how to start workflow using java

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pamela

what if i already have a defined and deployed workflow and i just want to start it automatically using java?
  could my java file just contain all the details needed for the workflow? (admin as the assigned to the task and notified in email)

(we figured out how to upload files from UI (flex) to java then to alfresco already  *modifying the alfresco SDK firstwebclient*, so we're assuming that we can start a workflow too, using java, we just don't know how and where to start) please help… if there ever was a tutorial or some articles that you think could help us please point us there…

mrogers

Yes you can do this.

The process is roughly, create a package, set up your properties, get the workflow, start a new instance of the workflow.

Here's a snippet of some java code I am working on at the moment that kicks off a new workflow and runs the start task.

      NodeRef wfPackage = this.workflowService.createPackage(null);

      Map<QName, Serializable> workflowProps = new HashMap<QName, Serializable>(
            16);
      workflowProps.put(WorkflowModel.ASSOC_PACKAGE, wfPackage);
      workflowProps.put(WorkflowModel.ASSOC_ASSIGNEE, inviteeNodeRef);
      workflowProps.put(
            WorkflowModelModeratedInvitation.ASSOC_GROUP_ASSIGNEE,
            roleGroup);
      workflowProps.put(
            WorkflowModelModeratedInvitation.WF_PROP_INVITEE_COMMENTS,
            inviteeComments);
      workflowProps.put(
            WorkflowModelModeratedInvitation.WF_PROP_INVITEE_ROLE,
            inviteeRole);
      workflowProps.put(
            WorkflowModelModeratedInvitation.WF_PROP_INVITEE_USER_NAME,
            inviteeUserName);
      workflowProps.put(
            WorkflowModelNominatedInvitation.WF_PROP_RESOURCE_NAME,
            resourceName);
      workflowProps.put(
            WorkflowModelNominatedInvitation.WF_PROP_RESOURCE_TYPE,
            resourceType.toString());

      // get the moderated workflow

      WorkflowDefinition wfDefinition = this.workflowService
            .getDefinitionByName(WorkflowModelModeratedInvitation.WORKFLOW_DEFINITION_NAME);
      if (wfDefinition == null) {
         // handle workflow definition does not exist
         Object objs[] = { WorkflowModelModeratedInvitation.WORKFLOW_DEFINITION_NAME };
         throw new InvitationException("invitation.error.noworkflow", objs);
      }

      // start the workflow
      WorkflowPath wfPath = this.workflowService.startWorkflow(wfDefinition
            .getId(), workflowProps);

      String workflowId = wfPath.instance.id;
      String wfPathId = wfPath.id;
      List<WorkflowTask> wfTasks = this.workflowService
            .getTasksForWorkflowPath(wfPathId);

      // throw an exception if no tasks where found on the workflow path
      if (wfTasks.size() == 0)
      {
         Object objs[] = { WorkflowModelModeratedInvitation.WORKFLOW_DEFINITION_NAME };
         throw new InvitationException("invitation.error.notasks", objs);
      }

      try {
         WorkflowTask wfStartTask = wfTasks.get(0);
         this.workflowService.endTask(wfStartTask.id, null);
      } catch (RuntimeException err) {
         if (logger.isDebugEnabled())
            logger.debug("Failed - caught error during Invite workflow transition: "
               + err.getMessage());
         throw err;
      }