Business Process Scanner

Business Process Scanner Details

Business processes are configured with Business Process Modeling Language (BPML) in Sterling B2B Integrator. BPML is an XML-based language that is used to model business processes. With BPML, you can define business operations, adapters, and services for each business process. The Business Process Scanner in the HealthCheck utility tests the optimization of business process work flows in Sterling B2B Integrator. The scanner scans the static BPML of each business process to ensure that it is correctly configured. For more information about optimizing your business processes, see Modeling Strategies for Efficient Processing.

BPMeta

The BPMeta test ensures that the BP Metadata Info Service parameters, LINKAGE, and DISPOSITION, are set to FALSE.

The LINKAGE parameter enables linking between a business process and any child or parent processes it possesses. Linking between all related business processes can stress system resources. The DISPOSITION parameter prints the business process state (WFD_STATE) and status (WFD_STATUS) to Process Data. Retrieving the state and status each time the service is called can stress system resources. Set LINKAGE and DISPOSITION parameters FALSE if they are not needed. For more information about the BP Metadata Info service, see BP Metadata Info Service.

The BPMeta Test has a severity level of 1, WARNING.

Doc Info

The Doc Info test ensures that the Get Document Info service parameter, RETRIEVE_INITIAL_DOC_ID parameter is set to FALSE.

The RETRIEVE_INITIAL_DOC_ID parameter contains DocumentInitialId, which contains the initial document ID of the Primary Document. Retrieving the initial document ID each time the Get Document Info service is called in a business process, can stress system resources. Set the RETRIEVE_INITIAL_DOC_ID to FALSE if it is not needed. For more information about the Get Document Info service, see Get Document Info Service.

The Doc Info Test has a severity level of 1, WARNING.

Message to Child

The Message to Child test ensures that message_to_child statements are written correctly in the BPML of your business processes. Your database fills at a slower rate when Assign elements are properly configured with message_to_child statements.

Ensure that your business process models are configured correctly. Ensure that Assign elements include a message_to_child attribute that specifically references the correct document to call in the next cycle. For more information about correctly configuring your business process models, see Modeling Guidelines for Large File Handling.

The Message to Child test has a severity level of 1, WARNING.

Sync

The Sync test ensures that the Invoke Sub-Process service parameter, INVOKE_MODE is set to inline. The parameter does not appear in the business process when the persistence level is set to “Error Only”. For more information about the Invoke Sub-Process, see Invoke Sub-Process Service.

When the INVOKE_MODE is set to sync, the parent business process suspends processing until it receives data from its subprocesses. However, when the INVOKE_MODE is set to inline, subprocesses are run as part of the parent business process. Subprocesses and parent processes share process data in inline mode, which is more efficient and saves system resources. Unless you need to run subprocesses separately, set INVOKE_MODE to inline and not sync. For more information about calling subprocesses in inline, see Using Inline Invoke when Possible.

The Sync test has a severity level of 1, WARNING.

This Service

The This Service test identifies instances of the This service in your business processes. The This service is a utility with multiple functions that is being replaced with other adapters and services with more specific functions. For more information about the This service, see This Service.

It is good practice to the most current services and adapters in your business processes. Consider selecting another service to meet your specific business process or process data needs, such as the Get Document Info service or the BP Metadata service.

The This Service test has a severity level of 1, WARNING.

X Path

The X Path test identifies and returns XPath query statements that use the “//” expression in BPML. A search that includes the “//” expression searches every existing node to find the next child element in the query. The “//” expression selects all matching nodes in the BPML from the current node, which can slow down your system. For optimal performance, use XPath queries that use a specific path, and avoid queries that include the “//” expression. Using an XPath query with a specified path is more efficient than a path that includes the “//” expression and conserves system resources. For more information about writing efficient XPath statements, see Using Specified Path in XPath Searches.

The XPath test has a severity level of 1, WARNING.

Doc To DOM

The Doc To DOM test determines whether the number of DocToDom function calls in Assign statements is excessive. You can reduce the number of DocToDom function calls if you save DocToDom results in process data. Process data is persisted throughout the life of a business process. The DocToDom information is easily accessible in process data so that you do not have to make multiple calls. For more information about limiting DocToDom calls, see Limiting Calls to the File System.

The Doc To Dom test has a severity of 1, WARNING.

Persistence

The Persistence test determines whether the persistence level of a business process is at an appropriate level. Persistence

Certain business process work flows yield a more optimized performance at certain persistence levels. Persistence level can affect system performance speeds, but higher persistence levels are not detrimental to system health. Ensure that you select a persistence level that is best for your business needs. For more information about the persistence levels for business processes, see Business Process Persistence Options.

The Persistence test has a severity level of 1, WARNING.

Search

The Search test is an extensibility feature. For details about the Search test, see Extensibility Properties.

The Business Process scanner includes tests that help you to determine what are the best practices to follow for your particular system. Tests are designed to ensure that your settings match the settings suggested for Sterling B2B Integrator, but those settings might not necessarily be the best for your particular system or improve performance, nor does a difference in suggested settings indicate a serious system error.