Understanding Data Structures: Data Items and Data Models
In BPM5 Designer, the [Start Process] button does not include a list of the Data Items available within the Process, allowing you to provide test values for the Data Items. You must create XML Documents with the correct structure for the Data Items, which can then be used in the Start Process Window to populate values to your Data Items.
Before creating the XML Document, you should understand the structure of data within BPM5 starting at the top-level layer, called the Solution, which ties together various Processes and their associated resources, such as connections to other systems, message templates or organization charts. Data Items can then be "global" to the Solution or "local" to a particular Process within that Solution. We refer, then, to both Solution Data Items and Process Data Items.
Additionally, BPM5 includes the concept of a Data Model, which defines the structure of a particular Data Item, i.e. a Data Model is a user-defined custom Data Type. Think of a Data Item as a single row of a simple table. Without a Data Model, the "table" consists of a single column. The Data Model defines the columns of this row in a "table." Moreover, within the definition of a Data Item, you can choose to allow it to contain multiple rows of information, by setting the "Is Collection" property to True.
For example, Bluespring uses BPM5 to help manage Leads generated when individuals sign up and download our Business Analysis product, ProcessView 2.0. We automatically create a Lead in Microsoft CRM, assign it to a Sales Representative and send an informational e-mail to the Sales Rep indicating a new Lead has been generated. Accordingly, we have a Data Model, Salesperson, consisting of two elements (or "columns"), Name and Email:
During processing, we determine the set of all Sales Reps to whom we may potentially assign a Lead, so the Process defines a Data Item, SalesPersonRole, using the Data Model: Salesperson with the "Is Collection" property true:
When initiating a Process via BPM5 Designer's [Start Process] button, you must be aware of the structure of your Data Items, so you can provide the correct information to populate values to these Data Items. You must be able to indicate within the XML Document if your Data Items are Solution Data Items or Process Data Items and if any Data Models are associated with either your Solution or Process Data Items.
