How to save a process? What is recommended?

[john andres medina]

Hi Everyone!

This time I want to ask you how to save a process in a database? 

I have read the documentation but still not clear about how to do it.

And is the same to save a process in a file or in a Stream that in a database? What about the actual state of the process?

Thank you so much!

[thorben....@camunda.com]

Hi,

With "process", do you mean "process definition" (i.e. the BPMN XML file and its internal representation) or "process instance" (the runtime construct when you start the process definition)?

Cheers,
Thorben

[john andres medina]

Yes, I mean a Process Definition.

[thorben....@camunda.com]

Hi,

Do you raise the question in the context of the Camunda modeler or the process engine?

Based on your last question, I assume that you mean the process engine. You may have noticed that the process engine always uses a database in which it persists process definitions (i.e. the BPMN XML) as well as runtime state (the state of running process instances). Whenever you make a deployment (in form of a process application [1], via Java or REST [2] API), the process engine stores the BPMN XML in its database. You can retrieve it with the method RepositoryService#getProcessModel. Whenever you start a process instance, the process engine persists the current state when wait states [3] are reached.

Cheers,
Thorben

[1] http://stage.docs.camunda.org/manual/7.3/guides/user-guide/#process-applications
[2] http://stage.docs.camunda.org/manual/7.3/api-references/rest/#deployment-post-deployment
[3] http://stage.docs.camunda.org/manual/7.3/guides/user-guide/#process-engine-transactions-in-processes

[john andres medina]

Hi!

Actually, I was referring to the process itself, the XML file or his alternatives in the Camunda modeler. 

Thank you!

[thorben....@camunda.com]

Hi,

If you are looking for a model repository independent of the camunda BPM execution platform, I am afraid we have currently no solution. Of course you can use any database-backed solution for document management.

You may also want to follow the bpmn.io [1] that is going to replace the eclipse modeler sooner or later and for which we plan to build a repository in some form.

Best regards,
Thorben

[1] http://bpmn.io/

[john andres medina]

Ok, I got it. But what if I'm using the camunda modeler java api and I want to save the process, it is possible to save the process definition only as a stream or as a xml and json file? What are the possibilities to save the process definition related to a custom table in the camunda database?

Thank you.

[Daniel Meyer]

Hi,

it is possible to hook into the eclipse modeler and implement a custom save action.

But you would have to dig into the code yourself.

If you start with something new now, then I would definitely recommend starting on top of bpmn.io.

Daniel

[john andres medina]

Hi,

Ok, but I'm not using the eclipse modeler, I`m using the BPMN java API 'org.camunda.bpm.model.bpmn' like in this example [1]:

BpmnModelInstance modelInstance = Bpmn.createEmptyModel();

Definitions definitions = modelInstance.newInstance(Definitions.class);
definitions.setTargetNamespace("http://camunda.org/examples");
modelInstance.setDefinitions(definitions);

Process process = modelInstance.newInstance(Process.class);
process.setId("process");
definitions.addChildElement(process);

So, the question is: What are the possibilities to save the process definition, in another way different that xml, json or stream, something like a custom table in the camunda database?

Thank you.

[1] http://docs.camunda.org/manual/7.3/guides/user-guide/#bpmn-model-api