Email Approvals
Jeffrey A. Rappaport
Jeff at Business-Workflow.com
Thu Feb 5 11:19:33 EST 2004
Thanx Jocelyn,
The other couple of issues that will eventually be faced is being
able to have the Outlook email automatically Deleted after executing
the work item. A situation where DM is used but the Approver doesn't
log on to Outlook for a few days & the wi is no longer has them as the
Agent, getting the Outlook emails updated once they log on to Outlook.
And if the Approver wants to attach a Note explainging Rejection
reasons, back to R/3.
Jeffrey A. Rappaport
Business Workflow, LLC
Voice:(732)355-0123
Fax: (509)757-4144
Email:Jeff at Business-Workflow.com
Web: www.Business-Workflow.com
Quoting "Dart, Jocelyn" <jocelyn.dart at sap.com>:
> Hi Jeffrey,
> You can use the SRM/EBP approach - one of the reasons for
> introducing the extended email notifications was to make it easier
> to do that. However this is not part of standard as yet. You can
> develop it yourself - I have had a customer do it in Australia.
> You really just send out a mailto command with parameters and when
> the user clicks on it they mail back a formatted mail to your SAP
> system. You then have a program interpret the mail on receipt into
> SAP.
>
> Wf-XML could be used as well if you are more comfortable with that
> approach.
>
> It's really just a question of which you think will be easier to do
> given the skills available.
>
> There is an OSS note somewhere that states that number as a
> performance guideline for MAPI - not for SMTP though - it's not my
> speciality but I understood the problem is due to the extra load on
> the system because of extra sessions created by the MAPI
> connection. MAPI has lots of issues (and of course features) that
> you don't get with simple SMTP.
>
> Regards,
> Jocelyn
>
> -----Original Message-----
>> From: SAP Workflow [mailto:Owner-SAP-WUG at MITVMA.MIT.EDU] On Behalf
> Of Jeffrey A. Rappaport
> Sent: Tuesday,3 February 2004 12:27 PM
> To: SAP-WUG at MITVMA.MIT.EDU
> Subject: Re: Email Approvals
>
>
> Hi Jocelyn,
>
> Sorry about the email mix-up, I usually just hit reply-all when
> responding to SWUG emails, and I just looked at your previous
> email
> to me & it had only your address on it so that's why only you
> received it. I'll check next time.
> As to doing all Approvals through Outlook Only, can you use the
> Outlook Forms to send the Result back to the waiting WF in R/3? Or
> can we use what you described in your book in Appendix A2.4 in
> sending the result back to R/3 in a reply email? Or better to use
> the WF-XML as discribed in Chap. #11?
> Another quick question, on pg.#103 when you go over the
> Pros/Cons
> of the different Inboxes (great list, thank you) what is meant by
> #
> of Users to 200 for Outlook?
>
> Thanx,
>
> Jeffrey A. Rappaport
> Business Workflow, LLC
> Voice:(732)355-0123
> Fax: (509)757-4144
> Email:Jeff at Business-Workflow.com
> Web: www.Business-Workflow.com
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: "Dart, Jocelyn" <jocelyn.dart at sap.com>
> > Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2004 06:53:46
> > To:SAP-WUG at MITVMA.MIT.EDU
> > Subject: Re: Email WI Notification Hyperlink
> >
> > Jeffrey,
> > SAP MAPI is deprecated - do not use.
> > One of the reasons for deprecating it is because it requires
> extra
> > software loads on the client side.
> > Secondary methods are not possible via the web.
> > However latest releases of the UWL let you display linked
> objects.
> >
> > By the way,
> > Please do NOT send emails direct to my email address unless you
> are
> > also prepared to discuss paying my consulting fees.
> > All messages should be sent via the SAP-WUG so that everyone
> > benefits.
> > Regards,
> > Jocelyn
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Jeffrey A. Rappaport [mailto:Jeff at Business-Workflow.com]
> > Sent: Saturday,31 January 2004 2:07 AM
> > To: Dart, Jocelyn
> > Subject: RE: Email WI Notification Hyperlink
> >
> >
> > Jocelyn,
> >
> > Thanx for the quick response, I thought about that & am going
> > to
> > use it as a last resort, but this particular Client wants to do
> > all
> > wi processing from Outlook only, no Portal. We've been thinking
> > about Outlook Forms or SAP Forms, and did a Demo for them using
> > MAPI, but doesn't that also require extra software loads on the
> > Client side? 2nd side note, how is the Portal's UWL on
> processing
> > Secondary Methods, has it been updated to give you the dual
> > screens
> > now?
> >
> > Thanx,
> >
> > Jeffrey A. Rappaport
> > Business Workflow, LLC
> > Voice:(732)355-0123
> > Fax: (509)757-4144
> > Email:Jeff at Business-Workflow.com
> > Web: www.Business-Workflow.com
> >
> >
> > Quoting "Dart, Jocelyn" <jocelyn.dart at sap.com>:
> >
> > > Jeffrey,
> > > If you have EP 6.2 with R/3 4.7 my preferred approach would be
> > to
> > > use email notifications (preferably the extended version but
> not
> > an
> > > absolute) to Outlook with a hyperlink in the email
> notification
> > > text to take them to the portal.
