NetResults ProblemTracker
Customizing Workflow

Overview

ProblemTracker allows you to customize the workflow to match your desired development process. Any number of states may be defined, with an option forward and reverse state transition defined for each state.

To define the workflow, click on the "Define Workflow" button from the ProblemTracker Administration page.


Adding a State

To add a new state, click on the "Add State" button. The following options are presented:

State Name
Name of the state.

Next State
Allows you to specify a forward state transition. If a state is specified, then the if the Task operation is performed on a record while it is in the current state, it will present the user with an option to automatically advance the state of the record to the specified state. Forward state transitions are commonly associated with completing a task or approving a request.

Previous State
Allows you to specify a reverse state transition. If a state is specified, then the if the Task operation is performed on a record while it is in the current state, it will present the user with an option to automatically return the record to the to the specified state. Reverse state transitions are commonly associated with refusing a task, or rejecting a request.

Assign To On Next State
If a Next State is defined, this allows you to specify the user that the record should be assigned to when the Task operation is performed on the record in the current state. May select either any specific user, or the manager for the state specified by Next State.

Assign To On Previous State
If a Previous State is defined, this allows you to specify the user that the record should be assigned to when the Task operation is performed on the record in the current state. May select either any specific user, or the manager for the state specified by Previous State.

Default Add Value
If yes, it indicates that this state is the default value used when a record is added.


Editing a State

To edit a state, select the desired state from the pulldown menu labeled State:, and click on the Edit button.


Removing a State

To delete a state, select the desired state from the pulldown menu labeled State:, and click on the Delete button.


Defining Fields For the Task Operation

For each state, you can specify which fields should be presented to the user for the Task operation. To do this, select the desired state from the pulldown menu labeled State:, and click on the Task Fields button. Use the Add and Remove buttons to select the desired fields. By only presenting the user with the necessary fields, you can ensure each user will correctly adhere to the development process.


Defining Query Groups

Often when formulating queries, you may wish to query for any of a group of states. ProblemTracker allows you to do this by defining Query Groups. A Query group is a collection of workflow states that appears as a choice on the Query page.

To define a group of workflow states, press the "Query Groups" button. On the page displayed, you can add a new group, or edit an existing group. To edit an existing group, press the Edit button, and then set or clear the check mark in the column labeled Include.


Assigning State Managers

ProblemTracker allows you to specify a user that is treated as the manager for a state. The manager of a state can receive notification email when certain events occur related to records in the database when they either enter or leave the state. They can also have records automatically assigned to them by the Task operation.

A state manager can be specified for each product, allowing you to assign different managers for the same state on a per product basis.

To assign the state managers for a product, select the desired product from the pulldown labeled Product: and click on the Assign Managers. The value *(Default) indicates that these are the default settings. The default settings are used as the template for each new product as it is added to the system.


Using the Workflow Browser

The Workflow Browser is an alternate interface to modifying the workflow enabling visualization and verification of the desired state transitions in the workflow.

The start page of the Workflow Browser displays all the define states in the center of the window, with forward (green arrows) and reverse (red arrows) transitions for each state displayed. You can click on the Edit or Delete button to perform the desired operation on a state, or click on the Goto button. The Goto button allows you to trace through the workflow, showing you the selected state, and a history of how you arrived at it. The Goto button allows you visually verify that the defined state transitions will have the desired effect.