Form steps and dynamic tasks - has anyone tried it?

[Mike Pokraka]

Hi Kjetil,

This is actually a perfectly OO-able scenario. Using the simplest case
where POPUP_GET_VALUES would suffice as an example:
- Your method has input parameters or already belongs to a class instance
with the necessary data available
- it builds up the appropriate parameter table for POPUP_GET_VALUES and
calls it
- it returns the user input back to WF
- the task that implements the method can use dynamic texts to display
whatever is appropriate at the time.

You think too hard :-)

Regards,
Mike


On Tue, March 13, 2012 1:39 pm, Kjetil Kilhavn wrote:
> Tirsdag 13. mars 2012 12.24.43 skrev Mike Pokraka:
>> Hi Kjetil,
>>
>> Just my opinion, but forms are great to get something really simple out
>> the door quickly, but the moment you need modifications you end up with
>> copies of form steps in forks and all sorts of ugly stuff.
> I think that description is quite close to the situation. I'll have to
> think
> about what to do. I've provided an estimate under the assumption that I
> could
> change the existing solution and wouldn't have to rewrite it completely.
>
> Ohhh, the hardship a workflow consultant has to suffer.
>
>> For anything
>> beyond the simplest setups I find it easier to whip up a quick function
>> module with dialog from scratch and plug that into a method than use
>> those
>> dastardly things.
>>
>> Even easier if you can squeeze what's needed into a call to
>> POPUP_GET_VALUES, then you can also make the task descriptions dynamic
>> and
>> have the whole thing in one task.
> I initially thought I'd be clever about it and create a new ABAP Objects
> class
> which supported the various scenarios, but again ABAP Objects, dynamic
> solutions and Business Workflow have proven to mix a bit like oil and
> water.
> It's possible, but takes a lot of effort.
>
> Time to do some hard work: think.
>
>>
>> Regards,
>> Mike
>>
>> On Tue, March 13, 2012 10:54 am, Kjetil Kilhavn wrote:
>> > I have not really used form steps before. There is one workflow here
>> that
>> > uses
>> > it, and now they want some changes. I was thinking of using dynamic
>> task
>> > selection in the workflow, but it seems that is not possible.
>> >
>> > Here's the scenario: The current solution displays some information
>> about
>> > a
>> > budget to be approved. There are two amounts and some other
>> information.
>> >
>> > Now they want to change this solution so there are three
>> possibilities.
>> > Sometimes one amount should be displayed, other times three amounts.
>> This
>> > depends on the other data in the system, and it is not a problem to
>> > determine
>> > the proper case.
>> > However, since the structure seems to be hard-linked to the form my
>> > problem is
>> > that I can not pass different structures for the different cases. Thus
>> I
>> > would
>> > have to have all fields necessary for at least one of the cases
>> available.
>> > I
>> > can dynamically hide the fields I don't need, but it then seems the
>> only
>> > point
>> > left in using dynamic task allocation is to have different task
>> > descriptions
>> > and work item texts. The user will also have different tasks in the
>> > workflow
>> > inbox which can be seen by an advantage or disadvantage depending on
>> one's
>> > view.
>> >
>> > With such little advantage in using dynamic task allocation it seems I
>> may
>> > as
>> > well split the whole thing completely and have different workflows
>> which
>> > makes
>> > the maintenance and re-testing easier if they suddenly decide they
>> want a
>> > change in one of the processes. The workflow is very small, so this is
>> not
>> > really much duplication of effort/code.
>> >
>> > Please enlighten me as to whether I am making any sense, or do you
>> have a
>> > better suggestion.
>> > --
>> > Kjetil Kilhavn (+47 40220607) - Blue Consulting AS
>> (http://www.bluec.no)
>> > _______________________________________________
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>> > SAP-WUG at mit.edu
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>>
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> --
> Kjetil Kilhavn (+47 40220607) - Blue Consulting AS (http://www.bluec.no)
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