Need an Approval Sample Process of some kind.

[frednforester]

Hi All
I'm new to all this BPMN stuff and am trying to setup a simple demo where a form is submitted for approval and based on one or more attributes a dynamic approver is assigned. could be hard coded for now either result sends an email.
I was reading some of the posts and saw screen shot of the process.
#875

get invoice, add items, do approval. if that exists as a sample that would be great!

Thanks in advance!

[rsoika]

You can solve this in different ways. For example you can create a conditional gateway to route the process instance depending on a business rule:

In this example ( download it from here ) the task approval 1 is only reached if 'debug.city=="paris"'

See the condition on the first sequence flow at the gateway:

 workitem.getItemValueString('debug.city')=="Paris"

Another way to is to set the approver ($owner) directly based on business rule. In this case you would add a business rule like the following to the submit event:

var result={};
result.isValid=true;
if ( workitem.getItemValueString('debug.city')=='Munich') {
     result.approver='anna';
} else {
    result.approver='marty';
}

[rsoika]

Imixs-Office-Workflow is an integrated Workflow Management Suite. The documentation in English can be found here.
Where Imixs-Office-Workflow is a complete software suite (also Open Source), the Process Manager is more a template to get started with you own custom workflow application project.

Models from Imixs-Office-Workflow can not always be executed in the process manager simply because a model form Imixs-Office-Workflow can make use of more functionality. For example such a model can refer to a Plugin Class that is not part of your custom Process Manager project. In your case the model points to a form element that's not part of the Process Manager. So you need to be careful at this point. You can find more example models also here

But I think together we can easily adapt some of the models to the Process Manager also.

[frednforester]

Yep I figured it had something to do with the forms component. so question.
can forms be used in the Process manager?
Our plan is most likely to not use the forms in the Imixs app but to have an external app submit it via the REST API. the process manager will only handle the approvals side of things which it seems to be able to do.

I was able to get office up and running using the doc. A lot of the apps pages are German that's where I got a little stuck.

yep I'm still getting the hang of it but I can help out.

Thanks

[rsoika]

Do you mean Imixs-Forms ? This is a pure JavaScript framework for single page applications using the Imixs Rest API.
The Imixs-Process-Manager is an example for a Jakarta EE Faces Application. Also Imixs-Office-Workflow is build on Jakarta EE Faces. But Imixs-Workflow does not depend on Jakarta EE Faces.

So it is a question about application architecture how you like to build you app.

[frednforester]

the Ticket bpmn works fine in the process manger. it has 2 forms. I'm able to start it claim it and solve or close.

The debug approval has 1 form and that one does not work in the process manager for some reason. they look to be the same format but I see the approval form does have some extra stuff.

[rsoika]

The debug workflow (I guess you mean the one from Imixs-Office-Workflow) does require a lot of additional modules not part of the process manager. This is the reason why you can't copy this worklfow into your project.

[frednforester]

Hi Ralph The whole BPMN thing is new to me. first time trying to do it so there is somewhat of a learning curve. I switched over to the ticket flow for now. going to enable debug in the app also. is the forms app a good way to get a lot of debug logging for the flow that is running? I noticed the plugin code does a fair amount of logging.

…

On Mon, Mar 31, 2025 at 3:39 AM Ralph Soika ***@***.***> wrote: The debug workflow (I guess you mean the one from Imixs-Office-Workflow) does require a lot of additional modules not part of the process manager. This is the reason why you can't copy this worklfow into your project. — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#912 (reply in thread)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/BE3G5TF57HVWJ2UJ5FBSJZD2XDWJ5AVCNFSM6AAAAABZ6IYGO6VHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43URDJONRXK43TNFXW4Q3PNVWWK3TUHMYTENRXGMYTSOI> . You are receiving this because you authored the thread.Message ID: ***@***.***>

-- Regards, *Fred Forester* Solutions Architect *ZEPHON LLC* E: ***@***.*** ***@***.***> M: 610.291.2145 [image: Zephon.tech] <http://Zephon.tech>

[rsoika]

Hi Fred,
to get a better start with Imixs-Workflow and BPMN take a look to this short tutorial shown some core concepts of Imixs-Worklfow.

