a!startProcessLink() redirecting back to last clicked PM

RE: a!startProcessLink() redirecting back to last clicked PM

Josh — Tue, 30 Oct 2018 12:50:34 GMT

Here was our use case:

If you have an edit related action for a record and that action needs to be locked to one instance, you may have a splash screen saying something to the effect of "someone is already editing this record." If that person already owned the original edit task, you could have a link to the task instead of telling the user to navigate to his or her tasks tab. If a user navigates to the task this way, completes the task, Appian will redirect him or her back to the related action URL, restarting the related action. Very confusing for the end user!

RE: a!startProcessLink() redirecting back to last clicked PM

ajayp — Tue, 30 Oct 2018 03:37:38 GMT

Thanks Mike Schmitt (mschmitt) & Josh for your suggestions. At this moment i am proceeding with large button layout ( so that look and feel would be same for end user). This way i can achieve my goal to go back and forth from main page to all different pages. I'll also look for Appian support response on mentioned behavior.

RE: a!startProcessLink() redirecting back to last clicked PM

Mike Schmitt — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 20:45:39 GMT

So far my main use case for Start Process Links has been in Task Reports, since it allows me to essentially create purely database-backed "tasks" that aren't actually tasks and don't rely on running processes / clunky task reports / group assignments to pull back. Luckily there's no such issue when using them from task reports, and I assume there is similarly no issue when using them in regular reports or on Record Dashboard forms. I don't think I've used any inside an actual running process yet, though I understand that there are probably valid use cases for this.

By any chance have you tried using Submit Links in your parent process task? Using submit links will not only cause your form to submit and step forward to a chained subprocess / etc, but also you can use the link itself to store a specific value into a rule input (essentially mimicing how a regular button works), which could be used to select the desired subprocess (since you mentioned maybe needing to use radio buttons for this).

RE: a!startProcessLink() redirecting back to last clicked PM

ajayp — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 20:33:56 GMT

Thats correct mike. If you use task tab it will behave like an individual task however when you go back and forth on main interface it will show you "The task has already been submitted." message since the previous task already been submitted.

I am thinking to avoid using startProcessLink function in using old fashion radio buttons to call desire subprocess. Will give a last try to open a support case.

Thanks,
Ajay

RE: a!startProcessLink() redirecting back to last clicked PM

Josh — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 20:16:00 GMT

I agree with you fully, Mike. The behavior is weird and has caused me to rework certain designs to avoid the issue alltogether.

RE: a!startProcessLink() redirecting back to last clicked PM

Mike Schmitt — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 20:11:23 GMT

I've been able to build a small app where I can easily reproduce this behavior. I think the problem errs a bit further into "unexpected behavior" territory than what you described, Josh - in the case of this behavior, I can see no justification (accidental or otherwise) that the "exit" button click from the main parent "action" form should invoke the related action again instead of dumping the user back to the Actions tab as expected.

One note - I believe I've confirmed that the behavior only happens when viewing the task from the Actions tab; if, for example, I leave the task open and click over to Tasks and open it from there, the Exit button behaves as normal, regardless of whether I click into and out of either of the start process links first.

Please see the attached app (contains all precedents and nothing overly burdensome).

community.appian.com/.../Test-Activity-Chaining-Demo.zip

RE: a!startProcessLink() redirecting back to last clicked PM

Josh — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 19:03:08 GMT

I've encountered this behavior when using process task links on a form started via a related action. It is annoying, but the basic idea is that Appian retains the context stack for a user and returns the user to the previous context. I've copied the exact phrasing below. It isn't documented that well and can be confusing in situations like these. The product use case they gave me was #934.

When a task is completed, the user is redirected to the URL where the user initiated the task from. In most cases, this is a report on a record view or site page. If they complete the task from the task tab, it returns to the task tab URL. In this defined customer use case, they are being redirected back to the the related action. The reason you are seeing this invoke a new related action is that currently both related actions and actions are invoked or kicked off when navigated to directly via the URL.

RE: a!startProcessLink() redirecting back to last clicked PM

Mike Schmitt — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 18:31:43 GMT

Are you able to reproduce this behavior either in a secondary environment or at least a secondary unconnected app which you could then either share an export or at least screenshot(s) demonstrating the issue occurring?
If this continues and you are able to confirm it isn't a bug in your code etc, you might look into opening a support case for the issue and finding a way to demonstrate it to the support personnel.

RE: a!startProcessLink() redirecting back to last clicked PM

ajayp — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 18:29:29 GMT

Sorry, its restricted environment so i cant upload anything but i can provide all the details required to understand issue.

RE: a!startProcessLink() redirecting back to last clicked PM

ajayp — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 18:26:04 GMT

Thanks for reply , Yes i have debut the process which looks completely normal flow. It shows me main process as active instance until i click on the exit button. As soon as i click on exit button the older instance of main process mark as complete and new instance of PM "B" created. Once i click on back button from "B" another new instance of main PMcreated and "B" completes.

RE: a!startProcessLink() redirecting back to last clicked PM

Mike Schmitt — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 18:20:26 GMT

That definitely does sound weird - have you done any debugging steps yet to verify that there isn't something accidental happening? Also would you be willing/able to upload a small screenshot of your process model?