Activity step - parameter properties

On the Parameters tab, you specify the data fields, attachments, and workflow groups that will be used as parameters in the current activity step. You can also specify expression parameters that will be evaluated when the step executes.

To specify parameters for an activity step

  1. If necessary, select the activity step in the workflow map area and select the Parameters tab in the Properties pane.
  2. If the work queue or user queue specified as the step destination includes operations, you optionally can select an operation. See About operations for additional information.

    If the operation has input and output parameters, specify the appropriate expression for each parameter.

  3. In the list of available parameters (on the left), select each field, attachment, or workflow group that will be used in the current step, then click the right arrow to add the item to the list of parameters for this step.

    The parameters list contains all the fields, attachments, and workflow groups in this workflow—items inherited from a base workflow and items created in the workflow properties of the current workflow.

  4. You can also define expression parameters that will be used only for this step.
  5. Under Access Rights, specify the participant's access to the parameter: Read, Write, or Read/Write.
  6. Under Prompt, you can optionally enter a short description for the current item. In Workplace and FileNet Web Services, the prompt displays as hover help for the parameter on the step processor page.

Use this same procedure to specify parameters to be used in the launch step.

TIP If a field, attachment, or workflow group you want to use is not displayed, do one of the following:

  • Select the check boxes above the Available Parameters list to show the data fields, attachments, workflow groups, and XML fields defined in the Workflow Properties dialog box.
  • Examine the display preferences (Preferences on the Settings menu) to be sure that any items inherited from a base workflow are displayed.
  • If the item you need has not yet been defined, open Workflow Properties on the Process Designer toolbar and create the item.

TIP As an alternative to selecting the parameters in each step, you can specify the data fields, attachment specifications, and workflow groups for all of the steps in the workflow using the Field usage option in the Workflow Properties dialog box. See Field usage.

expression parameter
A parameter defined for use in a single step. The parameter is not defined in the workflow properties, but the expression can reference fields defined in the workflow properties. An expression parameter is read-only.