If you just want to test your BPMN model you can also do a simple JUnit test. Imixs-Workflow provides a Worklfow-Engine-Mock Service that can be used for. See the examples here: https://www.imixs.org/doc/testing.html

A JUnit test is great to see if a workflow model makes sense and works as expected. It is also possible to build very complex test classes where you test different aspects. For example you can test a single Plugin or Adapter class.

Using a Docker Container with Imixs-Forms, the Imixs-Process-Manager, or just the Imixs-Microservice is more like an integration test. This allows you to test your database, your authentication framework and other aspects within your architecture - like for example a LDAP integration.

So to get a better understanding BPMN and Imixs-Workflow JUnit tests are great. We also use JUnit tests in production to ensure that a model update does not break existing business logic for more complex processes.

Regarding the logging: Imixs-Workflow print out only a processing message when a process step is executed and logs any kind of exceptions. You can justify the Loglevel in your environment like described here. But do not expect to much from this settings, as these provide more a deep-technical-logging of the internal workflow engine behavior.

Our latest plugins - like the Imixs-AI plugin provide an integrated Debug mode that can be switched on/off directly form the BPMN model. This is really cool and help to analyze complex flows as in AI supported business workflows.

[frednforester]

Hi Ralph Sorry I have to do some billable hours every now and then :) I looked here https://www.imixs.org/doc/logging.html but doesn't say how and where to set the log levels for workflow. I also want to trace the plugins also while I run the ticket flow. I looked at the tutorial but I need to see what's going on under the covers. I understand the pictures what I still have a hard time understanding is how the task values work <itemvalue>_ticketid</itemvalue> (<itemvalue>_teamName</itemvalue>) trying to find youtube vids that explain this stuff is not easy :) Since I am a java developer and not a BPMN developer, seeing the traces may help. Thanks again!! Fred

…

On Mon, Mar 31, 2025 at 5:06 PM Ralph Soika ***@***.***> wrote: Hi Fred, to get a better start with Imixs-Workflow and BPMN take a look to this short tutorial <https://www.imixs.org/doc/modelling/howto.html> shown some core concepts of Imixs-Worklfow. If you just want to test your BPMN model you can also do a simple JUnit test. Imixs-Workflow provides a Worklfow-Engine-Mock Service that can be used for. See the examples here: https://www.imixs.org/doc/testing.html A JUnit test is great to see if a workflow model makes sense and works as expected. It is also possible to build very complex test classes where you test different aspects. For example you can test a single Plugin or Adapter class. Using a Docker Container with Imixs-Forms <https://www.imixs.org/doc/webforms/index.html>, the Imixs-Process-Manager <https://github.com/imixs/imixs-process-manager>, or just the Imixs-Microservice <https://github.com/imixs/imixs-microservice> is more like an integration test. This allows you to test your database, your authentication framework and other aspects within your architecture - like for example a LDAP integration. So to get a better understanding BPMN and Imixs-Workflow JUnit tests are great. We also use JUnit tests in production to ensure that a model update does not break existing business logic for more complex processes. Regarding the logging: Imixs-Workflow print out only a processing message when a process step is executed and logs any kind of exceptions. You can justify the Loglevel in your environment like described here <https://www.imixs.org/doc/logging.html>. But do not expect to much from this settings, as these provide more a deep-technical-logging of the internal workflow engine behavior. Our latest plugins - like the Imixs-AI plugin <https://github.com/imixs/imixs-ai/tree/main/imixs-ai-workflow> provide an integrated Debug mode that can be switched on/off directly form the BPMN model. This is really cool and help to analyze complex flows as in AI supported business workflows. — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#912 (reply in thread)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/BE3G5TEDIG5M2KC2KUH2SU32XGU7HAVCNFSM6AAAAABZ6IYGO6VHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43URDJONRXK43TNFXW4Q3PNVWWK3TUHMYTENRYGEZTKMY> . You are receiving this because you authored the thread.Message ID: ***@***.***>

-- Regards, *Fred Forester* Solutions Architect *ZEPHON LLC* E: ***@***.*** ***@***.***> M: 610.291.2145 [image: Zephon.tech] <http://Zephon.tech>

[frednforester]

Hi All,

Finally getting back to this. I tried to move the model over to the process manager. The first error was a missing userinput.xhtml file. I copied that over and redeployed then got this one about a composite/marty for a marty:userInput tag.

how do I migrate this tag over to the PM? and why "marty"?

