Skip navigation FileNet logo
Glossary  |  Help Directory  
  Help for Linking
  Search  |  Index
Process Reference  
Linking
Logon issues
Manage document links
Manage document class links
Manage workflow links
Manage updates to workflow definitions
   

About linking

Use the Linker feature to create a relationship between a document class or individual document in a CS library and one or more workflow definitions designed to process that type of document. A link enables either manual or automatic launch of a workflow from the individual document or a document belonging to the linked class. For automatic launch, in the link definition you specify the launch trigger (for example, when a document is added or checked), and other options that specify conditions for automatic launch.

NOTE Adding or editing a link could initiate a transfer of the workflow definition to the workflow database. See About transfer for further details.

In the example below, the ExpenseReports document class is linked to a workflow definition that processes expense reports. Once the link is created, a user can launch the Expenses workflow from any document in the ExpenseReport document class.

Expense Report doc class linked to Expenses workflow

You can define links in the following ways:

  • From a document class to a workflow definition
  • From an individual document to a workflow definition
  • From a workflow definition to a document class or individual document

Document class to workflow definition: Create a link from a document class to one or more workflow definitions to enable consistent processing of all documents that belong to the same document class. See the example above.

Individual document to workflow definition: Link an individual document to one or more workflow definitions to enable a user to launch the linked workflows from that specific document. Note that multiple individual documents can link to the same workflow definition.

In the example below, users can launch the ReviewPolicies workflow from any document in the HR_Policies document class. In addition, users can launch the ReviewSalaryPolicy workflow from the Salary document.

HR_Policies doc class linked to ReviewPolicies workflow; single document in doc class linked to Review SalaryPolicy workflow

Workflow definition to a document class or specific document: Link a workflow definition to one or more document classes or documents.

In the example below, users can launch the TravelApproval workflow from any document in the TravelRequests document class, and from the Travel document in the Policies document class.

Workflow linked to both a document class and a single document

TIP A workflow definition is a type of document (<filename>.pep). You can link a workflow definition to one or more other workflow definitions, although this usage is less common.

What would you like to do?

Create a link from a document class to a workflow definition

Create a link from an individual document to a workflow definition

Create a link from a workflow definition to a document class or individual document

Manage updates to workflow definitions