Oracle Applications Capability

India Delivery Center

Oracle Workflow Concepts

By Gopinath Ganesan
Contents

• Workflow Introduction

• Workflow Classifications

• Workflow Architecture
Oracle Workflow - Introduction

1. Workflow is a very Powerful Tool to extend the Functionality of the

Applications to define Business Rules that are Unique to a
Company

3. Allows to automate and continuously improve business processes

5. Route information of any type, according to business rules, directly

to people both inside and outside your enterprise

7. Allows to define and continuously improve your business processes

using a drag-and-drop process designer
Key Benefits

• Allows for implementation of complex business logic in a short

timeframe with minimal customizations
• Allows flexible modifications
• Version control
• Timeout
• Escalation mechanism
• Load balancing
• Minimal maintenance
• Control Process Performance
Workflow Classifications

• Workflow can be classified into 2 types :

2. Traditional Workflow – Standalone workflow .
3. Event Based workflow – Embedded in Oracle 11i apps (BES) –
Business Event Systems enabled.

Workflow

Workflow Workflow
Server (2.6.2) Client

Workflow
Oracle 8i /9i DB Builder (2.6.2)
Workflow Architecture

Advanced Directory Workflow

Queuing Services XML
Web Loader
Work list Users Roles

Oracle
HTTP Workflow
Server Builder
Web
Monitor Business Workflow
Event Engine
System
Workflow
Definition
Loader
Workflow
Manager Notification
system

Workflow
Mail Notification Definition
Applications Mailer Oracle Workflow Files
Enabled Application

Workflow
End-User Application
Oracle server Development
Client Server
Client
Workflow Components - WF Development Client

1) Workflow Development Client

1.1) Workflow builder

 Draw the diagram.
 Save it in flat file format  *.WFT ( Definition Files)
 Upload to the Workflow DB under OWF_MGR Schema.

1.2) Workflow definition loader

Set of pre defined files can be downloaded from WF DB to
the local system.
 Physical path of Loader files :
 APPS  FND_TOP / bin / WFLOAD
 Traditional  $Oracle_home / home/ WFload.exe

1.3) Workflow XML Loader

 Same function of definition loader but applicable only for
 BES ( Business Event Systems)
 Files format is *.WFX
Workflow Components - WF Server

2) Workflow Server

2.1) Workflow Engine

 Set of pre defined API’s and tables to automate the WF process.

2.2) Directory Services

Manages Users & Roles .
Tables associated :

WF_local_user WF_user
WF_local_roles WF_roles
WF_user_roles WF_user_roles
Workflow Components - WF Server [ Notification System ]

2.3) Notification system – Process of sending WF Notifications.

Applications Notification Mailer

(Hotmail / Yahoo etc.)

WF Notification
Engine System

WF List
Directory (Inbox)
Services
Workflow Components - Application Server

3) Application Server

3.1) HTTP Server

 To process the web request from the applications invoking workflow.

 Oracle 11i  Default configured.
 Oracle 9iAS  Apache.
 Other Application Servers  Web logic , Web sphere.

3.2) Notification Mailer

 To send the E-Mail notifications to the external mail systems

( Yahoo / Hotmail etc.)
 Linux : sendmail
 Windows : IMAP ( Incoming mails) & SMTP (Outgoing mails).
Workflow Components - End User Client

4) End User Client

4.1) Web Work list

 Inbox which has got Workflow Notifications.

4.2) Web Monitor

 Java Applet which displays the runtime information of the work flow
process.
4.2) Web Analysis Tool
 Administer run time work flow process .
 Oracle 11i Apps : Oracle Applications Workflow Manager.
 Oracle 9iAS : Oracle Enterprise Manager.
Information Source

Oracle Metalink