Workflow processes in OL Connect projects

About Workflow processes

A Workflow configuration consists of one or more processes. Each of these processes waits until it is time to run or until it receives the necessary input, and then does its job. A process is made up of tasks (also referred to as plugins). In the Workflow configuration tool they are divided into groups. For example:

  • Input tasks look for certain input data on a certain channel and start a process when they find it. The data that enter the process are handed from one plugin to the next in the form of a file: the 'job file'.
  • Process logic tasks help you to control the process, for example by branching it, creating a loop, or referring to another process or a subprocess.
  • Action tasks perform a wide variety of operations.
  • Metadata - data about a job, kept in the process - can be accessed and manipulated using Metadata tasks.
  • OL Connect tasks enable the process to communicate with the Connect Server and/or database. (See: OL Connect tasks.)
  • A process ends with an Output task.

Workflow was originally developed - and is still used - as part of PlanetPress Suite. Nevertheless, most plugins are just as useful in Connect as in PlanetPress Suite. Where plugins are restricted to one software package or the other, it is indicated in Workflow's Online Help.

Common OL Connect Workflow processes

In an OL Connect project there are typically a number of Workflow processes that communicate with the Connect Server and/or database through one or more of the OL Connect tasks.

These are the most common Workflow processes in Connect solutions.

  • Print process. A process that results in print output implements either the typical OL Connect Print plugins, or the All in One plugin which combines the Print plugins; see Print processes with OL Connect tasks.
  • Email process. An email process outputs one or more emails; see Email processes with OL Connect tasks.
  • Web process. A web process serves one or more web pages. The output can vary from a plain and simple web page to an extensive web form. See: Web processes with OL Connect tasks.
  • COTG processes. The process that creates a form for the Capture OnTheGo app is in essence a web process, but a COTG solution consists of more than one process. The typical COTG processes are described here: Capture OnTheGo Workflow processes.
Project Wizards

The OL Connect software comes with a number of Project Wizards that generate a Workflow configuration, and any Connect templates, data mapping configurations, and Print Presets required to make the project work. For more information, see Project Wizards in the online help or the Project Wizards overview video on the OL Learn website.

In each process, runtime parameters can pass variables from PReS Connect Workflow to the template, data mapping configuration or Job Creation Preset. For more information see Runtime parameters.