SAP Business Workflow - Creating Steps

A Step is used in the workflow to execute a task or also to control the workflow. A Step is always created inside a block and a block always contains a step and its outcome. A Step can be created by changing an undefined step in graphical mode or you can also add a new step.

To change an undefined step in the workflow, double-click on the undefined step and this will open Step Selection. Select a Step Type as shown in the following screenshot.

There are different Step types you can select as per the requirement. Following are some common step types, their symbols in the workflow and description.

Symbol	Step Type	Step Runtime Function Description
	Process control	The functions Cancel workitem or Set workitem to obsolete are applied to other workitems of the current workflow.
	Ad hoc anchor	In the definition, you save workflows that can replace this step. At runtime, an authorized user can select one of the saved workflows. The ad-hoc anchor is then replaced by the steps of this workflow.
	Activity	Execution of a task or sub-workflow.
	Condition	One of two branches defined in the workflow definition is processed. The system makes the decision based on the defined conditions. While doing this, the system takes account of information from the context of the workflow or the application objects processed.
	User decision	The process flow of the current workflow is controlled on the basis of a decision made by the current agent.
	Document from template	A document is created from a document template.
	Container operation	Elementary arithmetic operations or value assignments are applied to individual elements of the workflow container.
	Event creator	An event is created.
	Form	The data in a container element that refers to a structure can be displayed, processed, or approved as a form.
	Send mail	The text entered in this step type is sent as an e-mail.
	Multiple condition	One of the several branches defined in the workflow definition is processed. To do this, the system checks the value of a container element in the workflow container.
	Fork	The processing that follows takes place in a fork. You can define how many branches have to be executed for the fork to be successfully completed, or you define an end condition in the condition editor.
	Undefined step	No function at runtime. Undefined steps always have an outcome.
	Loop (UNTIL)	A sequence of steps is processed repeatedly until the defined termination condition occurs.
	Loop (WHILE)	A sequence of steps is processed repeatedly as long as the defined comparisons apply. The system leaves the loop when the basis of comparison does not agree with any of the comparison values.
	Wait for event	The system waits for a specific event. The work item is only completed if the expected event occurs. The event can also be triggered by the occurrence of an XML document.
	Web activity	The content of container elements is sent to a URL unchanged or in the form of a generated XML document. The step can wait for a reply. Communication with a process started by a Web activity is possible. A process started by an XML message can communicate with its caller.

When you insert a new step in an existing workflow, its position depends on the step or the outcome previously selected.

Where do you want to insert the step	What do you have to select
After a step	The outcome of the step, which is located in the relevant branch of the workflow definition
Before a step	The step
As a new branch of a fork	The symbol before the fork

Use of Wait Step

A wait step in the workflow can wait for an -

• Event
• Local Event
• Work Item
• Event received by the workflow

When a wait step is waiting for an event, it is terminated when a specific event occurs. The event ends all the wait steps waiting for that specific event. This is commonly used −

• To suspend a workflow till a specific event occurs
• As a result from another workflow started in a different system
• As an event in parallel processing

Same way it works when waiting for a local event, condition or event from other workflow.

Wait for event

The system waits for a specific event. The work item is only completed if the expected event occurs. The event can also be triggered by the occurrence of an XML document.