Rails web application and openwferu

[mano]

Hi John,

Great to see a ruby version of openwfe. Had checked out the java
version many months back but did not get to use it in my work.

Currently am developing a rails based web application and would like
to use openwferu. And in this regard I would like some help.

The features of the application:

There are 3 types of users in the system.
1. Admin user: The one who creates other users and also uploads the
workflow templates. This user does not take part in the workflow
though.
2. A Business Analyst (BA) instantiates a request for a new creative
(gif, png, flash animation etc). He does this by logging into the web
application and submitting a form.
3. When a Designer logs into the web app, she will see all requests
queued for her action. She then does the creative, uploads it into the
web application.
4. After step 3 the BA sees in his browser that the request has been
handled. He then checks if it matches the request and closes the
request. Else it gets iterated till it meets requirements.

Basically, an issue tracker!

I would like to know how the workflow objects are instantiated, the
workitem stores are populated and how, when a user logs in, the
respective workitem store is queried and the list of open requests
obtained! Also how does a user update the workflow engine after
completing a task.

Am afraid am asking for the whole application :-)

Any help is appreciated.

regards,
mano

--
After spiderman foils a crime who clears the cobwebs?

[John Mettraux]

Hi Mano,

2007/1/31, mano <mano...@gmail.com>:

Actually that could make a good example.

Is it OK with you if I we keep this discussion very open in order to
build a good example of how to use OpenWFEru from Ruby on Rails ?

A few ideas and hints in raw form :

* we could use the OpenWFEru engine via a Singleton from rails, idem
for the worklist

* the OpenWFEru worklist hasn't been implemented yet, but it's a
matter of 2-3 days

* we should discuss persistence. Currently there are two modes
implemented : none (everything in memory) and yaml+file, maybe
something could be done with ActiveRecord (with a bit of yaml)

* for the process definition, it would look like :

---8<---

require 'openwfe/expressions/raw_prog'

class TrackerDefinition < OpenWFE::ProcessDefinition
def make
process_definition :name => "create_tracker", :revision => "0.1" do
_loop do
participant :creative
participant :analyst
_if do
equals :field_value => "artefact_ok?", :other_value => "ok"
_break
end
end
end
end
end

--->8---

(simplifications are on the way, thus '_break :if => "${f:artefact_ok}
== ok"' will soon be an accepted syntax)

The initial example is worth reading :
http://openwferu.rubyforge.org/dev0.html (see "quotereporter.rb")

Best regards,

--
John Mettraux -///- http://jmettraux.openwfe.org

[Mano]

On 1/31/07, John Mettraux <jmet...@openwfe.org> wrote:

Actually that could make a good example.

Is it OK with you if I we keep this discussion very open in order to
build a good example of how to use OpenWFEru from Ruby on Rails ?

Absolutely. 

A few ideas and hints in raw form :

* we could use the OpenWFEru engine via a Singleton from rails, idem
for the worklist

Sorry, I dont understand what idem is! Does it mean  'identical'?

* the OpenWFEru worklist hasn't  been implemented yet, but it's a
matter of 2-3 days

* we should discuss persistence. Currently there are two modes
implemented : none (everything in memory) and yaml+file, maybe
something could be done with ActiveRecord (with a bit of yaml)

* for the process definition, it would look like :

Thanks. Will spend more time on understanding how openwferu works before i start implementing the workflow application itself.

regds,

[John Mettraux]

Hi Mano,

2007/1/31, Mano <mano...@gmail.com>:

> On 1/31/07, John Mettraux <jmet...@openwfe.org> wrote:
> > Actually that could make a good example.
> >
> > Is it OK with you if I we keep this discussion very open in order to
> > build a good example of how to use OpenWFEru from Ruby on Rails ?
>
> Absolutely.
>
> > A few ideas and hints in raw form :
> >
> > * we could use the OpenWFEru engine via a Singleton from rails, idem
> > for the worklist
>
> Sorry, I dont understand what idem is! Does it mean 'identical'?

yes, like "and the same thing goes for"...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idem

It's a latin term, seems like I've used it in the wrong way for many
years... Interesting.

Thanks and best regards,