The "Imixs Worklfow Assistant"

The "Imixs Worklfow Assistant" can be used to create a new Workflow Model File in an existing Eclipse Project of the Workbench. When you have created a Eclipse Project or open an existing project you find the assistant under

File > new > Other

or the by shortcut [ctl+N]

select the Option

Imixs Worklfow -> new Imixs Workflow Model

Make sure that you have selected a location or folder inside your project where the Model File should be created in by the assistant.

Click the button "Next >" and choose a file-name for the Model File to be created....

Again click the button "Next >" and choose a name for your first Process to be created by the assistant...

Finally click the button "Finish" to create the Model file.

After you created a new workflow model file you can, in case you haven't done it already, activate the Imixs Workflow perspective. See the Eclipse Workbench section.

A Workflow Process Group

A Workflow Process Group is a single Business Process contained by a Imixs Workflow Model file. Each Imixs Workflow Model can exist of many different Process Groups. Each Process Group defines "Process Entities" and "Process Activities".

The "Process Entity" defines the current status inside a business process ('open' or 'in progress') and the "Process Activities" are defining the transition from one "Process Entity" into another "Process Entity". Each "Process Entity" can be assigned to one ore many "Process Activities"

The graphical editor

In the left-hand section of the "Process Groups" of the Wokflow editor, you see existing process groups listed. By clicking on the process group, you can directly open the graphical editor.

If you open a new created Process Group the graphical editor does not yet have any contents as no Process Entities and Activity Entities have been created. The graphical editor has a tool bar at its right-hand margin (palette) that you can open with the mouse and lock in its position by clicking on the arrow icon. You can also use the mouse to move the palelte to a different position of your graphical editor. Eclipse stores these settings automatically.

Creating a Process Entity

To create the first Process Entity, select the Process icon and click into the free area of the editor. This automatically places a new Process Entity in the editor. The layout of the elements within the graphical editor is automatically adopted by the Imixs Workflow Modeler. This is performed to ensure that the elements are displayed in an orderly layout.

You can now assign the name of the process. Select the element in the graphical editor and change the name through the properties in the lower property dialog box.

Creating an Activity Entity

After you have added a Process Entity into the modeling area of the graphical editor you can assign Activity Entities. To accomplish this, select the corresponding Process Entity with the mouse and create an activity by selecting the Activity icon and placing it in the editor. The activity will automatically be assigned to the previously selected process. After you have created a new activity, you can change its name and define other properties by using the property dialog box.

An activity is automatically assigned to the previously selected Process Entity. In the graphical editor, an arrow line between the process and the activity is displayed. This assignment cannot be changed. The activity is in turn connected with the process through an arrow line to indicate that the WorkItem should maintain the same status after the activity is executed by the Imixs Workflow Manager. This assignment can be changed. To accomplish this, highlight the arrow line connected to the activity with the mouse and drag it to another process. This establishes a new connection of the activity. If the activity is later executed by the WorkflowManager, the status of the WorkItem is automatically set to the new process.