> > >
> > > Then use the Universal Worklist iview as the workflow inbox to
> > > process the work items.
> > > In which case you can forget about FORMS.HTMLPROCESS and move
> > > straight to web services.
> > >
> > > That way you only need Outlook and your web browser to process
> > your
> > > work items.
> > >
> > > Plus you get other advantages such as the adhoc workflow
> > requests,
> > > ability to display attached objects, etc.
> > >
> > > Regards,
> > > Jocelyn
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Jeffrey A. Rappaport [mailto:Jeff at Business-Workflow.com]
> > > Sent: Friday,30 January 2004 1:32 PM
> > > To: SAP Workflow Users' Group; Dart, Jocelyn
> > > Cc: SAP-WUG at MITVMA.MIT.EDU
> > > Subject: Re: Email WI Notification Hyperlink
> > >
> > >
> > > Hi Jocelyn,
> > >
> > > Thanx for all the info below. If you were given a system
> with
> > > EP/6.2/4.7, Portal and any equipment needed, could you have
> the
> > > Users do all WF Approval processing through only Outlook
> without
> > > having to load anything on everyone's PC?
> > >
> > > Thanx,
> > >
> > > Jeffrey A. Rappaport
> > > Business Workflow, LLC
> > > Voice:(732)355-0123
> > > Fax: (509)757-4144
> > > Email:Jeff at Business-Workflow.com
> > > Web: www.Business-Workflow.com
> > >
> > >
> > > Quoting "Dart, Jocelyn" <jocelyn.dart at sap.com>:
> > >
> > > > John,
> > > > Yes then SAPForms for HTML is your best bet as Sergey
> > suggests.
> > > > Plenty of documentation on this in the SAP Library help.
> > > > Task must use object.method FORMS.HTMLPROCESS
> > > > Add all variables you want to view/change into the
> container,
> > > > including
> > > > something to hold the approve/reject decision.
> > > > Generate the web transaction using the appropriate menu
> > option.
> > > > Go to SE80 and generate the ITS service and generate the
> > > templates
> > > > from the transaction's screens.
> > > > Adjust the call back to the web inbox as per the SAP Library
> > > help.
> > > > Regards,
> > > > Jocelyn.
> > > >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: SAP Workflow [mailto:Owner-SAP-WUG at MITVMA.MIT.EDU] On
> > > Behalf
> > > > Of John A Haworth
> > > > Sent: Wednesday,21 January 2004 1:09 AM
> > > > To: SAP-WUG at MITVMA.MIT.EDU
> > > > Subject: Re: Email WI Notification Hyperlink
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Hi Jocelyn
> > > >
> > > > We will have an ITS available, but not SAP Enterprise Portal
> > and
> > > no
> > > > SRM.
> > > > With the speed that the 1st phase needs to be in place and
> > very
> > > > little
> > > > development time, I would like to provide something ASAP.
> > > > In this case would the an effective scenario be for the
> > RSWUWFML
> > > > report to
> > > > run and email Approvers that a WI is ready, for this email
> to
> > > have
> > > > a
> > > > hyperlink which takes the Approver to the log on screen for
> > the
> > > > ITS. Once
> > > > in the ITS to have visibility of the Workflow in box and on
> > > > executing the
> > > > approve workitem, he/she would see the html equivalent of
> the
> > > > approve
> > > > decision task.
> > > >
> > > > Many thanks John
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > ---------------------
> > > >
> > > > This is a PRIVATE message. If you are not the intended
> > > recipient,
> > > > please
> > > > delete without copying and kindly advise us by e-mail of the
> > > > mistake in
> > > > delivery. NOTE: Regardless of content, this e-mail shall not
> > > > operate to
> > > > bind CSC to any order or other contract unless pursuant to
> > > explicit
> > > > written
> > > > agreement or government initiative expressly permitting the
> > use
> > > of
> > > > e-mail
> > > > for such purpose.
> > > >
> > >
> >
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > ---------------------
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > "Dart, Jocelyn"
> > > > <jocelyn.dart To:
> > > > SAP-WUG at MITVMA.MIT.EDU
> > > > @sap.com> cc:
> > > > Sent by: SAP Subject: Re:
> > > Email
> > > > WI Notification Hyperlink
> > > > Workflow
> > > > <Owner-SAP-WUG
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > 20/01/2004 00:37
> > > > Please respond
> > > > to "SAP Workflow
> > > > Users' Group"
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Hi John,
> > > > As Sergey suggests, the best option is to include a
> hyperlink
> > to
> > > a
> > > > web
> > > > inbox.
> > > > ITS services and ITS web inbox BWSP are one option but not
> the
> > > only
> > > > one.
> > > >
> > > > If you are using SAP Enterprise Portal you can use the
> > Universal
> > > > Worklist
> > > > inbox to
> > > > call Java or BSP web services also.
