ADF Task Flows For BeginnersBy Zeeshan Baig, Oracle ACEwww.baigzeeshan.com

A little about me.....I am currently working as Senior Developer at NMH in Chicago. ● 10+ years of experience in Oracle Development

tools (Database, Forms, APEX, ADF, Fusion)● Oracle ACE, OCP DBA certified in 8, 8i and 10g● Technical blog on ADF and other fusion

technologies at www.baigzeeshan.com● YouTube channel http://youtube.com/baigsorcl Disclaimer: The views expressed are my own and does not affiliates with my employer

Agenda● What are Task Flows?● Types of Task Flows?● Other concepts used in Task flows● Understand different components to build

task flows● Introduction of Task flows templates● Some tips on building reusable task flows● Demo● Questions

Thanks Google, Flickr.com and Oracle documentation for images used in this presentation. These images are unmodified and used for educational purpose only.

What are task flowstheir typesand other concepts?

What are Task Flows?In simple words ● Visual representation of app process flow● Each TF contains portion of app navigation● They are similar to traditional flow charts● Primary purpose is reuse

Types of Task flows

Un BoundedEntry Points

BoundedEntry Points

Exit Points Exit Points

Types of Task FlowsKey Differences

Un-bounded (UTF) ● Public pages / No boundry● No reuse● No input parameters● No return values● No transaction Control● No security● e.g. Pages - Home, Help,

Search, Navigations

Bounded (BTF) ● Well defined boundry● Reusable● Can take input parameters● Can return values● Allows transaction control● Security control● e.g. Register, Checkout,

other application processes

Bounded Task flows● A typical application contains one

unbounded task flow and many bounded task flows

● Build bounded task flows in its own application / workspace

BTFs can● Create with Pages or Page fragments● Create as Train flows● Call in a Dialog

Bounded Task flowsTrain FlowsVideo tutorial at http://www.baigzeeshan.com/2010/10/creating-train-flows-in-oracle-adf.html

Page vs Page FragmentPage Fragment● Renders as content in another JSF page● Must not contains the af:document, af:form, f:view,

head, body and html because JSF page already has it● has .jsff extension Page● can contains many fragments● extension .jsf or .jspx

Task flow Regions

Static Regions● Fixed visiblity● Creates Task flow

binding on page ● Tutorial http://www.

baigzeeshan.com/2010/04/creating-pages-with-regions-in-oracle.html

Dynamic Regions● Visible based on custom logic● Creates Multi-taskflow

binding ● Tutorialhttp://www.baigzeeshan.com/2010/06/working-with-dynamic-regions-in-oracle.html

Regions are created when you drag and drop a bounded task flow on a page

Task Flow Managed Bean Scopes1. Application.....2. Session..........3. PageFlow......4. View...............5. Request.........6. BackingBean.7. Flash Scope..

Remains till application stopsPersists till user sessionAlso known as Task flow scopeLifespan till current pageLives for duration of request onlyUI Component basedRemains Till Next encountered view (new in JSF 2.0)

Task flow Managed BeanScopes

OK I got it... now what components i need to build them?\

Task Flow Components

Task flow ComponentsView Activity

● Displays a JSF Page or Fragment● Extension .jsf, .jspx and .jsff

(fragments)● Bookmarkable only in unbounded

Task flows● Can have one or more task flow

regions● Good practice to have page

definition file attached

Task flow ComponentsMethod Call

Activity

● Allows to call application logic in task flow

● Drag and drop methods from Data Control

● OR DnD from component palette then configure parameters to call managed bean methods

● Common usages are initialization, Clean-up, expcetion handler

● Can have return values in case of method returns some result

● if method is of 'void' type then outcome would be simple string

Task flow ComponentsRouter Activity

● Route to any activity based on EL

expression● Have default condition● No Limits on conditions● No limits on destinations● Good practice is to start your task

flows with Router for any future customizations.

Task flow ComponentsTask flow call

activity

● Calls another task flow from

unbounded and bounded task flow

● Can take input parameters ● Can return output parameters● Drag and Drop task flow from

Application navigator to task flow● Drag and Drop task flow to the

page as link or button

Task flow ComponentsTask Flow

Return

● Used to ends or send controls

back to caller in Bounded Task flows

● Does either Commit or Rollback (If Task flow is transactional)

● Set outcome to required control flow navigation-case.

● BTF can have many TF return activities

Task flow ComponentsURL View

Activity

● Used to Redirect application to

addressable URL● Can call BTFs● Can call View activities on UTF● Can call external sites e.g. http:

//www.google.com● No Control returned to caller

Task flow ComponentsSave point

Restore

● Allow to restore application to

previous state● Supports Save for later

functionality● Only required where Restore

needed

Task flow ComponentsParent Action Control flow case Wild-card

● Allows to trigger navigation of Parent view activity in ADF Region

● Identifies how control will

paas from one activity to another

● Represents global

navigation case

Building Task Flows

Building Task Flows

Task flow Templates● You can create task flow

templates for common activities in bounded task flows

● Common use case is error handler

● Best practice is to use template for all bounded task flows

How to Reuse Task flows in Different Application

● Create Deployment Profile ADF Library Jar

● Deploy as ADF library Jar● Create Connection as File system in

Resource Palette● Drag and Drop from Resource

Palette to your page and ADD libary path

● Complete Tutorial available at http://www.baigzeeshan.com/2010/08/sharing-business-components-and-task.html

Tips to build Reusable Task Flows● Build BTFs in seperate application then

merge them into master app using ADF Lib Jar

● Use task flow with page fragments● Use Input parameters● Use Router activity as default ● Set conditional behaviour of UI components

based on Input parameters e.g. read-only, show/hide

● Use dynamic regions

Demo Example● Search Employees - Provides Search facilitySecured, called as normal on Home page and as List of values on upload photo task flow● View / Edit Employees

Secured, Allows 'Managers' to edit and 'endusers' to view employee detail. Displayed as ADF region and deployed as ADF library jar● Upload Photo - Task flow to upload employee photo

Secured, Called as Dialog and later calling search flow in a model dialog● Public

Runs a flash movie on home page for all unauthenticated users for authenticated users displays graphs based on user type

My ContactBLOGhttp://baigzeeshan.com YouTube Channelhttp://youtube.com/baigsorcl Emailzeeshan.baig82@gmail.com

Congratulations......You are now Task flows Expert.... Thank you