This topic applies only to the IBM Business Process Manager Advanced configuration.Case Management Function

Setting preconditions for case activities

You can specify preconditions that must be met before the activity is ready to start. Activities can start automatically after all the preconditions are met or manually by a user after all the preconditions are met. If you do not set any preconditions, automatic activities start as soon as the case is launched and manual activities must be started by a user.

About this task

Case management functions are only available if you have IBM BPM Advanced with the Basic Case Management feature installed.

A precondition consists of two parts, a precondition event, and a precondition expression. The two parts together determine when the activity starts:
  • If both are defined, then when the precondition event occurs, the precondition expression is evaluated. If the expression evaluates to true, the activity starts.
  • If there is a precondition event but no precondition expression, the activity starts when the precondition event is met.
Note: In addition to determining when the activity first starts, the precondition also determines when an activity that is already started changes state. For example, from a waiting state to a working state. See Runtime states for activities in process applications.

Procedure

To set a precondition:

  1. Open the case type.
  2. In the case type editor, switch to Activities, and select the activity that you want.
  3. Switch to the Preconditions page.
  4. In the Precondition Event section, select the event that triggers the precondition expression to be evaluated.
    Precondition event Description
    No precondition event for this activity Automatic activities start as soon as the case is launched. Manual activities must be started by a user.
    A document is filed in the case The activity starts when a document is added to the case.
    Any document type
    The activity starts when a document is added to the case. This option applies to all documents, including documents that are not contained in this process application.
    Choose one or more document types
    The activity starts when a document of any of the specified document types is added to the case.
    Inside the implementation of the activity, you can use JavaScript to access the identifier of the document that caused the activity to start: 
    tw.system.currentAdHocActivityInstance.enablingDocumentID
    You can use this identifier to further process the document within the activity by using Enterprise Content Management operations.
    A case property or variable is updated You can select multiple case properties or variables from the list provided. The activity starts when any of the specified properties or variables are updated.
    A precondition expression is met There is no precondition event to be triggered. You must specify a precondition expression, and when the expression is met, the activity starts.
  5. Create an expression if your precondition requires it. The expression must evaluate to true at the time the precondition event occurs, for the activity to start.
    1. Click the + icon in the Precondition Expression section heading.
    2. Specify the parameters of the expression. For example, you might specify claimAmount is greater than 100. You can specify multiple expressions for the precondition. For example, you might specify creditCardNumber is not equal to 0 and vendorName is not like Unknown.
    3. Select Match All if both expressions must evaluate to true for the activity to start. Select Match Any if the activity can start when any one expression evaluates to true.
Parent topic: Case Management FunctionAdding a case activity