To use a BIC in a process flow, open the process flow editor to the Process Flow Modeler tab and proceed as follows:
Place an Automatic Activity on the flow canvas.
Select the BIC from the BIC Selection dialog that appears, and then click OK.
Right-click the BIC icon on the process flow canvas and click Properties in the shortcut menu.
The tabs available in the Automatic Activity editor vary depending on the type of BIC you selected.
The General, Details, and Expiration tabs are identical in each BIC editor, but each editor also includes tabs that are specific to the BIC.
Note: Settings configured here apply only to the current activity.
On the General tab, specify a name for the activity, and provide a description if needed. If you do not specify a name, then EPX assigns a default name such as Automatic Activity (1) or Automatic Activity (2).
Click the Details tab.
Select the Starting Point check box if the BIC can initiate work items in this process flow. Each process flow must have at least one starting point.
If the BIC is a starting point, you can enter a default work item name for this starting point activity. This name is now the default name for the work item.
If needed, select a new priority for work items by clicking a priority level in the Work Item Priority list. The new priority takes effect when a work item arrives at an activity. The priority you select overrides any previously established priorities for work items.
For an explanation of the available priority levels, see Specifying Work Item Priorities.
In the event that the BIC encounters an error with a work item, you can have the BIC send the work item to the next activity. To enable this feature, select the Send Work Item on Error check box.
By default, the system assigns the BIC manager to be used by the BIC. You can override this by clicking the name of a specific BIC manager in the BIC Manager list.
To manually change the properties persistence setting for the Automatic Activity, click a setting in the Persist Properties list.
To set the activity to obey the default persist properties setting for the local iteration of the EPX Application Server, click Default.
To set the activity to never persist properties, click No. To set the activity to always persist properties, click Yes.
For more information on persisting properties, see Specifying Persist Properties.
Click the Expiration tab. For instructions on expiration periods and how to configure this tab, see Setting an Expiration Period.
Configure the settings on the remaining tabs as required. See the BIC’s guide or online help for specific instructions.
When you have finished configuring properties, click OK.