Knowledge Base

WEBCON 2020 version introduces the possibility of using dedicated processes as standardized data dictionaries. Thanks to this, we have the possibility to easily create and manage dictionaries located within the WEBCON BPS Platform, which in turn translates to a simplified and uniform environment. With each dictionary process, a predefined data source returning all dictionary elements is automatically created. The structure of the source contains all form fields  defined in the process and is updated whenever the configuration of the dictionary process is changed. The dictionary process uses only one Start step, and in WEBCON BPS Designer Studio we cannot add any further steps to the workflow (the “Workflow designer” tab and the option to add a step from the “Configuration and steps” tab are blocked).

When working in environments managed in parallel by many people (or teams) there is often a need for two types of processes to coexist within one environment – supported by the export/import mechanism and those implemented directly in the production environment. In this situation we cannot block the environment from editing. To ensure consistency and make it more difficult to unintentionally modify the process imported into production environment, a new functionality has been added in the WEBCON BPS 2020 version called “Process modified by export-import mechanism”.

WEBCON BPS 2019 is our first product that can operate without SharePoint in what we call a Standalone version. In the year 2019 the Standalone version was gradually improved with mechanisms emulating/replacing functionalities of the full installation – especially those regarding the operations of the SharePoint form. Our Changelog presents these changes as they happened version-by-version. For example WEBCON BPS 2019 introduced a mechanism which can substitute SharePoint Groups and allows for an easier management and user privilege allocation in the system.

WEBCON BPS Designer Studio can be launched from a local machine but in order to connect smoothly to both Portal and the database, it requires an environment configuration. Depending on the chosen type of WEBCON BPS installation: with SharePoint or StandAlone and following methods of authentication: integrated login or SQL login. WEBCON BPS Designer Studio always opens in the context of the currently logged in Windows user. This means that when using more than one domain, you should use SQL login to connect to the database.

During the installation of the FineReader 11 component, one must consider the user privileges of the account on which WEBCON BPS Workflow Service will be run. If this user is not a local administrator, then add this account to be stored in the DCOM service of the FineReader 11 component. Once you install FineReader 11, in the WEBCON installer you will be asked if you want to configure the privileges using the Component Services tool. This is the same window that appears when changing the user in the WEBCON BPS Workflow Service. If you intend to use the WEBCON BPS Workflow Service on the local admin account, or configure the privileges later, click “No” when prompted.

While implementing a system based on AAD authentication it might be necessary to create user management in o365 from WEBCON BPS level. BPS delivers dedicated actions for local AD. In AAD it’s possible to use standard actions available in BPS (REST invoke method) and in REST Service Microsoft Graph. You should register a new application in the AAD management console. It is done in a similar manner to registering an application to synchronize BPS user list (https://howto.webcon.com/bps-user-list-synchronization/).

WEBCON BPS Portal allows to customize the look of the platform by changing the logo and website theme. These options are available to the global system administrator. The following article describes how to change logo and theme. Privileges are provided in WEBCON BPS Designer Studio in System settings. Theme created on one of the environments: developer, test or production can be easily copied across all the other thanks to import and export functions.

WEBCON BPS Designer Studio allows to create documentation for each created process. Complete documentation consists of two files in DOCX format which includes text description of the process and of an XLSX file with form field matrix. Access to the documentation generation is granted via context menu of the process (right-click on a process in the Studio) by Ctrl + D shortcut or by the tools taskbar in the Studio. Described functionality is a huge help in post-implementation reality. Knowing that processes evolve and fit the changes happening within the company, also “Description” section needs to be updated. Even short information will suffice – the person who initiates the change and its number.

Webcon BPS Word Add-In allows to follow the history of changes in the documents placed in BPS repository (attachment list on SharePoint), compare documents which are in the repository, browse form field list and create templates for “Generate DOCX” action. Webcon BPS Word Add-In allows to follow the history of changes in the documents placed in BPS repository (attachment list on SharePoint), compare documents which are in the repository, browse form field list and create templates for “Generate DOCX” action.

Substitutions are described in great detail in the following article http://howto.webcon.com/substitutions-in-webcon-bps/. The issues it raises are still valid and this article only describes an additional functionality which was introduced in WEBCON BPS Designer Studio 2019. The biggest innovation is the method of defining substitutions – through Portal and not by using WebPart as it was in previous system versions. Managing substitutions is available on the Portal without the need to configure an additional website element.