ashu_vik - Wednesday, December 9, 2009 12:23 AM:
Hi All,
I want to create a workflow map in which I want to add a set of parallel activities. For e.g. there is a stage "Check" which comprises 3 different, parallel and independent activities namely : 'draft check', 'process check' and 'technical check'. The stage(main activity) "Check" would considered as complete only when all 3 activities 'draft check', 'process check' and 'technical check' are completed.
In Innovator workflow maps, I am able to create a set of parallel activities but was not able to create parallel activities.
Any suggestions?
Best,
Ashu
tstickel - Wednesday, December 9, 2009 11:07 AM:
Ashutosh
Did you try setting the "Wait for all Inputs" flag on the activity that follows your 3 parallel activities (that is the activity that your 3 parallel activities flow into)?
ashu_vik - Friday, December 11, 2009 12:57 AM:
Terry,
i understand that the "Wait for all inputs" flag can be used for the activity following the 3 parallel activities. But I am unable to create those 3 parallel activities on the first place.
How do i create a workflow map that has parallel activities i.e. once an activity, say, 'Baseline' is over, all the parallel activities(Technical check, non technical check and draft check) become active. And all these activities flow into an activity named 'Testing' (in which i can use the "Wait for all inputs" flag. )
Please find the scenario attached.
tstickel - Monday, December 14, 2009 10:51 AM:
The attached PDF shows how I would do this (there are other ways to do what you are looking for). I would create a master workflow and have the Checks and Tests each be separate subflows. In my exampe, Test2 is the master workflow and it has an Activity called PerformChecks, which is designated as a the subflow "Test2Checks". In Test2Checks I use the normal method for specifying parallel activities.
Attached PDF file is at
RobMcAveney - Monday, December 14, 2009 1:30 PM:
In general, the pattern should look like this picture:
The Split activity should have its "Automatic Activity" flag set. The 1, 2 and 3 paths should each have their "Default Path" flags set. The Join activity should have its "Wait For All Inputs" flag set. In Terry's example, the Start activity in the subflow acts as the split and the End acts as the join.
ashu_vik - Tuesday, December 15, 2009 4:28 AM:
Thanks Terry,
I was able to do it the way you had mentioned in your post.
Best, Ashu
ashu_vik - Tuesday, December 15, 2009 5:15 AM:
Rob,
Tried the approach mentioned by you but I found that if the "Split" activity is not flagged as the "Start activity" , then it does not support more than 1 default paths(I tried to flag Branch1, branch 2 and branch 3 as "default path").
So, it became imperative for me to have a sub-workflow where the "start activity" could fork into 3 parallel actvities in the sub-workflow.
Best,
Ashu
sumit0715 - Wednesday, August 19, 2015 3:17 PM:
Rob,
I have implemented the same thing. Now I am trying set rework path from Join to Branch 1,2 & 3.
The problem is we can sign-off once only. For that purpose I have provided a popup on Vote of Join, if user selects Rework then a popup asks you to select Brach 1,2 & 3 which is a checkbox list. But I am not able to activate any of the branch.
To achieve this, I have provided an extra activity between Branches and Join as a Rework Activity. Join activity asks for the selection using checkboxes as mentioned above. I am able to achieve that also my Rework activity activating 1 branch but not other.
There is a customization to complete the activity 'Evaluateactivity' which accepts <Paths>. This tag accepts more than one <Path> but activates only 1st one. e.g.
<Paths>
<Path>Branch 1</Path>
<Path>Branch 2</Path>
</Paths>
from above, it only activates one of them only but not both. Is there a way to activate more than 1 paths / activities using EvaluateActivity??
Thanks
RobMcAveney - Tuesday, December 15, 2009 11:01 AM:
Ashu -
I just retested this and it works fine for me. A subflow is not required in order to do parallel tasks, although it is often good practice. The "Start Activity" flag is also not required on the split activity, unless of course it is the first activity in a subflow. See the below workflow:
In this workflow, the Prepare For Review, Review 1, Review 2, Review 3 and Final Review activities should have Assignments, but no special flags. The Split activity should have its "Automatic Activity" flag set. The 1, 2 and 3 paths should have their "Default Path" flag set. The Join activity should have its "Automatic Activity" and "Wait For All Inputs" flags set. This pattern is pretty well established, and I have been using it for years. If you can't get it to work there must be some other problem that I have not yet seen.
Rob
DSMStefanRohde - Wednesday, October 23, 2013 10:48 AM:
Hey Rob, your way works just as described, like a charm. Thanks for sharing.
calfaro - Wednesday, July 29, 2015 1:17 PM:
can you have a reject at the Join stage connecting the Split to start the review process again?
