How to update business data without affecting the workflow

Q&A
1

Hi,

We have a requirement to update business data while process is running. I could not find an easy way to update business data without impacting the workflow. I explored BDM api but that allows me to only get business data. I could have used the task level contract and update business data as part of the task operations, but that would mean I would have to execute the task.

Does anyone know of a way to update business data without affecting the current state of the workflow?

Any help would be appreciated.

Regards,
Kinjal

1 Like
2

First things first: you say Business Data which to me means data, not Business Data Model Structure. i.e. Adding data to a BDO, for example adding to list of countries, adding to list of people, adding to list of invoices etc. NOT adding a new field to a BDM like DOB to the person BDM.

My thinking on this is as follows:

Step 1: updating the current BDO to create an updated BDO

Open Form with current BDO (currBDO) data
CRUD the BDO (currBDO) Data
Save as New BDO (newBDO)

By saving (newBDO) as latest version it automatically becomes (currBDO)

Step 2: Make sure all your processes ONLY access currBDO this way during execution it will only pick up the latest (currBDO) version of the BDO.

This way you will not impact executing processes. It also allows for auditing of BDO changes…many people forget the need to audit changes to fixed data. Imagine someone changing a rule from <1 to >1 in a loan application BDO.

By creating a new updated copy of the BDO it is possible to create reports to show changes to the BDO etc.

regards
Seán

PS: If this reply answers your question, please mark a resolved.

3

Sean,

Thanks for you reply. Your understanding is correct. I want to be able to update Business data and not the model itself. I want to be able to update business data programmatically for a process which has already been instantiated.

We are using custom forms developed separately in an application and want to use Engine/Rest API to update business data. We have modify request use case which opens an application specific modify request form and that information needs to be updated in Bonita BDM schema.

I explored BDM API but that allows you to only read business data and not update it.

I am looking for way to update business data in BMD schema programmatically using the API.

Regards,
Kinjal