JR51636: PROCESS INSPECTOR DOES NOT DISPLAY PROCESS INSTANCES WITHOUT TASKS

8.5.0.1-WS-BPM-IFJR51636
8.5.5.0-WS-BPM-IFJR51636
Version 8.5 Refresh Pack 6 for the IBM Business Process Manager products
Version 8.5.0 Fix Pack 2 for the IBM Business Process Manager products

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• The Process Admin Console Process Inspector tab does not display
  process instances unless there is at least one task created. In
   some cases, where the process execution is waiting for a timer
  or message event, there may not yet be any tasks created.
  Additionally, if the "Delete task upon completion" option is in
  use for all tasks in a process instance, this will result in the
   same problem.
  
  For 8501, the fix can cause some regressions that are addressed
  in JR49363
  

Local fix

• n/a
  

Problem summary

• When a process instance does not contain at least one task, it
  will not be visible in the Process Inspector tab in the Process
  Admin Console. This also applies to failed instances.
  
  This situation can occur if, for example, the process definition
  begins with an intermediate timer or message event that is
  pending or the process definition consists only of Script tasks
  that do not result in the creation of corresponding task
  instances.
  
  This situation can also occur if your process completed and all
  tasks are configured to use the "Delete task upon completion"
  option.
  
  PRODUCTS AFFECTED
  IBM Business Process Manager (BPM) Advanced
  IBM BPM Standard
  IBM BPM Express
  
  LOCAL FIX
  To ensure that process instances are always visible in the
  Process Inspector, add a system task to the beginning of each
  process flow, thus ensuring that at least one task instance
  always exists. Consider this approach as a temporary measure
  because it clutters the process definition and adds unnecessary
  data to the database.
  
  PROBLEM SUMMARY
  No additional information is available.
  

Problem conclusion

• A fix is available for IBM BPM V8.5.0.1 that introduces a new
  custom property. This custom property includes process instances
   that do not contain any tasks. When this custom property is
  enabled, Process Inspector includes process instances that do
  not contain any tasks in search results. As a consequence, the
  process summary information (for example, "1 open tasks, 1
  completed tasks") is no longer available.
  
  On Fix Central (http://www.ibm.com/support/fixcentral), search
  for JR51636:
  
  1.Select IBM Business Process Manager with your edition from the
  product selector, the installed version to the fix pack level,
  and your platform, and then click Continue.
  2.Select APAR or SPR, enter JR51636, and click Continue.
  
  When you download fix packages, ensure that you also download
  the readme file for each fix. Review each readme file for
  additional installation instructions and information about the
  fix.
  
  After you apply interim fix JR51636, add a new
  taskless-bpd-support configuration flag in the 100Custom.xml
  file:
  
  <server>
          <process-inspector merge="mergeChildren">
              <taskless-bpd-support
  merge="replace">true</taskless-bpd-support>
          </process-inspector>
  </server>
  

Temporary fix

Comments

APAR Information

• APAR is sysrouted FROM one or more of the following:

• APAR is sysrouted TO one or more of the following:

Fix information

• Fixed component name

  BPM ADVANCED

• Fixed component ID

  5725C9400

Applicable component levels