EBP - ITS Error Message with ad hoc approver

Mon Jun 24 06:00:13 EDT 2002

Memo from Nicholas N Brand of PricewaterhouseCoopers

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Jocelyn,

Hello again. I've been on a course for a couple of days hence the delay in
saying thanks very much for your advice.

I've double-checked the basic data again (against WS10000129) and it's
identical.

Here's a bit more info:
Before the cart is ordered, the approval preview shows the correct agent
(defined via my custom ad hoc business object).
The requester can add further 'ad hoc' approvers before or after the
shopping cart has been ordered. The workflow logs show that the new 'ad
hoc' container element is created correctly at either of these points.
These ad hoc approvers are shown when the approver views the details of the
shopping cart via the workitem. However, if the approver adds an ad hoc
agent (the workflow logs show that the relevant new 'ad hoc' container
element is created at this point.) and then tries to approve the shopping
cart it still gives the same ITS error. The ITS error refers to TS10008069
yet this isn't being used in the workflow - ???

This is behaving strangely! I don't understand yet is why when the approver
logs off and back on after getting the ITS error message then the newly
added ad hoc approver is shown in the details and the shopping cart can be
approved. Nothing seems to have changed from a workflow point of view.

Also, if the approver:
1. Executes the workitem
2. Adds an ad hoc approver
3. Returns to his inbox, before approving the cart
4. Executes the workitem again (the newly added ad hoc approver is still
shown)
5. Approves the cart.
It all works!

Any other tips/experience much appreciated.
Until then...it's back to testing!

Regards,
Nicholas

"Dart, Jocelyn" <jocelyn.dart at sap.com>@MITVMA.MIT.EDU> on 19/06/2002
08:41:53

Please respond to "SAP Workflow Users' Group" <SAP-WUG at MITVMA.MIT.EDU>

Sent by:    SAP Workflow <Owner-SAP-WUG at MITVMA.MIT.EDU>

To:    SAP-WUG at MITVMA.MIT.EDU
cc:

Subject:    Re: EBP - ITS Error Message with ad hoc approver

Hi Nicholas,
First off yes the steps you have taken so far sound correct.
Suggest you check the basic data of your workflow against one
of the standard workflows, for instance, for the adhoc approver
stuff to work you need an ad hoc anchor step, and there is
another flag in basic data I think also so use a fine tooth
comb over basic data. I usually check any custom workflows back
against the patterns in WS10000129 as this one always works well
in my experience.

You might also want to try a couple of variations in your testing
to narrow down the problem.  For instance, order the cart, then go
and change it to add your ad hoc approver - this would give you an
idea if simulated shopping carts (i.e. still being created) are
behaving differently to saved shopping carts and give you somewhere
to start in your code.

It sounds like the program is getting lost which would suggest maybe
you have something missing either in your workflow or in your
ad hoc agent object so double-check that your workflow and your
object both follow the standard EBP patterns.

It can also be helpful to check what is showing in the workflow log
- both the graphical log (which is used to build the applet display)
and the technical log - especially to check the contents of the
agent objects.

Hope that helps a little anyway.
Regards,

Jocelyn Dart
SAP Australia (SRM, EBP, Workflow)
Ph: +61 412 390 267
e-mail: jocelyn.dart at sap.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Nicholas Brand [mailto:nicholas.n.brand at uk.pwcglobal.com]
Sent: Wednesday, 19 June 2002 12:06 AM
To: SAP-WUG at MITVMA.MIT.EDU
Subject: EBP - ITS Error Message with ad hoc approver

Memo from Nicholas N Brand of PricewaterhouseCoopers

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Hello,

This is around an EBP/ITS problem when an ad hoc approver is added to a
custom workflow.

I copied the standard workflow WS10000276 ? Approval single-level over
limit.
Created my own ad hoc approver business object as a sub-type of AAGENT.
(The 'Create' method of this object queries a ztable to find a position
number and then returns the agents in that position.)
Create new workflow container (Agent_0002) based on my new ad hoc object.
Replaced the standard appoval task's Agent expression for
'Agent_0002.Agents'
N.B. In the workflow -> version dependent basic data section the flag 'Ad
hoc agent assignment is possible' is ticked - as expected as the workflow
is a copy of a standard one.

When I create a shopping basket that results in the new custom approval
workflow starting...
The approval preview java applet shows the correct approval path.
I order the shopping basket.
The workitem is routed to the correct agent based on the custom ad hoc
business object's 'Agent' attribute.
I execute the workitem and click on 'Details'.
I can add an ad hoc approver after the current workitem and it is displayed
correctly in the java applet.
However, when I select 'Approve' and click 'Continue' I get the following
ITS error message:

Interpreter Failed

The Internet Transaction Server failed to generate the response page for
the current request.
Make sure the template and resource files are stored in the appropriate
template directory.
The ITS was trying to access
D:\SAP\ITS\2.0\EPD\templates\TS_TS10008069H\99\SAPMTS10008069H_en.html
D:\SAP\ITS\2.0\EPD\templates\TS_TS10008069H\99\SAPMTS10008069H_en.htrc
Internal error code 0x1

If I then click on the back arrow of the web browser the newly added ad hoc
approver is now displayed in the java applet.
If I select the 'Approve' radio button and click 'Continue' the status bar
message reads 'Error on page'.
If I log off EBP and back on again, go to the inbox, select the workitem
and click on 'Details', the ad hoc approver that I just added before
logging off is displayed!
If I select the 'Approve' radio button and click 'Continue' the workflow
proceeds correctly.

Wierd?
Any ideas why the ITS is giving me an 'Interpreter failed' error message?

We're on EBP version 2.0c.
The standard workflows are all working fine including adding ad hoc
approvers.

Thanks.

Kind regards
Nicholas

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