Creating a Service Process Interface

A service process interface allows the dynamic selection of service processes at runtime. A service process interface specifies the deployment target, events and their parameters that must be present in the service processes created using that service process interface. At runtime, any of the service processes that implement the interface may be chosen based on the data available at that time.

Note: You can only use service process interfaces with service processes.

Using the Service Process Interface Editor, you can add the events and parameters you require.

Once created, a service process interface can be used by several different service processes. If a service process is created using a service process interface, the events and parameters specified in the interface must be present in a service process that implements the interface. You can add additional events or parameters, but removing any of those required by the interface invalidates the service process.

If you do have additional parameters that are local to a service process that implements a service process interface, you can move the parameters into the service process interface by right-clicking the parameter and selecting Move Parameter to Interface. However, this option is only available for service processes that implement a service process interface in the same package, and for parameters that do not have any problems in the Problems view.

If you create a service process using a service process interface, the service process that you create inherits the events and parameters created in the interface.

Procedure

  1. In the Project Explorer, select the package where you want to create your service process interface, right-click and select New > Service Process Interface.
  2. Enter the Label of the service process interface and select Next.
  3. In Description, add optional text that describes the process, an optional URL that links to documentation about the process, and select Next.
    Note: The Documentation URL field is intended for design-time collaboration; it is not displayed in the runtime environment.
  4. (Optional) In Extended, add any optional supplemental information to the XPDL for the process.
  5. Select Finish.
    The Service Process Interface editor is displayed. Use this to configure the deployment target for the service process interface and add or remove start events, intermediate events, and parameters.