Business Process Version Management

Both Sterling B2B Integrator interface and the GPM provide access to work with your process models through the Source Manager. The Source Manager is a version management tool for saving copies of your process models into Sterling B2B Integrator system, separately from any location on your client computer where you may have also saved them. It works as follows:

  • When you create a process model, you cannot run it in Sterling B2B Integrator until you have checked it in. The check-in procedure stores it for the Source Manager.
  • While you can save process model .bp files to your client computer at any time, to manage versions in Sterling B2B Integrator you must use the Source Manager as your file management system.
  • To work with existing business process models, you must check them out through the Source Manager in order to lock the model against other users modifying it at the same time.
    Note: If you click Edit in the interface and modify a process model without checking it out, this locks the process.
  • When you complete your modifications, you check in the now-updated process model. Rather than over-writing your existing copy of the model saved in the Source Manager, the system saves a new version.

Sterling B2B Integrator saves all previously checked-in versions of business process models. Therefore, a single process model may have many available versions listed in the Source Manager. One version is the designated default version. The default version is the version that Sterling B2B Integrator automatically runs when the business process model is invoked. Retention of all versions enables you to revert to using an older version should the need arise, and saves you having to maintain versioned backup files on your client computer.

The Source Manager determines versions by filename, as follows:

  • While separate versions of a process model are different configurations, the filename of each is the same.
  • In the Source Manager, the system displays the date and time each version was checked in, to help you differentiate them.
  • You can add additional identifying information in the Description field when you check in a process model to include more reference data about a version, such as indicating the need this version fills. This information displays in the Source Manager list in the interface.
  • Assigning a new name to a process model at check-in creates a new model. The new model will have its own set of versions if you make additional changes to the file.

Working in the GPM, the Source Manager displays a file system-type list of the process models saved in the system. Working in the interface, you use search or list tools to locate a process model and access the source manager for the selected process model. The following figure illustrates the Source Manager:

Source Manager

When you check in an updated version of a business process model, you indicate which version is the default version in Sterling B2B Integrator.

The ability to specify a default version enables you to let bootstrap adapters run the default version of a business process model as needed, while other versions can be reserved for later use or be configured to run on a preset schedule. Any time you manually start a business process, you can select the version to run.

Generally, when you check out a business process model, Sterling B2B Integrator locks the process model so that other users and the system can not access it until you check it back in. If you plan to use an existing business process model as a foundation for a new model altogether, you can check out the model without locking it.

For instructions for checking out business process models, making modifications, and managing your versions of business process models, see the appropriate topic as indicated in the following list of tasks:

Check out a business process model in the GPM
Checking Out a Business Process Model Using the GPM Source ManagerChecking out a Business Process Model Using the GPM Source Manager
Check out a business process model in Sterling B2B Integrator interface
Checking Out a Process Model in the Sterling B2B Integrator InterfaceChecking Out a Process Model in the Sterling B2B Integrator Interface
Modify a business process model in the text editor
Modifying a Business Process Model Using the Text EditorModifying a Business Process Model Using the Text Editor
Modify a business process model in the GPM
Modifying a Business Process Model Using the GPMModifying a Business Process Model Using the GPM
Delete a business process model from Sterling B2B Integrator
Deleting a Business Process ModelDeleting a Business Process Model
Enable a disabled business process version
Enabling a Disabled Business ProcessEnabling a Disabled Business Process