> > > >
> > > > Alternatively you can provide your own web service and use
> the
> > > > SAP_WAPI*
> > > > function modules
> > > > to process the actual work item.
> > > >
> > > > SRM does have an offline approval via email and something
> > > similar
> > > > is likely
> > > > to be added to the extended email
> > > > notifications program in future. However email is generally
> > not
> > > > considered
> > > > a secure environment so using email only would best be
> limited
> > > to
> > > > an
> > > > intranet.
> > > >
> > > > If you want to access work items across an extranet or
> > internet
> > > > then use a
> > > > web inbox instead.
> > > > Regards,
> > > > Jocelyn.
> > > >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: SAP Workflow [mailto:Owner-SAP-WUG at MITVMA.MIT.EDU] On
> > > Behalf
> > > > Of
> > > > Sergey Breslavets
> > > > Sent: Tuesday,20 January 2004 6:14 AM
> > > > To: SAP-WUG at MITVMA.MIT.EDU
> > > > Subject: Re: Email WI Notification Hyperlink
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > John, you can use SapForms or WebForms to achieve this.
> > > >
> > > > With SAPForms they would be able to approve it right from MS
> > > > Outlook or
> > > > simialr. SAPForms client software will need to be installed
> on
> > > > each
> > > > approvers' desktop - you might also need to do some
> > > modifications
> > > > to your
> > > > workflow.
> > > >
> > > > WebForms require an ITS server, work similarly to SAPForms,
> > but
> > > > through a
> > > > web interface. In your workflow you will have to create a
> Web
> > > > transaction
> > > > for your approval tasks. Approvers will receive their
> > workitems
> > > in
> > > > SAP
> > > > Portal inbox, execute them and process subsequent html page
> to
> > > > approve/reject it.
> > > >
> > > > Default Webforms will take all non-object type variables
> from
> > > the
> > > > task
> > > > container and create a generic screen with those elements
> and
> > > > buttons
> > > > "submit" and "cancel". You can then use HTML editor to make
> it
> > > look
> > > > better
> > > > :))
> > > > For advanced stuff, you can just develop your own approval
> > > program
> > > > (i did
> > > > it for Performace Appraisals), and then, with a little
> > tweaking,
> > > > link it to
> > > > your workflow task as a web transaction, so that your custom
> > > > webform will
> > > > be executed when they double click on the workitem in SAP
> > Portal
> > > > inbox.
> > > >
> > > > Hope this help,
> > > >
> > > > Sergey
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: John A Haworth [mailto:jhoworth at csc.com]
> > > > Sent: Mon 1/19/2004 6:28 AM
> > > > To: SAP-WUG at MITVMA.MIT.EDU
> > > > Cc:
> > > > Subject: Email WI Notification Hyperlink
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Hi all
> > > >
> > > > On a similar vein to the current questions on email
> > > > attachments
> > > > etc. I have
> > > > an approval workflow that I initially thought of
> using
> > > SAP
> > > > MAPI to
> > > > let the
> > > > Approver have access to his Approval Workitem, but
> > > reading
> > > > the OSS
> > > > notes
> > > > and some of the threads in here, it seems as SAP
> MAPI
> > > isn't
> > > > the way
> > > > forward.
> > > > So I thought using the RSWUWFML report (existing one
> > or
> > > the
> > > > new one
> > > > as per
> > > > note 627397, not sure) with hyperlink. My question
> is
> > > that
> > > > the
> > > > Customer
> > > > really wants to approve without going into SAP, so
> the
> > > > hyperlink
> > > > would need
> > > > to present the Approver with a HTML type page of the
> > > > details and
> > > > approve/reject and comments facility.
> > > >
> > > > Im sure this is a popular dilemma, any advice/help
> > would
> > > be
> > > > very
> > > > useful
> > > > i.e. how to achieve it, do i need Business
> Connector,
> > do
> > > I
> > > > need to
> > > > create a
> > > > new HTML screen, do I need an ITS,are there
> > > > authorisation/security
> > > > issues??
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Many Thanks in advance.
> > > >
> > > > John
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > ---------------------
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > This is a PRIVATE message. If you are not the
> intended
> > > > recipient,
> > > > please
> > > > delete without copying and kindly advise us by
> e-mail
> > of
> > > > the
> > > > mistake in
> > > > delivery. NOTE: Regardless of content, this e-mail
> > shall
> > > > not
> > > > operate to
> > > > bind CSC to any order or other contract unless
> > pursuant
> > > to
> > > > explicit
> > > > written
> > > > agreement or government initiative expressly
> > permitting
> > > the
> > > > use of
> > > > e-mail
> > > > for such purpose.
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > ---------------------
> > > >
> > >
> >
> > Jeffrey A. Rappaport
> > Business Workflow, LLC
> > voice: (732)355-0123
> > eFax: (509)757-4144
> > email: Jeff at Business-Workflow.com
> > web: www.Business-Workflow.com
> >
>
>
> ----- End forwarded message -----
>
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