Implementing Oracle Workflow

1
Implementing Oracle Workflow

• Derek Mathieson
• CERN - Switzerland

2
Outline

• CERN
• Oracle Workflow
• What Changes we Made
• Oracle 8i
• Going Production
• Conclusion

3
CERN

• Worlds Leading Particle Physics
• Research Laboratory
• 3000 Staff
• 6500 visiting scientists
• Annual budget of 1000 million CHF( 630 million)

4

• Why does CERN
• need Workflow?

5
Nationality distribution of CERN Users on 1/1/98
6
(No Transcript)
7
Existing System

• EDH
• Electronic Document Handling
• Completely developed in-house
• Originally in C and C
• Classical Client / Server Architecture
• Process 150,000 documents per year

8
Web Architecture 1996
9
Existing System
Java VM
Oracle DB
Java Application
10
EDH Purchase Order (1998)
11
Documents transferred per year
12
Need for Change

• Existing Workflow Engine
• No graphical interface
• Difficult to maintain
• A New Workflow Engine
• Flexible
• Graphical
• Reliable

13
Workflow Integration
OrganicStructure
OfficeLocations
Absences
Purchasing
Supervisors
Payroll
Workflow Engine
OrderAmount
TechnicalContact
14
Oracle Workflow
Directory Services
Users
Roles
NotificationServices
Engine
Oracle WorkflowEnabled Application
Oracle server
Source Oracle Workflow Presentation (Oracle Open
World 1998)
15
Oracle Workflow
Directory Services
Users
Roles
NotificationServices
Engine
Oracle WorkflowEnabled Application
Oracle server
Source Oracle Workflow Presentation (Oracle Open
World 1998)
16
(No Transcript)
17
Oracle Workflow
Directory Services
Users
Roles
NotificationServices
Engine
Oracle WorkflowEnabled Application
Oracle server
Source Oracle Workflow Presentation (Oracle Open
World 1998)
18
Changes to Oracle Workflow
Directory Services
Users
Roles
NotificationServices
Engine
Send
Respond
Forward
Cancel
Query
Oracle WorkflowEnabled Application
Oracle server
19
EDH Worklist
20
Changes to Oracle Workflow
Directory Services
Users
Roles
NotificationServices
Engine
Send
Respond
Forward
Cancel
Query
Oracle WorkflowEnabled Application
Oracle server
21
Signature Servlet
22
Changes to Oracle Workflow
Directory Services
Users
Roles
NotificationServices
Engine
Send
Respond
Forward
Cancel
Query
Oracle WorkflowEnabled Application
Oracle server
23
Java Bridge
Java Document Objects
Java Document Objects
PL/SQLWorkflow Application
OracleData Base
24
Oracle 8i
Workflow Application
Oracle 8iData Base
25
Oracle 8i

• Same Transaction
• Fast
• No Separate Process
• Difficult Debugging

26
Other Changes Parallel Branches
27
Going Production

• Parallel with existing system
• Then a single document type
• Then full production
• Questions
• Is it fast enough?
• Will Java be stable?

We will find out this summer!
28
Conclusion Workflow
Productivity Gain
Electronic Forms
Paper Forms
29
Conclusion Oracle Workflow

• Flexible architecture
• Good Process Designer
• Limited to a PL/SQL interface

30
Thank You
For More Information
Browse tohttp//edh.cern.ch/doc or
EmailDerek.Mathieson_at_cern.ch