Automatically replacing a workitem

[Jeffrey A. Rappaport]

Jim,
 
   Use FM's: SAP_WAPI_RESERVE_WORKITEM & SAP_WAPI_PUT_BACK_WORKITEM.
You can always use a popup message at the end of the Tranx to ask
which they'd like to do, Reserve, Replace, Forward, etc...
 
 
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 Jim Sauceman <sauceman at tennessee.edu>:
 
> Patrick,
>
> We have the same situation and I have searched in vain for a
> solution to
> function as you suggest. With all due respect, I believe SAP has
> made some
> assumptions regarding work items that are not valid in all
> situations.
> Reality is that human beings sometimes postpone decisions for a
> variety of
> reasons: to get more information, procrastination, the phone rings,
> etc.
> Whatever the reason, the work item remains reserved by that agent
> and others
> cannot access it. We need a way around this situation.
>
> The act of executing the work item and then backing out should not
> PERMANENTLY reserve the work item to that agent. After the agent
> decides to
> delay his/her decision and complete the work item at a later time,
> it should
> immediately be available to all other selected agents. In my (and
> others)
> opinion, it should be a separate, intentional act to permanently
> reserve the
> work item.
>
> Using "Confirm end of processing" is not the answer because the
> user does
> not want to complete the work item nor should he/she be forced to
> do so. In
> fact, the user frequently wants his/her colleague (who is another
> selected
> agent) to make the decision. However, because the work item is
> automatically
> and permanently reserved, the colleague cannot see it unless the
> first agent
> remembers to replace it -- which is rarely.
>
> I believe your question like mine is whether the system can provide
> a way to
> ONLY have the work item reserved while it is actively be accessed
> by an
> agent. Thereafter, we want it to again be available to all selected
> agents.
>
> Can the system be configured to act this way or can we write an
> ABAP report
> to replace work items that are not currently being used?
>
> Best regards,
>
> Jim Sauceman
> University of Tennessee
>
> -----Original Message-----
>> From: SAP Workflow [mailto:Owner-SAP-WUG at MITVMA.MIT.EDU] On Behalf
> Of
> Scheinoha John
> Sent: Monday, June 14, 2004 12:25 PM
> To: SAP-WUG at MITVMA.MIT.EDU
> Subject: Re: Automatically replacing a workitem
>
> Patrick,
>
>    We are currently using SAP 4.6C.  If you look at your workflow
> task
> via SAP transaction PFTC, at the bottom of the Basic Data tab is an
> Execution section.  There is a "Confirm end of processing" check
> box.
> If you activate this functionality, when the user executes the work
> item, then backs out of the screen (F3), a pop-up window will
> appear to
> the user stating the work item has to be completed explicitly.  At
> this
> point the user can press the "Complete work item" button or press
> the
> "Cancel" button.  The "Complete Work Item" button will complete the
> work
> item.  The "Cancel" button cancel the work item processing and
> return
> the work item to the user's inbox.
>
>    You might want to try this functionality.  We use this
> functionality
> on some of our workflow applications.  The only word of caution I
> have
> is some users will execute the work item, not complete it and the
> work
> item will stay in "Committed" state.  I use SWI2_ADMIN on a daily
> basis
> to review which work items are in a Committed state.
>
>
> Hope this helps,
>      John
>
>
> >>> araskin at eOutlook.com 06/14/04 10:26AM >>>
> My gut feeling (from the little that I know of your situation) is
> to
> ask 'Why are users executing items and then cancelling execution?'.
> If
> they need some info first then I suggest you create an attachment
> so
> that the user can see what it is that they need to see before
> execution.
> If its because they are not skilled or do not have authorisation
> then
> perhaps you should revisit your work routing rules.
>
> I am sorry for throwing more questions at you (and more importantly
> not
> answering your original question) but it might save you more issues
> down
> the line.
>
> Alon
>
> ________________________________
>
>> From: SAP Workflow on behalf of de Valensart Schoenmaeckers,
> Patrick
> Sent: Mon 14/06/2004 15:50
> To: SAP-WUG at MITVMA.MIT.EDU
> Subject: Automatically replacing a workitem
>
>
>
> Hi fellow workflowers.
>
> I have several workflow steps which are using custom dialog
> methods.
> Very
> often, users are executing workitems of these workflow steps, and
> then
> canceling execution.
> This creates a lot of mess because these people usually forget to
> replace
> the workitem. Thus I would like to find a way to force them to do
> so,
> but I
> do not see how. I bet that just adding a piece of code in my method
> wouldn't
> make it, and that neither a secondary method would. Anyone has
> already
> tried
> to do that (with a certain degree of success...)?
>
> Thanks and kind regards,
>
> Patrick
>