Tasks

Tasks are actions performed by a person, an application or both. Tasks are atomic activities. They’re very specific and can’t be broken down into a smaller tasks.

Tasks appear as rectangles with rounded corners. The default color of the outline and the marker changes according to the type of task.

Common Task attributes

Fill in this field in the Attributes tab:

• Resource Reference

  The ID of the Resource that is associated with the Activity.

  Click to view the list of resources and select a resource ID.

If you haven’t already defined the Resource Definition at a global process level, you can define it in the Resource tab:

• Resource

  Defines the resource that performs or is responsible for the activity. The resource can be a specific individual, a group, an organizational role or position, or an organization.

  • To add a resource, click Add.

  • To remove a resource, select the resource from the list then click Remove.

  • To complete or edit a resource, select the resource from the list and fill in these fields:

    Field	Description
    Name	The name of the resource — it can be a real name or role.
    Description	A description of the resource.

Task

A Task is a non-specific task.

Service Task

A Service Task is a task that doesn’t require human interaction. It’s performed automatically by a web application or an external software service such as an automated application.

Service Task attributes

Fill in this field in the Attributes tab:

• Implementation

  Specifies the technology used to send and receive messages.

  Use one of these values:

  Value	Description
  ##WebService	Web service technology or a URI that identifies other technology or coordination protocol. The default value.
  ##unspecified	The implementation technology is unspecified.

Send Task

A Send Task is a task that sends a message to an external participant (organizational units, people or systems). When the message has been sent, the task is complete.

Use a Message Flow to show the flow of messages between participants.

Send Task attributes

Fill in these fields in the Attributes tab:

• Message Reference

  The ID of the Message that is sent or received by the Task.

  Click to view the list of message IDs and select an ID.

• Implementation

  Specifies the technology used to send and receive messages.

  Use one of these values:

  Value	Description
  ##WebService	Web service technology or a URI that identifies other technology or coordination protocol. The default value.
  ##unspecified	The implementation technology is unspecified.

If you haven’t already defined the Message Definition at a global process level, you can define it in the Message tab:

• Message

  The message that’s sent or received by a participant at the start, end or during or a process.

  • To add a message, click Add.

  • To remove a message, select the message from the list then click Remove.

  • To complete or edit a message, select the message from the list and fill in these fields:

    Field	Description
    Name	The name of the message.
    Description	A description of the message.
    Item Definition	The data type of the message.

Receive Task

A Receive Task is a task that waits for a message to arrive. When the message is received, the task is completed.

You can use a Message Flow to show the flow of messages between participants.

Receive Task attributes

Fill in these fields in the Attributes tab:

• Message Reference

  The ID of the Message that is sent or received by the Task.

  Click to view the list of message IDs and select an ID.

• Implementation

  Specifies the technology used to send and receive messages.

  Use one of these values:

  Value	Description
  ##WebService	Web service technology or a URI that identifies other technology or coordination protocol. The default value.
  ##unspecified	The implementation technology is unspecified.

If you haven’t already defined the Message Definition at a global process level, you can define it in the Message tab:

• Message

  The message that’s sent or received by a participant at the start, end or during or a process.

  • To add a message, click Add.

  • To remove a message, select the message from the list then click Remove.

  • To complete or edit a message, select the message from the list and fill in these fields:

    Field	Description
    Name	The name of the message.
    Description	A description of the message.
    Item Definition	The data type of the message.

Script Task

A Script Task represents a script that is executed during process execution. When the script has been executed, the task is completed.

Script Task attributes

Define this attribute in the Code tab.

• Code

  The script source format and code.

  Script format: Click to view the list of available script formats and select one.

  Code: Type the script code.

Manual Task

A Manual Task is a task that’s performed by a person.

User Task

A User Task is used for Tasks performed by a person.

Business Rule Task

A Business Rule Task provides a mechanism for a process to provide input to a Business Rules Engine and obtain the output.

Business Rule Task attributes

Fill in this field in the Attributes tab:

• Implementation

  Specifies the technology used to send and receive messages.

  Use one of these values:

  Value	Description
  ##WebService	Web service technology or a URI that identifies other technology or coordination protocol. The default value.
  ##unspecified	The implementation technology is unspecified.