DataMigrator/Reporting Server > Designing a Process Flow > Creating a Process Flow

Creating a Process Flow

Topics:

How to:

You can create a process flow either by starting a new flow (the preferred method), or by building on an existing data flow (which is suitable for some simple situations). In either case, you add objects to the process flow base, which varies slightly depending upon the method you choose. For more information about these approaches, see Process Flow Methodology.

With either method, the Start object can only have one object as output. It can be any object type except for a Wait object, which can only follow a Parallel Group object.

The connector arrow from the Start object to the next object in the flow will always be black (that is, unconditional) and cannot be changed.

Procedure: How to Create a Reusable Process Flow

This procedure describes the recommended modular process flow design methodology described in Process Flow Methodology. To create a reusable process flow:

  1. Right-click an application directory in the navigation pane, point to New, and then click Flow.
  2. Click the Process Flow tab. A new workspace containing a Start object opens in the workspace.
  3. To add objects to the workspace:
    • Drag a data flow, another process flow, or a procedure into the workspace from the navigation pane. You can open another flow within the process flow by right-clicking it and clicking Open.
    • Click an object from the Insert group and drag it to the workspace. Then double-click the object to open a properties specification pane. See the detailed topics in this chapter for information on property specifications for each type of object.
  4. To connect objects in the workspace, right-click the left object and, holding the mouse button down, drag from the left object to the right object, creating a connecting arrow. Release the mouse button.
  5. When you have finished building the process flow, save and name it.
    1. Click the Save or Save As button from the Quick Access Toolbar. The Save Procedure As dialog box opens.
    2. Name the process flow.
    3. Save it to any application directory in your application path.
    4. Click OK to return to the Process Flow workspace.

      Alternatively, you can save and name the process flow at any point during development, and then continue to click Save to update the flow as you build it.

Procedure: How to Create a Process Flow From a Data Flow

Use the following steps only when you wish to create a process flow that contains a limited number of objects, and when you do not intend to use the embedded data flow with other process flows.

  1. After creating and saving a data flow, click the Process Flow tab. The Start object and the embedded Data Flow object are connected by default.
  2. To add new objects to the workspace, you can do either or both of the following:
    • Drag a data flow, another process flow, or a procedure into the workspace from the navigation pane. A process flow can be comprised of data flows, process flows, and/or procedures from any application directory in the search path of the user.
    • Click an object in the Insert group and drag it into the workspace. Then double-click the object to open a properties specification pane. See the detailed topics in this chapter for information on property specifications for each type of object.
  3. To connect objects in the workspace, right-click the left object and, holding the mouse button down, drag from the left object to the right object, creating a connecting arrow. Release the mouse button.

    Tip: If you want to add an object between the Start object and Data Flow object, right-click the connecting arrow and choose Delete. Then add the new object. Connect the Start object to the new object, and then connect the new object to the Data Flow object.

  4. When you have finished building the process flow, save it under the data flow procedure name. Both the data flow and process flow logic are contained in the same procedure.

    Alternatively, you can save the process flow at any point in the development cycle.

For an illustration of this technique, see Navigation Pane: Procedures Button.

Saving a Process Flow

How to:

Process flows are saved on the DataMigrator Server. The first time you save a process flow, you will select an application directory and assign a name to it. After that, you can save it with the same name or assign a new one.

The following restrictions apply to flow names:

  • Names can contain only letters, numbers, and underscores.
  • Uppercase letters are converted to lowercase when the flow is saved.
  • Names can be up to 64 characters long, except on z/OS with PDS deployment, where names are limited to 8 characters.

Procedure: How to Save a Process Flow

  1. Click the Save button from the Quick Access Toolbar.

    Note: A flow can only be saved once changes have been made to it. If no changes have been made, both the button and Save option in the main menu will be inactive (grey).

    If this is the first time a flow is being saved, the Save Procedure As dialog box will open. See How to Save a Data Flow with a New Name.

  2. Check the console window for a message indicating that the flow was saved successfully.

Procedure: How to Save a Process Flow with a New Name

  1. Click the Save As button from the Quick Access Toolbar.

    The Save Procedure As dialog box opens.

  2. From the Save in: drop-down menu, select the application directory where you want to save the flow.
  3. In the Name box, enter the name you wish to use for the flow.

    Click Save.

  4. Check the console window for a message indicating that the flow was saved successfully.

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