Validation(3.0)

Workflow configurations may be designed, configured, and saved step-by-step, but are still not valid for activation until fully configured and valid. A valid workflow configuration contains three types of configuration data:

• Workflow data: General information related to the workflow configuration, for instance, error handling.

• Workflow structure data: Contains the agents and routes. A route indicates the flow of data depending on the name of the route and the internal behavior of its source agent.

• Agent specific data: Each agent has different behavior. Thus, each agent in the workflow configuration requires different configuration data in order to operate.

When you click Validate or the Validate menu item, the workflow configuration validation is started. The validation is done in two steps:

1. Validation of the workflow configuration. If the workflow configuration is invalid, a Validation Error dialog is opened showing details, such as if configuration data or routes are missing, or if referenced MIM resources are no longer available, or if configuration data in an agent is missing. The details can be changed by modifying the agent configuration, after Close is selected. If the workflow configuration is invalid the validation process will end there.
    

2. If the workflow configuration is valid, the validation of the workflow table starts. The values in the table are validated according to each agent's specifications. It is also a check that values have been added in all cells in the per workflow columns. The result is presented in a validation dialog and possible workflow errors are indicated in the workflow table. You can view the validation message for a specific workflow by selecting the corresponding action in the pop up-menu. If none of the workflows in the workflow configuration are valid, the following error message is shown:

   This configuration does not have any valid workflows.

If the reason why the workflow configuration is erroneous, is not evident, the button Validate can be applied for a row, or rows, and a dialog with error message(s) is displayed.

When data is imported to the workflow table, the content will not be validated, only the correct number of columns and types are checked. If validation errors occur during the import, the user is asked whether the import should be aborted or continued (that is importing with errors). Aborting an import results in restoration/rollback to the previous table.

When a workflow is saved, it is silently validated and if some of its configuration is invalid or missing, a dialog will state this and ask whether to still save the workflow or not. Validity is not necessary in order to save a workflow configuration. The workflow can be incomplete or the agent configuration can be faulty. The only exception is that all workflows in the workflow configuration must have unique names. The workflow symbol on the window border and in the Open dialog will be marked with a red cross if it is invalid.