Skip to main content
mislavu0001
mislavu0001
September 20, 2021
Solved

Start a process as an action from external URL

  • September 20, 2021
  • 21 replies
  • 0 views

Hi,

is there any way we could start the process model with start form and pass some input parameters from external URL. We have a request where we will have to search some customers in external system, and pass the related customerId to appian process model which should open a start form. So the similar behavior as appian actions, but being called by using URL in external system and being able to pass some parameters to a start form which should be displayed on a link click.

For example, we have to search for a customer in external system. When we find a customer we need, we have to start an appian process for that particular customer only by clicking the http link in external system. Another requirement is to avoid starting the process instance if start form for particular customer is not submitted. So, for example, we find a customer with custId=1 in external system, we would like to generate some URL like http://appian.host/start_process/processModelId=2&custId=1 . Link should be opened in a new tab offering a process start form with the customerId being passed as a rule input. If we expose the process model as a web service, is there a way the endpoint opens the start form of the process model? What about security and authorization?

Best answer by stefanhelzle0001

Not directly. One option might be to use an embedded interface. Not sure about the restrictions in that specific case.

21 replies

stefanhelzle0001
stefanhelzle0001
Brainy
September 20, 2021

We implemented the following pattern for this. An API call passes the necessary data to Appian and starts a process. The API call returns the URL to the task. The other system forwards the user to this task.

    mislavu0001
    mislavu0001Author
    September 21, 2021

    Hi Stefan, thank you for your feedback. I was thinking about this possibility, but can we open a start form this way. Our intention is not to start the process instance but only open a start form from a link. Maybe I am not aware, but is there a function which can return a 'start form' task id if process instance is not started? End user can click the link in external system several times and we don't want to start the process instance each time, actually we want to start it if this first 'start form' is submitted. 

    stefanhelzle0001
    stefanhelzle0001Answer
    Brainy
    September 21, 2021

    Not directly. One option might be to use an embedded interface. Not sure about the restrictions in that specific case.

      Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement