementation Documentation
Oracle Applications Product Update Notes
Use this guide as a reference for upgrading an installation of Oracle Applications. It provides a history of the changes to individual Oracle Applications products between Release 11.0 and Release 11i. It includes new features, enhancements, and changes made to database objects, profile options, and seed data for this interval.
Multiple Reporting Currencies in Oracle Applications
If you use the Multiple Reporting Currencies feature to record transactions in more than one currency, use this manual before implementing Oracle Workflow. This manual details additional steps and setup considerations for implementing Oracle Workflow with this feature.
Multiple Organizations in Oracle Applications
This guide describes how to set up and use Oracle Workflow with Oracle Applications' Multiple Organization support feature, so you can define and support different organization structures when running a single installation of Oracle Workflow.
Oracle Applications Flexfields Guide
This guide provides flexfields planning, setup and reference information for the Oracle Workflow implementation team, as well as for users responsible for the ongoing maintenance of Oracle Applications product data. This manual also provides information on creating custom reports on flexfields data.
Oracle eTechnical Reference Manuals
Each eTechnical Reference Manual (eTRM) contains database diagrams and a detailed description of database tables, forms, reports, and programs for a specific Oracle Applications product. This information helps you convert data from your existing applications, integrate Oracle Applications data with non-Oracle applications, and write custom reports for Oracle Applications products. Oracle eTRM is available on MetaLink.
Oracle Applications User Interface Standards for Forms-Based Products
This guide contains the user interface (UI) standards followed by the Oracle Applications development staff. It describes the UI for the Oracle Applications products and how to apply this UI to the design of an application built by using Oracle Forms.
Oracle Manufacturing APIs and Open Interfaces Manual
This manual contains up-to-date information about integrating with other Oracle Manufacturing applications and with your other systems. This documentation includes APIs and open interfaces found in Oracle Manufacturing.
Oracle Order Management Suite APIs and Open Interfaces Manual
This manual contains up-to-date information about integrating with other Oracle Manufacturing applications and with your other systems. This documentation includes APIs and open interfaces found in Oracle Order Management Suite.
Oracle Applications Message Reference Manual
This manual describes all Oracle Applications messages. This manual is available in HTML format on the documentation CD-ROM for Release 11i.
Training and Support
Training
Oracle offers a complete set of training courses to help you and your staff master Oracle Workflow and reach full productivity quickly. These courses are organized into functional learning paths, so you take only those courses appropriate to your job or area of responsibility.
You have a choice of educational environments. You can attend courses offered by Oracle University at any one of our many Education Centers, you can arrange for our trainers to teach at your facility, or you can use Oracle Learning Network (OLN), Oracle University's online education utility. In addition, Oracle training professionals can tailor standard courses or develop custom courses to meet your needs. For example, you may want to use your organization structure, terminology, and data as examples in a customized training session delivered at your own facility.
Support
From on-site support to central support, our team of experienced professionals provides the help and information you need to keep Oracle Workflow working for you. This team includes your Technical Representative and Account Manager, and Oracle's large staff of consultants and support specialists with expertise in your business area, managing an Oracle database server, and your hardware and software environment.
Do Not Use Database Tools to Modify Oracle Applications Data
Oracle STRONGLY RECOMMENDS that you never use SQL*Plus, Oracle Data Browser, database triggers, or any other tool to modify Oracle Applications data unless otherwise instructed.
Oracle provides powerful tools you can use to create, store, change, retrieve, and maintain information in an Oracle database. But if you use Oracle tools such as SQL*Plus to modify Oracle Applications data, you risk destroying the integrity of your data and you lose the ability to audit changes to your data.
Because Oracle Applications tables are interrelated, any change you make using Oracle Applications can update many tables at once. But when you modify Oracle Applications data using anything other than Oracle Applications, you may change a row in one table without making corresponding changes in related tables. If your tables get out of synchronization with each other, you risk retrieving erroneous information and you risk unpredictable results throughout Oracle Applications.
When you use Oracle Applications to modify your data, Oracle Applications automatically checks that your changes are valid. Oracle Applications also keeps track of who changes information. If you enter information into database tables using database tools, you may store invalid information. You also lose the ability to track who has changed your information because SQL*Plus and other database tools do not keep a record of changes.
About Oracle
Oracle Corporation develops and markets an integrated line of software products for database management, applications development, decision support, and office automation, as well as Oracle Applications, an integrated suite of more than 160 software modules for financial management, supply chain management, manufacturing, project systems, human resources, and customer relationship management.
Oracle products are available for mainframes, minicomputers, personal computers, network computers and personal digital assistants, allowing organizations to integrate different computers, different operating systems, different networks, and even different database management systems, into a single, unified computing and information resource.
Oracle is the world's leading supplier of software for information management, and the world's second largest software company. Oracle offers its database, tools, and applications products, along with related consulting, education, and support services, in over 145 countries around the world.
Copyright © 2002 Oracle Corporation.
All Rights Reserved.