Additional Workflow Features :: SAS(R) Workflow Studio 1.3: User's Guide, Second Edition

Text Localization

SAS Workflow Studio supports localization of name and description text fields for workflows, data objects, statuses, and tasks. Localizable fields are designated by an ellipsis button (

). Clicking the button opens the Localized Text dialog box. In that dialog box, you can specify Locale and Localized Text value pairs to define localized versions of the text for the corresponding field.

Note: The value entered in the original text field is associated with the English locale.

Note: Localization of date and number formats is supported internally and defaults to the locale used in SAS Workflow Studio when the workflow is defined. If the workflow template is imported into a run-time environment that supports a different locale, then the date and number formats remains aligned with the locale of the workflow template.

Custom Attributes

Custom attributes are application-specific values that are not related to the workflow business data. You can define custom attributes for workflows, data objects, statuses, and tasks. The editing windows for these objects include an Attributes button that opens the Attributes dialog box. In the Attributes dialog box, you can add Key and Value pairs to define the custom attributes.

These custom attribute values are not available within workflow policies or gateway expressions, but can be accessed by applications using the workflow client APIs. If the value is required within the workflow instance, then it should be defined as a standard data object rather than as an attribute.

Note: Extensive use of application-specific attributes is not recommended to minimize coupling thereby maximizing workflow agility.

Data Object Substitution

As noted, some policy properties can be set dynamically using data objects known as data object substitution. When the policy executes, it uses the value of the relevant data object for the policy property. The variable syntax used to indicate this value substitution is ${relative-element-path}. SAS Workflow Studio replaces all occurrences with the value contained in the data object specified by relative element path.

For example, given the following data object relative paths

../CMD_ID
../PROCESS_ID
../HOST

and the following associated values

1212
345
T67890

for the text data object representing a URL specified as

http://${../HOST}/SASapp/Workflow?command=${../CMD_ID}&processid=${../PROCESS_ID}

resolves to

http://T67890/SASapp/Workflow?command=1212&processid=345

Using Tags to Categorize and Filter Workflow Templates

What Is a Tag?

Tags are alphanumeric labels that are associated with template files. Tags enable you to categorize and group related templates on a user-defined basis. For example, you can define a tag for a workflow template based on the application or organization that uses that workflow. You can use these tags to filter the list of templates in the Manage Workflows dialog box. (SeeTemplate Management.)

Tags are static labels. Existing tags can be modified using SAS Workflow Studio only. Tags have no effect on active workflow instances and cannot be modified at run time.
Tags are not used for access control. They do not prevent the sharing of workflow templates among different applications. They do not affect whether or how a workflow is activated.
Tags are defined at the server level and can be assigned to any template for that system. If the template is moved to another system, the user is prompted to create the relevant tags on the new system before uploading and activating the template.
Tags cannot be renamed or deleted, but they can be disassociated from a template.

Note: You must be logged on to the SAS server before you can work with tags.

Managing Tags through the Template Properties Dialog Box

Through the Template Properties dialog box, you can manage tags both for templates that have been saved locally and for templates that have been saved in the content repository. However, you can manage tags for only one template at a time.

To manage tags for a specific template through the Template Properties dialog box, follow these steps:

Log on to the server if you have not already done so. See Logging On to the Server.
Open the template to which you want to add a tag. If the template has been saved (uploaded) to the repository, then you must check out the template first. See Template Management.
Open the Template Properties dialog box in one of the following ways:
- Select FileProperties.
- Right-click on the root node of a template in the workflow tree and select Edit.
- Select the root node in the workflow tree, and select EditEdit properties.
- Double click on the root node in the workflow tree.
You can add new tags and manage existing tags associated with the template in the Tags section of the dialog box.
- To add a new tag name to the list of available tags, click Add, enter the new tag, and click OK.
- To associate a tag with the current template, select the check box next to that tag. You can associate several tags with one template.
- To disassociate a tag from the template, clear the check box next to that tag.
Click OK to save your changes and to close the Template Properties dialog box.

Managing Tags through the Manage Tags Dialog Box

The Manage Tags dialog box enables you to manage tags for several templates at once. However, you can manage tags only for templates that have been saved to the content repository.

To add new tags to the list of available tags using the Manage Tags dialog box, follow these steps:

Log on to the SAS server if you have not already done so. See Logging On to the Server.
Select ServerManage Templates.
Select the templates that you want to modify.
To add new tags to the list of available tags:
1. Click New Tags.
2. For each new tag, enter the new tag name in the New Tags field, and click Add.
3. Click Save to save your changes.
To change the tags that are associated with the selected templates:
1. Click Select Tags.
2. As needed, modify the tags associated with the selected templates.
  
  To associate a tag with the selected templates, select the check box next to that tag.
  
  To disassociate a tag from the templates, clear the check box next to that tag.
3. Click OK to save your changes.
Click Close to close the Manage Templates dialog box.