Configuring the order of execution

After you add items to the process diagram, you need to specify in what order they execute by drawing routes to link the operations. (See Drawing routes to link operations .) It is a requirement that each process has an operation set as the start activity. (See Specifying the start activity of a process .)

Specifying the start activity of a process

A start activity is the entry point into a process and is the first activity to occur when a process starts. Every process must have a start activity. Otherwise, the process will start and end at the same time. A start activity can be an operation or an event. There can be only one start activity in a process diagram, where the start activity appears with a green arrow on its left side.

By default, the first operation you drag onto a process diagram is set as the start activity. You can then set any other operation or event in the process diagram to be the start activity. When you set the start activity, a route is automatically drawn to it from the start points.

To specify the start activity in a process diagram:

Perform one of the following actions:

  • Right-click an operation and click Set Start Activity.

  • Right-click an event and click Set Start Point.

Drawing routes to link operations

Routes represent the order in which operations on the process diagram are executed. Two operations can be connected using a route to represent a sequential flow. Routes begin at one operation and end at the operation that is to be executed next. Arrowheads indicate the order of progression.

Routes can also begin and end at activity elements, events, and gateways.

Multiple routes can originate at a single operation. However, within in a branch, only one route can be followed, and a decision needs to be made to determine how to proceed:

  • Each route is evaluated to determine whether it is valid.

  • The first route that is found to be valid is followed.

  • The order in which the routes are evaluated is configured at design time.

If you need operations to execute in multiple branches simultaneously, use a gateway. (See Adding branches using gateways .)

Conditions are logical expressions that can be associated to routes and are evaluated at run time to determine whether a route is valid. Conditions typically compare values against data that is gathered at run time so that decisions are made based on the context of the process instance. Routes can have multiple conditions. Routes that have conditions appear as dashed lines, and routes that do not have conditions are solid lines.

Note: Routes that do not have conditions are always valid.

For example, a company’s internal process for requesting purchases is automated using AEM forms. To start the process, a user fills and submits a form using Workspace. The user’s manager opens the form in Workspace and selects an option to either decline or approve the purchase. The decision determines the next operation in the process, which is to either return the form to the originator (the purchase is declined) or to send the form to the accrual department (the purchase is approved).

On the process diagram, the decision is represented by two routes that originate at the same operation. One route has a condition associated with it that evaluates whether the manager denied the purchase. If the condition is true (the request was denied), the route is followed. If the condition is false, the other route is evaluated.

Dashed route indicates a condition

When no valid routes are found after an operation is complete, the process is complete. Therefore, when multiple routes originate at an operation, typically one of the routes is not given a condition and is evaluated last. This route is followed by default if the other routes are evaluated and found to be invalid. This design ensures that the process continues to progress after the operation is complete.

Each route has a name that you can customize to provide meaning. Typically, the name provides insight into the condition that is associated with the route. Route names can also be exposed as form submission options for Workspace users. (See Providing actions for submitting tasks .)

Adding and deleting routes

You add routes between elements in a process diagram to specify the order in which they are executed.

You can draw one or more routes from any element. You can also draw routes to the same originating operation, event gateway element, or activity element to represent iteration. To draw a route between two elements, both elements must already exist in the process diagram.

Default route names do not appear in the process diagram. You must give the route a name for text to appear for a route. (See Modifying route labels .)

Note: When you add an event as a start point, a route is drawn to the element that is set as the Start Activity.

You can delete any routes that you longer no require in your process.

To add a route:

  1. In the process diagram, select an existing operation, event, activity element, or gateway element where you want the route to begin. The route anchors appear on the element.

  2. Pause the pointer over a route anchor until the pointer changes to a pointing hand icon.

    The hand icon is resting over a route anchor.

  3. The anchor that you use to begin drawing the route determines the direction of the route and the order in which the route is executed.

  4. Drag the pointer to the operation, event, activity element, or gateway element until you see the hand icon appear on the anchor where you want to terminate the route.

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    A route appears that connects the two elements.

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  5. (Optional) In the Process Properties view, provide a name and description:

    • In the Name box, type a name for the route.

    • In the Description box, type text to describe the route.

To delete a route:

In the process diagram, delete the route by performing one of the following tasks:

  • Right-click the route and select Delete Route.

  • Select the route and in the toolbar, click Delete , press the Delete key, or select Edit > Delete.

Modifying route shapes

You can modify the shape of a route by dragging the originating element or terminating element from one location to another in your process diagram.

This action will modify the shape of your route. For example, a route drawn from one operation to another in a process diagram may look like the following illustration.

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After moving the execute1 operation to the right, the route’s shape changes to accommodate the new position of the operations.

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Grip points

You can also select the route and drag any grip point to modify the shape of the route. A grip point is a black dot that appears on the selected route.

If you need to reorder your operations, you can drag the start or the end point of the route to another element in the process diagram. To do that, pause your pointer over the grip point at the beginning or end of the route until the hand icon appears, and then drag the point to another element.

Modifying route labels

You can modify the text and position of route labels to make the process diagram more meaningful. When you add a route, default text is provided. A route label only appears when you modify its default name.

Important: Any route label name that has the text “route” will not appear in the process diagram.

To modify the text and position of a route label:

In the process diagram, select a route and modify its label text or position, or both:

  • In the Properties box, in the Name box, type a new name for the route.

  • Move the route label from its default position on the route to another area in the process diagram.

Making decisions using routes

This section provides information about the following topics:

Routing condition format

Routing conditions consist of three parts, in the following format: 

expression1 operator expression2

Expressions consist of values from the process schema or form data, or are derived from data values by using functions. The operator defines the required relationship between the two expressions. The expressions must be of the same data type.

For example, if you want to follow a route only if the value in a purchase amount form field is greater than 5000, the condition would be as shown here: 

PurchaseAmt > 5000

You can create complex expressions for specific routing conditions to adhere to the required business logic in your processes.

Routing conditions cannot be set on routes that originate from a start point event.

Adding and modifying routing conditions

To add a condition, a route must already exist in the process design. You can modify routing conditions any time after you create them. You add and modify routing conditions in the Process Properties view.

To add or modify a routing condition:

  1. In the Process editor, select a route.

  2. In the Process Properties view, click the Conditions category.

  3. If you are adding a routing condition, click Add Route Condition . If you are modifying a routing condition, select an existing condition and click Edit Selected Route Condition . The Route Properties dialog box appears.

  4. In the Expression box on the left, type the first part of the expression. If the condition is complex, click the ellipsis button to display the XPath Builder.

  5. In the Operation list, select an operation.

  6. In the Expression box on the right, type the second part of the expression. If the condition is complex, click the ellipsis button to display the XPath Builder.

  7. Click OK to close the Route Properties dialog box.

  8. If you have more than one routing condition in the Conditions category, select the join condition to determine how the conditions are evaluated:

    • Use AND Join For Conditions means the route is valid only if all the conditions evaluate to True .

    • Use OR Join For Conditions means the route is valid when one or more of the conditions evaluate to True .

    The default join condition is Use OR Join For Conditions.

Specifying the order of routes

When several routes originate at one step in a process, you need to specify the order in which the routes are evaluated. The process follows the first route where the routing condition evaluates to True .

Specifying the order of the routes is important when multiple routes can potentially evaluate to True , but one route should be taken instead of the others according to the business logic you want to implement.

You specify the order of routes in the Process Properties view.

To specify the order of routes:

  1. Select an operation or event from which multiple routes originate.

  2. In the Process Properties view, click the Route Evaluation category. The routes are displayed in the order they are evaluated, first to last.

  3. To sort the routes, select a route and click the Move Route Up or Move Route Down button.

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