Converting external implementations

Edit online

In previous releases, external implementations were created with the desktop Process Designer. Convert these external implementations to external services so that you can use them in the web-based Process Designer.

About this task

You can either convert an external implementation to an external service in a one-to-one conversion, or you can convert multiple external implementations to a single external service.
One-to-one
The external implementation is converted to an external service that has the same name as the original external implementation. The converted external service has a single operation with the inputs and outputs that were defined in the external implementation.
Many-to-one
The selected external implementations are converted into a single external service. You can enter a name for the external service or use the generated name. The external service has an operation for each of the selected external implementations. To reference the external service in a task, you select the operation in addition to the external service.
Some important points to consider when you convert your external implementation:
  • Conversion is one way. After the service is converted, you cannot undo the operation, so take a snapshot before you convert the external implementation in case you need to revert to the original.
  • Conversion of an external implementation is done at the process app or toolkit level. Artifacts in dependent toolkits are not converted automatically. You must open the dependent toolkit and convert the artifacts manually. A dependent toolkit with converted artifacts can be easily added to your process application. In the Toolkits library navigation, find the toolkit and select the option to upgrade the dependency.
  • After you convert an external implementation, you can continue to reference the converted external service from a task in a BPD. However, to edit the external service, you must use the web-based Process Designer. Consider converting the BPD to a process to make your work easier by working in a single Process Designer environment. See Converting BPDs to processes.

Procedure

  1. Open the process app or toolkit.
  2. Open the Process App Settings or Toolkit Settings editor.
  3. In the Service Conversion tab, select the external implementations that you want to convert and click Convert.
  4. Optional: Select Convert into a single service.
  5. Click Convert.
    The external service editor opens showing the converted service. If the conversion was one-to-one, the new external service has a single operation. If the conversion was many-to-one, you see an operation for each converted external implementation.

What to do next

References from tasks in BPDs or processes to the external implementation are maintained. If you chose to convert more than one external implementation into a single external service, you must change the reference to point to the new service and choose an operation.