Choose from a list of exposed user-defined data fields

A workflow administrator can expose user-defined data fields in a roster, queue, or event log. Exposing a field in Process Configuration Console makes it available for use in multiple workflows. This standardizes the name and type of a field, and also makes it available for use in a search filter, when defining an index, and when logging information to the event log.

Using exposed fields in workflow definitions requires two steps:

  1. In Process Configuration Console, the workflow administrator creates an exposed field on the Data Fields tab in the Properties dialog for the roster, queue, or event log.

    In Process Configuration Console, the Exposed Data Fields dialog box helps you achieve consistency in exposed field names across queues, rosters, and event logs in the isolated region. All exposed fields that have been defined and committed are listed. Choosing a field from the list creates an exposed field of the same name and type in the selected queue, roster, or event log.

  2. In Process Designer in the Workflow Properties - Data Fields dialog box, the workflow author selects an appropriate exposed field that will be used at any step in the workflow. Choosing a field from the list of exposed fields creates a data field of the same name and type in Process Designer.

    The workflow author can also create a data field of the exact name (including case) and type of the corresponding exposed field defined in Process Configuration Console. (The numeric data types are the exception to this rule—you can mix integer and float data types.)

To select a field name

  1. If the Exposed Data Fields dialog box is not already displayed, select the Data Fields tab from the item Properties.
  2. Click Exposed Data Fields on the data fields toolbar.
  3. To add fields, select one or more items from the list on the left and click Add.

    To remove fields, select one or more items from the Selected fields list and click Remove.

    TIP To quickly find the desired field, enter the first few letters of the field name in the small box above the list.

  4. To see where a field is currently used, select one or more fields and click Details. The Field Name Details dialog box displays the rosters, queues, and event logs where each field is defined.
  5. Click OK when done.