Process Designer provides tools for validating and testing a workflow definition or collection before making them available for general use. The Validate tool checks the workflow definition or specified items in the workflow collection for errors, such as missing workflow name, and invalid expressions and routing conditions. The Transfer tool transfers the workflow definition or specified items in the workflow collection to the Process Engine and converts them to an executable form. The Launch tool runs the open workflow definition or the main workflow in the workflow collection directly from Process Designer, rather than from the object store or library. See Security considerations in the individual topics: Validation results, Transfer the workflow definition , and Launch from Designer.
To make workflows as error-free as possible, a validation process checks a workflow definition or specified items in the workflow collection before it is transferred to the Process Engine database. Process Designer provides an integrated validation tool which both detects any errors and shows the step or route where the error occurs, making it relatively easy to correct any problems. Process Engine also validates a workflow definition or collection as it is transferred to the Process Engine database.
The following actions invoke the validation process:
NOTE You can disable workflow validation before a transfer or launch in the Preferences dialog box (Settings menu). However, validation always occurs by Process Engine as part of the transfer process. Validation in Process Designer makes it easier to find and correct any problems before you transfer the workflow definition or collection.
A workflow definition must be transferred to the Process Engine database in order to run. You can use the Transfer tool on the Process Designer toolbar to manually transfer the current workflow definition or all the workflow definition in the workflow collection that are specified to be included in the transfer in Workflow Properties > Advanced tab. If you launch a workflow from Process Designer, the workflow definition or specified items in the workflow collection collection are transferred automatically.
To transfer the current workflow definition
To transfer the workflow collection
During development of a workflow definition, it is convenient to test the workflow by launching it directly from Process Designer. This displays the launch processor where you can specify any required data, attachments, or workflow groups. Once the workflow is working smoothly, you can create subscriptions or links as appropriate for your system to launch the workflow automatically without Process Designer. See Launch from Designer for additional information.
To launch the current workflow definition
To launch the main workflow in the workflow collection