Background

Links can be attached during the creation of Tasks and act as a means to supply support or a requirement for a task. An example of this would be to include a link to a price list in the intranet within the task “create offer”

The links can contain variables, which are filled at run-time. Thus, parameterized links are possible.

This is one way to include pieces from a foreign system, for instance links from SAP templates or a link from an archive system.

Technical Application

Links are added within the modeling environment of the TIM tasks. Click on an activity or node and then select “Tasks”. Now, select the option “Links” from the corresponding task.

For non-parameterized links in a file, include the following code:

<links>
<link name="Bakery Price List" class="com.dooris.bpm.entities.SimpleUrl"
url="file:\\tim.intranet\09-PriceList\PriceList-Bakery-2013.xlsx"/>
</links>

The URL and name of the link must then be changed accordingly.

For non-parameterized links in a folder/shared directory, include the following code:

<links>
<link name="Bakery-Folder" class="com.dooris.bpm.entities.SimpleUrl"
url="file:\\tim.intranet\09-PriceList\"/>
</links>

The URL and name of the link must then be changed accordingly.

For non-parameterized links on a website, include the following code:

<links>
<link name="Homepage" class="com.dooris.bpm.entities.SimpleUrl" url="http://www.tim-solutions.de"/>
</links>

For parameterized links on websites, include the following code:

<links>
<link name="Archivsystem" class="com.dooris.bpm.links.ProcessVariableLink" parameter1="http://archivsystem/SearchformPage.aspx?execute=1&amp;values=#{artikelnr}"/>
</links>

In this case, the variable names must also be changed in addition to the name and URL of the link. Any number of variables may be included in a link. Variables must be one of the existing process variables.

By complying with the following template, any number of links may be added:

<links>
<link name="Link 1" .../>
<link name="Link 2" .../>
<link name="Link 3" .../>
</links>

Please note that that the following characters must be replaced by the appropriate XML escape sequence within the URL:

" &quot;
' &apos;
< &lt;
> &gt;
& &amp;

For example, instead of writing

<links>
<link name="Search" class="com.dooris.bpm.entities.SimpleUrl" url="http://www.tim-solutions.de?search=instances&amount=>0"/>
</links>

the following (correct) formulation must be used:

<links>
<link name="Search" class="com.dooris.bpm.entities.SimpleUrl" url="http://www.tim-solutions.de?search=instances&amp;amount=&gt;0"/>
</links>

Example

Including links within iGrafx

In order to include a link using iGrafx, the following parameters must be included:

An : Here, the link is given a meaningful name

URL : Here, the destination is given, with the internet or intranet as the location

Klasse : Here, two classes may be available:

com.dooris.bpm.entities.SimpleUrl

This class is used in the case of non-parameterized links

com.dooris.bpm.links.ProcessVariableLink

If process variables are to be included in the links, this class must be entered. The contents of the link are then put into effect in the same manner as with Signavio (given above).