Work Queues

Work queues define user managed flows where different items wait for the user’s interaction. The user actions can be also automated so the queue system can be also used for automating tasks.

Each work queue contains messages which can be processed using commands. Some commands are presented as buttons so the user can decide which command to use (e.g. Approve or Cancel) or they can be processed automatically (e.g. incoming e-mails can be automatically stored in the system).

Work queues are visualized in the ORIGAM GUI where the user can see all the queues he has access to. By opening a queue all the items in the queue show together with the commands that can be applied to each item.

Example

“New Orders” queue will show all new orders waiting to be either assigned to a key account manager or cancelled as spam.

Why use queues?

In most of the systems there will come a requirement to display some kind of a list:

  • List of postponed projects
  • List of active tasks
  • List of unpaid invoices
  • List of orders to manufacturing
  • etc.

Typically these requirements are implemented just like that: as a list. Items in the list might get some context menu or buttons where the user could be even able to process the items further: opening the task, invoice, confirming an order. Sometimes you can even predefine filters and columns visible in each list or you create reports. Those normally are not able to invoke any further activities.

So in reality, the list is not just a table listing different items, it is a materialization of a workflow. Items invoke actions and an item will appear in different lists at different times (new orders -> orders to bill -> orders with complaints). The same item would probably have different activities in a different list.

But there is much more you would expect when you start to imagine a workflow instead of a simple list.

  • Showing different data at different times for the same item
  • Showing different actions at different times and to different users based on security settings
  • Automated processing using rules (all orders below $100 are confirmed automatically)
  • Notifications when new items appear
  • Loading data from external systems for further processing (e.g. reading an e-mail inbox for importing into a CRM application)

Work queues provide all these functionalities.

Work Queue Message Sources

There are 3 ways how a message gets into the queue:

  • From an entity when a configured data-event is triggered
  • By composing it programmatically in a sequential workflow
  • Using an external loader (e.g. reading a list of e-mails from a POP3 mailbox)

Defining Work Queues

The work queue definition has two phases.

In the model

  • Defining the work queue class
  • Defining special processing actions (more complex than just changing a state or a value)
  • Defining a special data loader

By the user

  • Creating a queue based on the modelled work queue class
  • Defining when an item will appear and when it disappears automatically from the queue
  • Defining available commands for this particular queue

Prerequisites

  • The Work Queue configuration screen is present in your ORIGAM application.
  • A proper Work Queue Class has been prepared for your items

Work Queue Creation

A work queue is defined by a user (admin) using ORIGAM client application. Opening the Work Queues screen will allow you to define all the work queue parameters and define its behaviour.

Column descriptions:

Code Abbreviated name of work queue.
Name Name of work queue. Will be shown in the list of work queues in the side menu.
Class Work Queue Class used to parse and store messages. There is already several prepared classes, ready to use: BinaryFile, Mail, TextFile. For more classes and their documentation please contact your vendor.
Roles Semicolon-separated list of application roles. Users having any role listed will be able to see and manage the queue in the side menu Work Queue.
Active Work queue processing (fetching new messages) can be disabled by this checkbox.
ErrorQueue Mark the queue as an error queue. Will be then listed in ‘Error Queue’ dropdown field in ‘Commands’ tab.
Lookup Field Values Determine whether lookuped or plain values will be used in OldValue and NewValue filelds in tab Creation (State/Value Change).
Display Number of Messages The number is displayed in the side menu Work Queue next to the work queue name.
Queue Processor Specifies the instance, which is supposed to process the queue. If empty, any instance will try to process the queue. If specified, only instances with the same name (configured in OrigamSettings.config by parameter Name) will process the queue.

See also