Process does not show User Input Task

RE: Process does not show User Input Task

aloks0189 — Fri, 31 Mar 2017 08:32:52 GMT

As per my understanding, it doesn't makes any difference whether you calling a subprocess along with MNI or else calling a script Task with MNI configuration which invokes Web-APi and the API invokes Sub process (process). Because as per Minal Statement, the User Input task is depending on the output of all MNI sub-processes, so whether we call a subprocess with MNI configuration or using a Script Task with MNI configurations doesn't makes any difference.

Unfortunately the response time will be more delayed in case WEB-API, because in this case through Script Task we need to invoke Web-API and after that Web-API needs to invoke Process, but in earlier case directly process was invoking the Subprocess.

So as per my understanding and as per above contributions, he need to cut-off the nodes or else he should try performing these CRUD operation from User input Task by the help of Smart Service Functions, Also the solution provided by @coltonb as well as @stefanh791 is perfect as per my understanding.

RE: Process does not show User Input Task

ranveerr — Thu, 30 Mar 2017 23:30:48 GMT

Minal,
Other way you can do is create a web API and call this web API in script task under apply. This will resolve your problem.

RE: Process does not show User Input Task

Stefan Helzle — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 20:44:50 GMT

We do such complex processing in an expression that returns a list of entityData items and put it into a write to multiple datastore items node. When you deploy the cdt manipulation plugin you can load, modify and store data in a single expression. Apply() allows you to do that to any number of items. The important thing is that you expression calls a!entityData to create its output data.

RE: Process does not show User Input Task

minalabib — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 18:37:30 GMT

@aloks176, thanks, considering your suggestions

RE: Process does not show User Input Task

aloks0189 — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 18:35:00 GMT

@minal i agree with @philb you can send array of items and perform all store operation using process model and all retrieve and operations using rule in interface

Also not to forget, you can perform insert, update, delete, select as well as execute many OOTB smart service from interface also by he help of smart service function.

So if possible, try doing these operation through interface on load itself.

RE: Process does not show User Input Task

Colton Beck — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 18:30:22 GMT

Based on your explanation, this could be a good use case for using stored procedure. You could do a single procedure call that handles all data checks and writes, then you could run a single query to return all information the user would need to see.

Just something to consider.

RE: Process does not show User Input Task

minalabib — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 18:29:10 GMT

@aloks176, I will update the sub-process to do the work in fewer script activities calling expression rules.
@philb, I actually accumulate all the data from the MNI sub-processes and write once after, but the sub-process has extensive number of unattended tasks which I am planning to reduce and use more expression rules.

RE: Process does not show User Input Task

PhilB — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 18:24:11 GMT

Don't forget that you can carry out a write of multiple rows with a single write to datastore node; if you're looping the subprocess because you're doing the same thing to multiple items, see if you can rewrite the subprocess to accept a list of items and have it update all of them at once rather than one at a time. There's also the write to multiple data store node if you're really struggling to cut down the number of unattended nodes.

RE: Process does not show User Input Task

aloks0189 — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 18:22:08 GMT

@minal in such cases i don't think there is any possibility to get the User input Task directly, because here the number of nodes as well as the time to complete the subprocess is huge. so if possible, then try doing most of the processing using rule in interface instead of subprocess, however this can cause huge performance issue too.

Also is there any possibility to send complete array into the subprocess and process all at a time instead of having MNI?

RE: Process does not show User Input Task

minalabib — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 18:19:10 GMT

@philb, the sub-process is taking each instance in the array and run few checks includes data retrieval and then insert data in the database if needed, the end result is passed to the user task to show up in the screen.
I think the appropriate solution is to revisit the sub-process and cut down the number of chained nodes as you suggested. thanks.

RE: Process does not show User Input Task

PhilB — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 18:15:11 GMT

What are you trying to achieve with multiple runs of fifty or more nodes before a user input task...?! Are they data writes, data retrieval...? As @minal asks, does the task rely on all of the output? Do the subprocesses contain data retrieval that could be done in the interface? You'll have to cut down the number of chained nodes before the task to get this to work.

RE: Process does not show User Input Task

minalabib — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 18:12:04 GMT

@aloks176, the user task is depending on the output of all MNI sub-processes.

RE: Process does not show User Input Task

aloks0189 — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 18:10:40 GMT

@minal is the User Input Task node depending upon the Subprocess which has MNI. if it is, then is the User Input Task depending upon only one instance of Subprocess or all?

RE: Process does not show User Input Task

minalabib — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 18:07:20 GMT

@coltonb, I won't know how many instances in the array in the runtime, and the sub-process is running quite few conditions and script tasks before writing to the database.
@philib, there are more than 50 nodes per sub-process and the sub-process is called multiple time in parallel.
@christineh, i actually have similar setup to what you described, as the parent process chained to synchronous sub-process, and first sub-process calls another sub-process multiple times and at the end all chain to the user task, but I can't run it asynch. as the user task depends on the output of all ran sub-processes.

RE: Process does not show User Input Task

ChristineLHutchison — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 18:00:32 GMT

you could try having a sub that you chain, pass your data to another sub that has the MNI set up. That way, the first sub starts asynchronously and then chains to the user task, but not to the MNI. Just a thought to get away from the max node instance.

RE: Process does not show User Input Task

PhilB — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 18:00:04 GMT

Also how many unattended nodes in the sub-process and any child processes?

RE: Process does not show User Input Task

Colton Beck — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 17:59:30 GMT

Is it not possible to handle every index in that array in a single sub-process instance? Are you only writing to database tables, or are there other, more complex activities happening in the sub-process?

RE: Process does not show User Input Task

minalabib — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 17:56:44 GMT

the sub-process is called number of times equal to process variable list length the configuration is attached.

RE: Process does not show User Input Task

Colton Beck — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 17:53:02 GMT

What is your use case for looping the sub-process? Maybe there is a better way to meet the requirements.

RE: Process does not show User Input Task

aloks0189 — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 17:52:04 GMT

@minal as @coltonb already mention, please enable activity chaining for each and every node within each and every subprocess till the User Input Task, if anywhere it gets missed, then again you need to go to task tab and manually pick-up the Task. Also there is some fixed duration in seconds(specially between one to another User Input Task node) if that exceeds before the flow reaches till the User Input Task node, then also the activity chaining will get break.

RE: Process does not show User Input Task

minalabib — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 17:50:59 GMT

The chaining looks fine to me, it might be theh 50 unattended nodes limit, as the sub-process runs multiple times and it has large number of nodes ..
what would be the best practice in that case ?

RE: Process does not show User Input Task

PhilB — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 17:43:36 GMT

You could also be breaking the chaining limit of 50 (by default) unattended nodes.

RE: Process does not show User Input Task

Colton Beck — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 17:36:15 GMT

docs.appian.com/.../Configuring_Activity-Chaining.html

RE: Process does not show User Input Task

Colton Beck — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 17:35:54 GMT

Please ensure you have proper activity chaining enabled. This usually happens when a link in the chain is missing.