Using Predefined Business Process Models

Sterling B2B Integrator provides a variety of predefined business process models for your convenience. In addition, any business process model you have previously created and checked in essentially becomes a predefined business process.

You can use a predefined process in the following ways:

1. Use it as a subflow in a new process model.

   To do this, you must:

   • Check out the predefined process and save it with a new name. This should be the name of the process model you are creating that will include the predefined process.
   • In the GPM, open the file you checked out and saved.
   • Create a subflow in the process model and add the predefined process to it.
   • Model the rest of your business process related to the subflow.
   • Test the model and check it in to Sterling B2B Integrator.

     Remember that after you use a process as a subflow in a new process, any changes you may make later to the originally copied process will not be reflected within the subflow. For instructions for adding a subflow within a process model, see Adding Subflows in the GPM.

2. Configure a step in your process model to execute a predefined process as a subprocess.

   To do this, use the Invoke Subprocess service.

   The benefit of using this technique is that if you later make changes to the predefined process, the process model that calls the predefined process as a subprocess uses the most current version.

   For tracking purposes, a subprocess initiates as a new business process with its own instance ID. However, you can opt to run a subprocess in inline mode. Using this option, the subprocess steps are reported in tracking as part of the parent process. Running the process inline enables you to maintain reusability and inherited updating without the possibility of negatively affecting system performance by starting a new business process. You set the inline options in the parameters for the Invoke Business Process service.

3. Use it as a foundation for a new process.

   To do this, you must:

   • Check out the predefined process and save it with a new name. This should be the name of the process model you are creating.
   • In the GPM, open the file you checked out and saved.
   • Modify the configuration of the business process model as needed.
   • Test the model and check it in to Sterling B2B Integrator.