DRY-RUN DESIGN TIME ENVIRONMENT
This disclosure provides various embodiments for performing a dry-run of a business process model in a design-time environment. A start event and end event of the business process model are identified, defining a path of a flow map including a sequence of a plurality of events, including the start event, the end event, and at least one other event sequenced between the start and ends. The events in the path are stepped-through to simulate each event. An error is identified corresponding to a particular event in the path and the step-through is paused upon identifying the error. A user is then prompted for an input to at least temporarily resolve the at least one error. The stepping-through of the plurality of events is then resumed in response to a resolution input from the user. The dry run ends in response to stepping-through to the end event.
1 - 20 . (canceled)
21 . A computer-implemented method for performing a dry-run of a business process model in a design-time environment, the method comprising:
stepping-through, by a processor, a plurality of events in a path of a flow map of a business process model to simulate one or more events in the plurality of events;
identifying, by the processor, an error corresponding to a particular event in the path;
pausing, by the processor, the stepping-through of the plurality of events at the particular event in response to identifying the error; and
providing, by the processor, a prompt requesting an input to at least temporarily resolve the error.
22 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising:
receiving the input in response to providing the prompt requesting the input; and
resuming the stepping-through of the plurality of events in response to receiving the input.
23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the particular event includes a process using a variable, the error relates to a failure to provide a value for the variable, and wherein receiving the input comprises receiving a value for the variable.
24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the variable corresponds to at least one of:
an input to be received through a user interface associated with a runtime business process modeled by the business process model,
an input to be received from another process in a runtime implementation of a business process modeled by the business process model, or
an output of a runtime business process modeled by the business process model.
25 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the particular event includes a decision based at least in part on a condition, the error relates to a failure to provide the condition for the decision, and wherein receiving the input comprises receiving the condition.
26 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the plurality of events includes a start event and an end event, the business process model defining a path of the flow map, the path including the start event, the particular event, and the end event, and wherein the method further comprises ending the dry-run in response to stepping through to the end event.
27 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising presenting a graphical representation of at least a portion of the business process model and a progress of the stepping-through of the plurality of events.
28 . The method of claim 21 , wherein providing the prompt requesting the input comprises presenting an interactive pop-up window adapted to receive inputs.
29 . The method of claim 21 , wherein providing the prompt requesting the input comprises presenting a listing of input options, wherein the listing of input options includes a plurality of inputs determined to be potential resolutions to the error.
30 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the business process model is an underspecified business process model.
31 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the business process model is non-compilable.
32 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the business process model is non-executable within a runtime environment based at least in part on the at least one error.
33 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the design-time environment is an integrated development environment.
34 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising:
identifying that the business process model lacks at least one of a start event and an end event;
pausing initiation of the stepping-through of the plurality of events in response to identifying that the business process model lacks at least one of a start event or an end event;
providing a prompt requesting at least one of a start event or an end event; and
initiating stepping-through of the plurality of events in response to receiving the lacking at least one of a start event or an end event.
35 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising modifying the business process model based at least in part on the input to at least temporarily resolve the error received in response to the prompt.
36 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by a processor to perform operations comprising:
stepping-through, by a processor, a plurality of events in a path of a flow map of a business process model to simulate one or more events in the plurality of events;
identifying, by the processor, an error corresponding to a particular event in the path;
pausing, by the processor, the stepping-through of the plurality of events at the particular event in response to identifying the error; and
providing, by the processor, a prompt requesting an input to at least temporarily resolve the error.
37 . The medium of claim 36 , the operations further comprising:
receiving the input in response to providing the prompt requesting the input; and
resuming the stepping-through of the plurality of events in response to receiving the input.
38 . The medium of claim 37 , wherein the particular event includes a process using a variable, the error relates to a failure to provide a value for the variable, and wherein receiving the input comprises receiving a value for the variable.
39 . A system comprising:
a processor; and
a computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by the processor to perform operations comprising:
stepping-through, by a processor, a plurality of events in a path of a flow map of a business process model to simulate one or more events in the plurality of events;
identifying, by the processor, an error corresponding to a particular event in the path;
pausing, by the processor, the stepping-through of the plurality of events at the particular event in response to identifying the error; and
providing, by the processor, a prompt requesting an input to at least temporarily resolve the error.
40 . The system of claim 39 , the operations further comprising:
receiving the input in response to providing the prompt requesting the input, wherein the input is either a value for a variable used in the particular event, the error relating to a failure to provide a value for the variable or the input is a condition for a decision used in the particular event, the error relating to a failure to provide the condition for the decision; and
resuming the stepping-through of the plurality of events in response to receiving the input.