Using external properties

External properties are ad-hoc properties that are not defined within the properties of a case or task, but that can be rendered within their associated views in IBM® Case Manager, for example, the Properties widget. External properties are defined, retrieved, and persisted by using an external data source such as a JAVA servlet, JSON file, or data service. The binding of external properties is handled by the Properties area in the model layer.

General use case: Most organizations maintain several Systems of Record data sources. These data sources often contain the most current single source of truth. Easy access to this information helps case workers complete their goals. It is often necessary and efficient to access this data live and not store a copy.
Scenario: While working a customer claim, an agent opens a case to view the details of the case. In addition to claim-specific data, the agent can see the customer's contact information, which is pulled live from the customer database. A list of past transactions with the customer is also conveniently displayed, which saves the agent from having to access the transaction system for this information.