Process driven workflow (using DNN features linked to a workflow engine).

[KenTombs]

Description of problem

The interest here is in being able to use customer business processes/workflows (BPMN2 notation), to drive features of DNN. So for example, define a process diagrammatically that when running uses resources from DNN, like asking the user to complete a predefined form or populate an email, then have the results stored away for further work or reporting.

Description of solution

There are many approaches to how this capability might work, using logical statements and links between DNN resources and such. Much of this can be achieved already with the more mature extension forms packages; it is though ultimately programmatic bringing limitations in time and process origination for non-technical users. It also probably limits use to extensions that are 'wfm enabled'.

Description of alternatives considered

1. Pursue some of the tantalizing hints of what might already exist (???)

2. Implement an open source workflow engine as an extension (Activiti, Alfresco or similar). DNN drives the workflow engine.

3. Implement an open source workflow engine separately and use an API to create the integration. The workflow engine drives DNN.

4. Others??

Screenshots

Additional context

This function would make DNN more widely usable for application building purposes.

Affected version

Latest versions onwards

Affected browser

Na

[roman-yagodin]

A very long shot. I think this will require strict standardization in many areas, which could contradict the DNN goal (please correct me, if I'm wrong and there is no such thing) to make the platform friendly for wide spectre of web developers and technologies.

[valadas]

In the spirit of cleaning the backlog, is someone planning in implementing this in let's say the next year or so or is this just an idea and nobody would pick it up anytime soon ?

[KenTombs]

This is something planned for later this year, so current.

[valadas]

Thanks @KenTombs I will put this in the Dnn 10 milestone then

[stale[bot]]

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[roman-yagodin]

Please do not close!

[david-poindexter]

@KenTombs @roman-yagodin is this still under development? If so, can we get this broken into smaller, more manageable issues? Thanks!

[roman-yagodin]

I think this at least deserves to be stored in the backlog, not just closing.

[valadas]

I think this should be moved to discussions until we have at least some breakdown of the requirements needed for such implementation. We have many great ideas in the issues backlog that are not really actionable issues until someone actually picks it up or a good discussion happens on the steps necessary to get there, hence David question about knowing if anyone is working on it or can break it down into more manageable and actionable issues. If it's just an idea and not more yet, great but it should be in the discussions.

[roman-yagodin]

Thinking on more manageable chunks, is there any human-friendly documentation for current DNN Workflow API? Could be nice first thing to have as a reference point for workflow-related discussions.

This post is the only thing I've found so far - but it looks more like the DnnHero promo article.

[valadas]

I am moving this into a discussion for now to clean the backlog, happy to bring it back when we hear some news about progress on this.