OpenText MBPM offers a comprehensive suite of capabilities to provide integration with applications on a wide variety of different platforms. Processes are usually best defined by business analysts, but integration tends to require more technical skills. OpenText MBPM’s integration capabilities allow developers to create integration points that business analysts can then use like native OpenText MBPM resources. Business analysts are shielded from the integration tasks and provided with the data they need in a format that fits their expectations.
OpenText MBPM Version 9 uses a .NET based expression language. The expression language provides significant business benefits including:
Version 9 has a feature called Business Objects that abstracts the reading and writing of data into a technology independent layer allowing forms and processes to natively access and bind to data from
disparate sources. Business Objects provide parameterized invocation and expose a defined interface of data attributes that can be bound directly to form fields.
Version 9 provides three out-of-the-box types of Business Objects:
LDAP Query: This provides read only access to an LDAP query. A directory browser is provided to select the base starting point for the query. Queries may be performed on the root node, one level deep beyond the root node, or on the entire sub tree of the node.
OpenText MBPM Version 9 includes out-of-the-box support for web services via the Web Service Connection type. The Web Service Connection allows the process designer to browse for and reference web services. A Web Service Connection definition includes a tab “Methods and Parameters” which allows the process designer to automatically indicate which service methods should be displayed as custom formulae in the Expression Builder or activities within the Visual Scripting environment (see below).
The Process Activator enables process specific web services to be generated using the ECL for Web Services for easy integration from other processes or 3rd party applications.
Version 9 features a Visual Scripting environment. Visual scripts provide a simple, easy to learn, and easy to use environment for business oriented users to graphically create powerful programmatic constructs using a simple drag and drop paradigm without having to resort to code.
The building blocks of each script are Activities that can be dragged and dropped from a toolbox onto attachment points in the main pane to create a sequence of executable steps. Activities provide standard programmatic control structures (such as IF/ELSE, WHILE loops, and FOR EACH loops) as well as core functionality such as sending emails, managing databases, files, and editing User and Role settings.
For technically oriented users of OpenText MBPM there are number of features available:
Version 9 provides native support for Microsoft .NET C#. C# has experienced rapid market growth since its introduction and has been adopted as the standard .NET technology within most Microsoft centric IT organizations. C# is the default language in Version 9 for Server-Side scripts and provides tight integration with OpenText MBPM’s expression language.
Version 9 features a concept called “Promotion” that allows for methods within C# Server-Side scripts to easily be marked for promotion using custom attributes. Items can be promoted to either Visual Script Activities and/or Formula within the expression layer. This powerful capability allows an organization’s more technical users to become providers of enterprise ready business artifacts. Once promoted, the formula and activities appear indistinguishable to the business user from the core Metastorm BPM capabilities.
Version 9 includes scripting environments for both Client-Side and Server-Side scripts. The scripting environment provides features including:
OpenText MBPM Enterprise Component Libraries (ECL)
The OpenText MBPM ECL provides the public interface into the OpenText MBPM Process Engine. Using this interface, Independent software vendors (ISVs) and developers can create integration into
OpenText MBPM in order to initiate processes, update processes and tasks, and access process data. The ECL consists of:
OpenText MBPM integrates with corporate directories via direct LDAP connection. This is configured and utilised in the OpenText MBPM Designer. This allows OpenText MBPM to dynamically make use of User and Role information which is held and centrally administered in corporate directories.
MIM is an advanced integration tool for managing and controlling system-based processes. MIM allows OpenText MBPM to manage the system integration-based tasks required by most processes on a separate SOA tier. Together OpenText MBPM and MIM provide rich support for both human- and system-centric activities. MIM provides SOA-based integration for a wide range of hosts, UNIX, and Windows platforms, providing access to databases; flat files, VSAM and other host file types, message queues, CICS, and other business data and business function services.
Metastorm BPM supports integration with legacy system integration tools such as Micrososft Biztalk, WebLogic’s Integrator, Software AG’s EntireX, and the entire suite of iWay adapters.
Complex shared business rules stored in industry standard business rules environments such as Blaze Advisor or Microsoft BizTalk can be tightly integrated into Metastorm BPM business processes.