Creating an external application
Prerequisites
- Access to the File > Automation > External application (PM042) menu.
- Access to SoftExpert Workflow.
Introduction
External applications are PHPs that are executed in the server and may be called upon when executing a process in SoftExpert Workflow. They can be available in the system environment and on the Internet.
They are used to fix specific problems that are not yet covered by SoftExpert Suite.
Its execution can take place in two ways:
- In the execution of a system activity without human interaction. In this case, the system will execute the application and follow the process.
- In the action of a user activity. In this case, it is possible to configure for the external application execution to occur followed by the activity execution. Or simply execute the external application without executing the activity.
Examples of external applications include: HTTP address available on the Internet/Intranet, accounts payable system installed on the user's machine, application installed in the company server to send notifications by e-mail, etc.
Environments with SoftExpert Suite in a GNU/Linux server:
From version 2.1.3 onwards, the customized external applications that were in the web folder must now be in the customization folder, maintaining the path structure to which they belonged, such as the following folders (considering /usr/local/se to be the path in which SoftExpert Suite was installed):
- /usr/local/se/web/wwwroot/workflow/wf_app
- /usr/local/se/web/wwwroot/workflow/wf_app
From 2.1.3 onwards, they must be in:
- /usr/local/se/customization/web/wwwroot/workflow/wf_app
- /usr/local/se/customization/web/wwwroot/workflow/wf_app
Creating an external application
1. Access the File > Automation > External application (PM042) menu.
2. Click on the 
button.
3. Enter the ID # and Name of the external application.
4. In the General tab, note that the Use native external application field is enabled. This indicates that the native applications of the system will be used.
5. If you keep the Use native external application option enabled, in the Native applications field, select the desired option.
6. If you disable the Use native external application option, in the Application path field, enter the full path in which the external application is found.
Path examples: "http://intranet/login.php", "d:\erp\accounts.exe".
7. If necessary, in the Description field, enter additional information on the application.
8. Click on the 
button.
Adding the external application parameters
During the creation, after saving the external application for the first time, the Parameters tab is enabled, in which all parameters that can be sent to call external applications must be entered.
1. In the Parameters tab, click on the button.
2. In the ID # field, enter the name of the parameter to be sent to the external application.
3. Check the Parameter is fixed for all calls field for the parameter to be fixed for all calls to the external application.
4. In the Type field, enter whether the parameter value will be Constant or Variable.
5. If the parameter type is Constant, in the Constant value field, enter the value that will be sent to the external application.
6. If necessary, enter a Description for the parameter.
7. Click on the 
button.
Differences between parameter types
• Constant parameter: The system will always send the same value for the external application, regardless of the activity or process in which it is used.
• Variable parameter: It is possible to enter the value when configuring the external application in an activity. Thus, the external application may receive one value in a process and another value in another process.
Configuring screen properties
On the WEB screen tab on the external application data screen, configure the screen properties if the execution type is WEB.
1. On the External application data screen, access the WEB screen tab.
2. Select the Positioning of the screen upon the external application call. Choose between Center, Maximized, Upper left, or Customized.
3. The Width and Height fields will be enabled if, in the Positioning field, one of these options is selected: Center, Upper left, or Customized. In this case, enter the height and the width (in pixels) of the external application screen.
4. The X axis and Y axis fields will be enabled if, in the Positioning field, the Customized option has been selected. In this case, enter the screen position through the X axis and Y axis fields (in pixels) and enter the size of the external application screen through the Height and Width fields (in pixels).
5. The tab displays other options; see the table below for their meanings:
| Button bar | Select this option to show the Internet browser toolbar on the screen. |
| Address bar | Select this option to show the address bar of the internet browser on the screen. |
| Status bar | Select this option to show the status bar on the screen. |
| Scroll bar | Select this option to show the scroll bars (vertical and horizontal) on the screen. |
| Menu | Select this option to show the menu on the screen. |
| Resizing | Select this option if resizing the screen is allowed. |
6. Click on the button.
Upon finishing all external application configurations, click on the button.
Conclusion
The external application will be created and ready to be used in the execution of a process in SoftExpert Workflow.