Workflow submaps

Workflow definitions can be developed by using a collection of nested subprocesses, or submaps. Submaps can be defined in Process Designer and are inherited from the base work class of the workflow definition.

Navigation around a complex workflow definition, including multiple submaps, is simplified in the definition environment. Users can move to the submap referenced by a submap step by double-clicking the step icon with the mouse or browsing the available submaps from a list.

When a submap is viewed, the display shows all the places in the workflow definition from where that particular submap is called; selecting one of the displayed submap names displays the associated workflow submap. In addition to being called directly from another map, submaps can also be called by error processing or the expiration of a timer.

This ability to break down processes into simpler reusable components makes complex processes easier to understand and results in a reduction in the total cost of development. Additionally, the reuse of predefined workflow submaps ensures that the consistency of processing and considerably reduces cycle time and costs that are associated with the deployment of new workflow definitions.