Workflow notifications
Last modified 15 Dec 2021 14:14 +01:00
OBSOLETE
This functionality is obsolete since version 4.0. It is no longer supported or maintained.
Table of Contents

Overview

Workflow module provides the following notifications:

Event Default recipient(s)

Process instance start

User that requested the operation (as of 3.4)

Process instance end

Work item creation

The work item actor (i.e. assignee) (as of 3.4).

All assignees (as of 3.6).

Work item escalation, delegation, or other event

Work item completion

Event types and variables

These variables can be accessed through the 'event' object. Some of them are available also as standalone variables.

Event type Variable/method Meaning Comment

(all)

requester

The user who requested the operation (as in other notification types).

also a standalone variable

(all)

requestee

The object that is being modified by the operation. So, for example, when a role assignment is to be added to a user, this user is the requestee. The variable might be null if the object does not exist yet.

also a standalone variable

(all)

changeType

ADD = process instance start or work item creation

DELETE = process instance end or work item completion

(all)

status

SUCCESS = result is 'approved' (you can use also isApproved() method to determine this)

FAILURE = result is 'rejected' (also isRejected() method)

IN_PROGRESS = result is not yet known (you can also use isResultKnown() to determine this)

(all)

processInstanceName

Name of the corresponding process instance.

(all)

processorSpecificState,primaryChangeProcessorState

State specific to a change processor, or to a primary change processor in particular.

(all)

processSpecificState,itemApprovalProcessState

State specific to an approval process, or to standard ItemApproval BPMN process in particular.

(all)

workflowContext

The whole workflow context.

WorkItemEvent

assignee

Current work item actor (but there’s collision on the term 'actor', so we use the older term 'assignee' here; this needs to be clarified - TODO).

also a standalone variable

WorkItemEvent

workItem

The work item.

also a standalone variable

Some examples

Sending default mails when a role assignment is requested:

<notificationConfiguration>
    <handler>
        <simpleWorkflowNotifier>
            <transport>mail</transport>
        </simpleWorkflowNotifier>
    </handler>
    <mail>
        <server>
            <host>smtp.gmail.com</host>
            <port>587</port>
            <username>...</username>
            <password>...</password>
            <transportSecurity>starttlsEnabled</transportSecurity>
         </server>
         <redirectToFile>c:\midpoint\home\mail-notifications.txt</redirectToFile>       <!-- just for debugging -->
      </mail>
</notificationConfiguration>

After attempting to assign a approval-enabled role to a user, the following notifications are sent:

To: <role approver>
Subject: A new work item has been created

A new work item has been created

Process instance name: Assigning <role> to <user>
Work item: Approve adding <role> to <user>
Assignee: <role approver>

Notification created on: Fri Jun 10 10:53:02 CEST 2016

And:

To: <requester>
Subject: Workflow process instance has been started

Workflow process instance has been started

Process instance name: Assigning <role> to <user>

Notification created on: Fri Jun 10 10:53:02 CEST 2016

Similar notifications are then sent when the work item (and the whole process) is completed, indicating the result of the approval process (approved / rejected).

More on work item events

These events are divided into the following categories:

Category Description Notes

WorkItemLifecycleEvent

Emitted when the work item is created and deleted (completed or cancelled).

WorkItemAllocationEvent

Emitted when the relation "assigned to" between a work item and a user is created or deleted - or about to be deleted. The "assigned to" relation is created when the work item is created but also when it is delegated/escalated. The relation is deleted when the work item is completed or cancelled but also when it is delegated/escalated (in a way that deletes the original assignment). Such events are sent even before the actual delegation/escalation/auto-completion takes place, as a reminder to complete the work item by a given deadline. Note, however, that these events are currently not emitted when the relation is created or deleted in an indirect way: e.g. by creating or deleting a deputy relation between an assignee and someone else.

Work item allocation events are actually the most interesting ones for any user as they tell him: "this is something you should do" or "this was already taken care for".

WorkItemCustomEvent

Emitted when notification timed action is encountered.

An example from TestStrings story test

Sensitive role a-test-1 is being assigned to user bob.

