Managing Your Work with ArcGIS Workflow Manager Tope Bello
Objectives of this Workshop Understand the business problems that ArcGIS Workflow Manager solves Present the ArcGIS Workflow Manager framework Discuss key features of ArcGIS Workflow Manager - Work management and tracking - Data management - Notifications and Reporting Demonstrations Questions
Introduction
What are Workflows Sequence of connected steps Repeatable chain of operations Work performed by: - Single person - Multiple departments - Several processes - Across organizations
Why is workflow management important? Ensures the right work is completed the right way, at the right time, by the right person Results in: - Increased productivity - Reduced errors/mistakes - Better staff utilization
ArcGIS Workflow Manager A complete workflow management system for ArcGIS users Processes Desktop Server Resources Applications integrating processes, resources, and applications seamlessly
ArcGIS Workflow Manager Provides a framework for continuous process improvement Allows users to: Design & Create new workflows quickly Design & Create Execute & Manage standardized workflows efficiently Evaluate & Improve workflow performance continuously Evaluate & Improve Execute & Manage
History of ArcGIS Workflow Manager 9/11/2001 - Response to assist NGA Need for light-weight workflow management tool Tool to directly support GIS operations Fit existing business need for other users Result First public release of Workflow Manager in 2003 Renamed JTX to ArcGIS Workflow Manager in 2010
ArcGIS Workflow Manager System Framework ArcGIS Server Workflow Manager Server ArcGIS Desktop Workflow Manager Geodatabase Geospatial Data
Why Server for ArcGIS Workflow Manager? Exposes workflow management capabilities to non- GIS users and systems Leverages the investment across the organization Integrates workflow management capabilities into a Service Oriented Architecture Web Applications Mobile Business Applications Workflow Manager Server
A Use Cases for ArcGIS Workflow Manager Server Manager/Supervisor Non-GIS user Integration with other business systems - Action in external system initiates an action in the Workflow Manager application
Software Requirements Job management repository - Multiuser Geodatabase (SDE) ArcGIS Workflow Manager Desktop - ArcGIS Desktop - ArcEditor or ArcInfo license level ArcGIS Workflow Manager Server - ArcGIS Server - Standard edition or higher
What is a Job? A unit of work performed by one or more people - Has a workflow and descriptive properties Individual jobs in ArcGIS Workflow Manager are created from Job Types - Blueprints for your jobs Examples: - Update hydrant at specified coordinates - Create a 1:50,000 scale map
Accessing Jobs Queries List view and Map View Filter the results based on business specific rules
Introduction Queries List View Map View
Job Management
Anatomy of a Job Descriptive Information Activity Log Job Resource Geodatabase Version Geographical Area of Interest Workflow
Job Properties Standard - Name, due date, assignment, priority, etc. Extended - Custom, business specific - i.e. Parcel Number, Department, Permit ID
Notes and Attachments Attachments - Supporting documents of the job Notes - Free-form text - Miscellaneous information
Resources Automatically reassign job at any point in workflow to either: - User - Group User can belong to any number of groups
Application Privileges Application privileges are the gate-keepers of your business processes User group provides the link between application privileges and user User Belongs To Group Contain Application Privilege Who is allowed to do which action?
Area of Interest Defines where the work is located - Spatial component of job - Guide for users - Visualization / analysis tool for managers
Job Management Job Creation Job Properties
Workflow
Workflow Management Leverage best practices and procedures Consistent, traceable process for users to follow - no step left behind
Building blocks of workflows A step represents an individual task in your workflow Supported step types - Procedural activities (no automation) - Open applications (e.g. ArcMap, Microsoft Word, etc.) - Execute a Geoprocessing tool - Ask questions - Customize and automate other processes
Model advanced processes Workflows are a collection of steps - Leverage step templates Steps are arranged into a sequence - Linear and/or Non-linear - Parallel
Workflow Anatomy Step Start Step Path Conditional Path Current Step Concurrent Steps Merge Point (Dependence) End Step
Workflow creation tools Workflow canvas tools Drag and drop interface - Looks like model builder Define the steps and the sequence
Workflow Execution Tools Progression via Step Properties - Required - Automatically executed - Automatic reassignment of Job
Step Descriptions Documentation about the current task - HTML based - Link to any URL or design your own
Additional Features Holds - Arbitrary suspension of job Dependencies - Restrict job execution based on other jobs - Enable relationship modeling between jobs
Workflows Workflow Tools Step Properties Step Execution
ArcGIS Integration
Version Management Challenges Versioning is required for multi-user data editing Can sometimes be intimidating for new users - Greater potential for errors Requires a lot of manual administration to manage
Data Management with ArcGIS Workflow Manager Access data from multiple GeoDatabases Control user access to database Associate editing version with job Simplify user s experience working with versions access the right data at the right time
Map Document Management Associated and persisted with job Predefined contents and cartography Portable map session for the job Storage - Central repository - File system
ArcMap Integration Step to start ArcMap in a preconfigured state Task Assistant Manager taskflows - Increased productivity Toolbar for ArcMap - Job information and properties
Job Information and Workflow Set current job directly within ArcMap Job Information Window - Update properties - Add notes, attachments - Execute current steps - View history Access to entire workflow canvas - Manager workflow steps
Geodatabase Archiving tools Integrated with SDE Geodatabase Archiving Investigate edits that happened on jobs Revert changes to features Inspect what segments of features change
Geoprocessing Tools Step to launch GP Tools - Increased productivity Workflow Manager Toolbox
ArcGIS Integration ArcMap Tools Job Information Window Geoprocessing
Tracking and Notifications
Notification Can I receive an email when something happens in the system?. YES! Triggers - Any job action - Workflow step Fully configurable system
Spatial Notifications Be notified when feature edits made Create rules for changes to: Feature class, geographic area, or specific feature Edits to data trigger notifications
Job History What s happened on this job? Tagged with user and date Supplemented with user input
Reporting on Job Information Information is stored in the central repository Present the contents of your repository using different methods - Built-in reports - Web charting - Crystal Reports and others Resource allocation, Job status, etc.
Reports Build simple reports about job information Query and summarize key fields Stylized output Execute from desktop and server
Tracking and Notification Job History Job Notification Spatial Notification Reports
Who uses ArcGIS Workflow Manager?
Resources - Product page www.esri.com/workflowmanager - 60-day Free Evaluation - Customer Success Stories - Demos - Training www.esri.com/training - Workflow Manager Resource Center http://resources.arcgis.com/ - Email questions and comments workflowmanager@esri.com