Thanks!

[rsoika]

Hi,
the issue here is that the userinput.xhtml file - which is part of the imixs-marty library is a separate feature set. This module provides features around user management, team management and security. The process manager does not deal with this feature set (because it should be a simple starter-project). For example the marty project expects that you have a user management and team management UI in your application like in the project Imixs-Office-Workflow, or you have some external directory like an LDAP directory in combination with the imixs-adapters-ldap module which allows you to search users from a LDAP.

To use the marty library, all you have to do is to add the maven dependency into your project:

		<dependency>
			<groupId>org.imixs.workflow</groupId>
			<artifactId>imixs-marty</artifactId>
                         <version>...</version>
		</dependency>

The userinput.html element comes out of the box with this library. But it is hard for me now to support you in a reasonable way as I do not know your requirements and goals.

[frednforester]

Hi,

Yes eventually it will be either LDAP or DB. For now though I am looking at how the different approvals are done with the 2 models I'm looking at and see which is the better way to go.

Essentially the end goal would be to create a Workitem via REST and send it Beneficiary,Requestor,Request Type and approval roles either as users or groups. the approvers will be where LDAP or DB comes into play. Approval(s) will be done via something like the Imixs PM. the requests will be made via an external SpringBoot app.

Thanks!

[rsoika]

OK, this is exactly where the imixs-marty module comes into the game. It provides you with those features. UserProfiles, Teams (we call it spaces) and a lot of additional things. Your can find some information here. I know the documentation of this module is not our best one ;-)
But together we will get this working....

[rsoika]

I've thought about your point again and I think it makes sense to expand the capabilities of the Process Manager in this direction. Originally, I always wanted to keep the PM as simple as possible, but Imixs-Forms and the Imixs-JSF Sample are equally suitable here. I have started a new issue and will expand the project in the next few days.

imixs/imixs-process-manager#32

[frednforester]

Wow Nice!
I tried adding the dependency. Got a TeamController conflict. I rename the marty controller to MTeamController. then hit an error that Entity was not defined in UserGroup model. wasn't sure how to deal with that one.

[rsoika]

Yes, that was to be assumed. Wait - I will update the project....

[rsoika]

OK, the Imixs-Process Manager is now deployed in the new version 2.1.2 .
This release now integrates the marty component and a user and team management.

Users are now stored in a database and the Wildfly configuration of the security domain 'imixsrealm' has changes from simple property file to a database realm. The marty component creates automatically the necessary tables in your database.
If you switch into the team management you will see the Marty User Input component in action:

This component provides a user search based on the user database.

I have not yet extended the forms components, so your workflow form using a 'user-input' field will not yet work.
For me it would be helpful if you can test the deployment.

Note: there is also a new system BPMN model called 'marty-1.0'. This model contains system workflows to activate/deactivate userprofiles and teams. This model is mandatory. So it may be necessary for you to deploy this model in the first time. Don't be frustrated if it does not work at the first test - changing the security model is not the easiest part if you have a running application ;-)

[frednforester]

After importing the marty model all went really well. created about 20 users and two teams no problem. so far so good!

[frednforester]

With this new setup which approval models (bpmn files) do you recommend I try?

Thanks!

[rsoika]

What did you mean exactly?

[frednforester]

I have Imixs PM 2.1.2. Should I use the models that come with marty and load those into the PM?
I see one with a form using debug.xxx attributes for one.

and should I test by creating the workitem via REST?

Thanks!

[rsoika]

Just use the models part of the Process Manager. These models are tested and a good starting point for your own models.