In the first stage there is a single approver lechuck with two deputies: lechuck-deputy and lechuck-deputy-deputy. These following events are generated.

Events generated when entering 1st stage

Lifecycle events
To: lechuck (the same message body is sent to lechuck-deputy and lechuck-deputy-deputy)

A new work item has been created

Process instance name: Assigning role "a-test-1" to user "bob"
Work item: Assigning role "a-test-1" to user "bob"
Stage: Line managers (1/3)

Allocated to: Captain LeChuck (lechuck)
Allocation events
To: lechuck (the same message body is sent to lechuck-deputy and lechuck-deputy-deputy)

Work item has been allocated to you

Process instance name: Assigning role "a-test-1" to user "bob"
Work item: Assigning role "a-test-1" to user "bob"
Stage: Line managers (1/3)

Allocated to: Captain LeChuck (lechuck)

Events generated on lechuck approval (leading to 2nd stage)

After lechuck approves, several things happen:

  1. The respective work item is completed (and therefore deleted).

  2. Work items for 2nd stage are created. There are two of them: one for barkeeper and one for elaine.

Again, there are both lifecycle and allocation events:

Lifecycle events
To: lechuck (the same message body is sent to lechuck-deputy and lechuck-deputy-deputy)

Work item has been completed

Process instance name: Assigning role "a-test-1" to user "bob"
Work item: Assigning role "a-test-1" to user "bob"
Stage: Line managers (1/3)

Allocated to: Captain LeChuck (lechuck)

Result: APPROVED
Carried out by: Captain LeChuck (lechuck)
To: barkeeper

A new work item has been created

Process instance name: Assigning role "a-test-1" to user "bob"
Work item: Assigning role "a-test-1" to user "bob"
Stage: Security (2/3)

Allocated to: Horridly Scarred Barkeep (barkeeper)
To: elaine

A new work item has been created

Process instance name: Assigning role "a-test-1" to user "bob"
Work item: Assigning role "a-test-1" to user "bob"
Stage: Security (2/3)

Allocated to: Elaine Marley (elaine)
Allocation events
To: lechuck (the same message body is sent to lechuck-deputy and lechuck-deputy-deputy)

Work item has been completed

Process instance name: Assigning role "a-test-1" to user "bob"
Work item: Assigning role "a-test-1" to user "bob"
Stage: Line managers (1/3)

Allocated to: Captain LeChuck (lechuck)

Result: APPROVED
Carried out by: Captain LeChuck (lechuck)
To: barkeeper

Work item has been allocated to you

Process instance name: Assigning role "a-test-1" to user "bob"
Work item: Assigning role "a-test-1" to user "bob"
Stage: Security (2/3)

Allocated to: Horridly Scarred Barkeep (barkeeper)
To: elaine

Work item has been allocated to you

Process instance name: Assigning role "a-test-1" to user "bob"
Work item: Assigning role "a-test-1" to user "bob"
Stage: Security (2/3)

Allocated to: Elaine Marley (elaine)

Events generated on administrator approval (leading to 3rd stage)

Now imagine that administrator approves the work item allocated to elaine. Several things happen:

  1. The respective work item is completed (and therefore deleted).

  2. The other work item (barkeeper’s) is cancelled; and therefore deleted as well.

  3. Work items for 3rd stage are created. There are two of them: one for cheese and one for chef.

Again, there are both lifecycle and allocation events:

Lifecycle events
To: elaine

Work item has been completed

Process instance name: Assigning role "a-test-1" to user "bob"
Work item: Assigning role "a-test-1" to user "bob"
Stage: Security (2/3)

Allocated to: Elaine Marley (elaine)

Result: APPROVED
Carried out by: midPoint Administrator (administrator)
To: barkeeper

Work item has been cancelled

Process instance name: Assigning role "a-test-1" to user "bob"
Work item: Assigning role "a-test-1" to user "bob"
Stage: Security (2/3)

Allocated to: Horridly Scarred Barkeep (barkeeper)
To: cheese

A new work item has been created

Process instance name: Assigning role "a-test-1" to user "bob"
Work item: Assigning role "a-test-1" to user "bob"
Stage: Role approvers (all) (3/3)

