Documentation Center

Process Definition

A Process Definition contains the design of a specific workflow. Use a Process Definition to define a series of Activities and assignees to ensure that specific tasks follow distinct steps to completion. A Process Definition often represents a business process.

One Process Definition can be the basis for any number of Processes.

The following things ensure that a concrete Process, following this Process Definition, is executed:

  • You associate a Process Definition with content items of certain types, such as a Structure Group or a Bundle Schema, using a Process Association. The Process is triggered when certain items are created, edited, rolled back, or placed in workflow.
  • An end user creates a Task in Content Manager Explorer or Experience Manager. This triggers a Process that follows the specific Process Definition designated as the Task Process.
  • Your custom code (Event Handler code or template code) triggers a Process.

You create Process Definitions in Microsoft Visio using the Visio Workflow Designer, a plug-in to Microsoft Visio that adds a specific toolbar and buttons to the Microsoft Visio user interface.

The Workflow Management > Process Definitions node in Content Manager Explorer shows a complete list of all Process Definitions in your Content Manager instance. When you install Content Manager, it already includes a default Process Definition called "Task Process", for a simple Process consisting of an execution Activity and review Activity only, also known as a Task. (When created from Content Manager Explorer or Experience Manager, a Task has no associated Content Manager items). The following image shows this default Process Definition: