Using the Workflow Definitions Loader

Rather than use the File Save or File Open menu options in Oracle Workflow Builder, you can also run a program called Workflow Definitions Loader to save or load process definitions from a database or flat file.

Before you upgrade your database, you can use the Workflow Definitions Loader to preserve and back up your process definitions to a flat file. After the database upgrade is complete, you can use the Loader program again to upload the definitions back into your database if you need to reload your saved definitions for any reason. You can also use the Loader program to upgrade your database with a newer version of a process definition or to transfer process definitions to other databases.

When you upload or upgrade a process definition, the Workflow Definitions Loader automatically validates the process definition to ensure that it conforms to specific process design rules. It performs the same validation as the Oracle Workflow Builder Verify feature. See: To Validate a Process Definition.

You run the Workflow Definitions Loader as a concurrent program.

Note: When you upload or upgrade a workflow definition onto an existing definition in a database, it is possible that an object in the upload/upgrade definition has a Display Name that is already in use by a different object in the target database. If this occurs, the Workflow Definitions Loader automatically resolves the display name conflict by adding a '@' character to the beginning of conflicting display names in the target database. The upload/upgrade definition is then applied as is and a warning message is generated.

arrow icon   To run the Workflow Definitions Loader:

  1. Navigate to the Submit Requests form in Oracle E-Business Suite to submit the Workflow Definitions Loader concurrent program. When you install and set up Oracle E-Business Suite and Oracle Workflow, your system administrator needs to add this concurrent program to a request security group for the responsibility from which you want to run this program. See: Overview of Concurrent Programs and Requests.

  2. Submit the Workflow Definitions Loader concurrent program as a request. See: Running Reports and Programs.

  3. In the Parameters window, enter values for the following parameters:

    Mode

    • Specify "Download" to download a process definition from the database to a flat file.

    • Specify "Upgrade" to apply a seed data upgrade to a database from an input file. The Workflow Definitions Loader assumes the access level of the file's creator (seed data provider) and overwrites any objects protected at a level equal to or above the upgrade file's access level. The Loader program preserves any customizations made to customizable seed data in the database.

    • Specify "Upload" to load a process definition from a flat file into the database. The upload mode is useful to someone who is developing a workflow process. It allows the developer to save definitions to the database without concern that accidental customizations to existing objects might prevent the upload of some process definition elements. The Workflow Definitions Loader uses the access level defined by the input file to upload the process definitions from the file and therefore will overwrite objects in the database that are protected at a level equal to or higher than that file's access level.

    • Specify "Force" to force an upload of the process definitions from an input file to a database regardless of an object's protection level You should be certain that the process definition in the file is correct as it overwrites the entire process stored in the database. The Force mode is useful for fixing data integrity problems in a database with a known, reliable file backup.

    File Specify the full path and name of the file that you want to download a process definition to, or upgrade or upload a process definition from.
    Item Type If you set Mode to "Download", use the List button to choose the item type for the process definition you want to download.

    Note: When you submit the Workflow Definitions Loader from the Submit Requests form to download process definitions to a file, you can only specify to download one item type at a time. If you wish to download multiple or all item types simultaneously, you should submit the Workflow Definitions Loader concurrent program from the command line. See Step 6 below for details.

  4. Choose OK to close the Parameters window.

  5. When you finish modifying the print and run options for this request, choose Submit to submit the request.

  6. Rather than use the Submit Requests form, you can also run the Workflow Definitions Loader concurrent program from the command line by entering the following commands:

    Replace apps with the username for the APPS schema, replace file.wft with the file specification of a workflow process definition file, and replace ITEMTYPE1, ITEMTYPE2, ... ITEMTYPEN with the one or more item type(s) you want to download. You can also download all item types simultaneously by replacing ITEMTYPE1 with '*' (make sure you enclose the asterisk in single quotes).

    A file specification is specified as:

    @<application_short_name>:[<dir>/.../]file.ext

    or

    <native path>

    When prompted, enter the password for the APPS schema.

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