Allocated to: Ignatius Cheese (cheese)
To: chef

A new work item has been created

Process instance name: Assigning role "a-test-1" to user "bob"
Work item: Assigning role "a-test-1" to user "bob"
Stage: Role approvers (all) (3/3)

Allocated to: Scumm Bar Chef (chef)
Allocation events
To: elaine

Work item has been completed

Process instance name: Assigning role "a-test-1" to user "bob"
Work item: Assigning role "a-test-1" to user "bob"
Stage: Security (2/3)

Allocated to: Elaine Marley (elaine)

Result: APPROVED
Carried out by: midPoint Administrator (administrator)
To: barkeeper

Work item has been cancelled

Process instance name: Assigning role "a-test-1" to user "bob"
Work item: Assigning role "a-test-1" to user "bob"
Stage: Security (2/3)

Allocated to: Horridly Scarred Barkeep (barkeeper)
To: cheese

Work item has been allocated to you

Process instance name: Assigning role "a-test-1" to user "bob"
Work item: Assigning role "a-test-1" to user "bob"
Stage: Role approvers (all) (3/3)

Allocated to: Ignatius Cheese (cheese)
To: chef

Work item has been allocated to you

Process instance name: Assigning role "a-test-1" to user "bob"
Work item: Assigning role "a-test-1" to user "bob"
Stage: Role approvers (all) (3/3)

Allocated to: Scumm Bar Chef (chef)

Another example from TestStrings story test

In the above scenario the allocation events correspond directly to lifecycle ones. However, in other situations (e.g. delegation or escalation) they do not.

A new work item is created and allocated to guybrush:

To: guybrush

A new work item has been created

Process instance name: Assigning role "a-test-1" to user "carla"
Work item: Assigning role "a-test-1" to user "carla"
Stage: Line managers (1/3)

Allocated to: Guybrush Threepwood (guybrush)

Deadline: Sun Nov 19 12:50:30 CET 2017 (in 5 days)

Because guybrush carries out no action, some days later a new event is generated. It is allocation event, not accompanied by any lifecycle one:

To: guybrush

Work item will be automatically escalated in 1 day

Process instance name: Assigning role "a-test-1" to user "carla"
Work item: Assigning role "a-test-1" to user "carla"
Stage: Line managers (1/3)

Allocated to (before escalation): Guybrush Threepwood (guybrush)

Reason: Timed action

Deadline: Sun Nov 19 12:50:30 CET 2017 (...)

After another day, the escalation takes place. The following allocation events are emitted. Again, without any lifecycle event.

To: guybrush

Work item has been escalated

Process instance name: Assigning role "a-test-1" to user "carla"
Work item: Assigning role "a-test-1" to user "carla"
Stage: Line managers (1/3)

Allocated to (before escalation): Guybrush Threepwood (guybrush)

Reason: Timed action

Deadline: Sun Nov 19 12:50:30 CET 2017 (...)
To: guybrush

Work item has been allocated to you

Process instance name: Assigning role "a-test-1" to user "carla"
Work item: Assigning role "a-test-1" to user "carla"
Stage: Line managers (1/3)
Escalation level: Line manager escalation (1)

Originally allocated to: Guybrush Threepwood (guybrush)
Allocated to (after escalation): Guybrush Threepwood (guybrush), Ignatius Cheese (cheese)

Reason: Timed action

Deadline: Thu Nov 23 12:50:31 CET 2017 (in 9 days)

(this one is sent to guybrush again: he is among new assignees because the escalation is set up that way)

To: cheese

Work item has been allocated to you

Process instance name: Assigning role "a-test-1" to user "carla"
Work item: Assigning role "a-test-1" to user "carla"
Stage: Line managers (1/3)
Escalation level: Line manager escalation (1)

Originally allocated to: Guybrush Threepwood (guybrush)
Allocated to (after escalation): Guybrush Threepwood (guybrush), Ignatius Cheese (cheese)

Reason: Timed action

Deadline: Thu Nov 23 12:50:31 CET 2017 (in 9 days)
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