Terminology Guide

In OpenEdge Business Process Server (BP Server), Access Control List Manager provides a finer, more precise control over user access rights for resources and actions.

To create an instance of an executable process.

In the OpenEdge Business Process, the basic unit of work; must be performed by one or more human performers (valid individual user, multiple users or user group).

A Java class that integrates remote, third-party classes and actions with Business Process Server. An adapter can automate certain functions and tasks performed by a remote server or other external systems.

A module in Business Process Portal enabling the administrator to perform such tasks as installing/uninstalling applications, modifying configuration parameters controlling Business Process Server operations, and manage Business Process Server users, groups and access control.The Administration module is visible only to Business Process Server users who have permissions to access it.

In Business Process Server, an alert is a form of notification to an Business Process Server user of a predefined event. The user is notified of the alert, through e-mail.

In Business Process Server, connects multiple worksteps to one successor workstep. The successor workstep is completed only when all the predecessor worksteps are completed.

In Business Process Server, an application is an installed, executable business process that automates a business flow.

Click Business Process Server AppServer Console to open this graphical user interface that enables users to manage and configure their application server.

A Business Process Server utility that enables users to specify and update parameters for periodic unloading and archiving of events and processes no longer required in the Business Process Server database.

In Business Process Server, a type of task that is assigned to a specific user.

A form of communication that enables applications to run independently. Business Process Server will not wait for an asynchronous workstep to complete but will move on to the next step in the process while the asynchronous workstep is still running.

Characteristics that represent specific aspects of a file and/or directory, and extend or qualify its meaning.

In Business Process Server, a feature that displays an audit trail of events that takes place within the workflow of a process; e.g., how dataslot values can change through a series of worksteps.

Quality of a system’s response to process a request, indicating the amount of time an application or system is available to perform work; typically, measure in percent uptime.

In Business Process Server, a type of task that is assigned to a valid Group of Business Process Server users, any of whom can perform the task.

A management application in the Management module that measures performance by analyzing how an organization’s business activities help it achieve its strategic goals. The Balanced Scorecard provides an analysis from a range of perspectives.

A Business Process Server feature of the Management module that can be used to view Balanced Scorecard applications.

A Business Process Server feature of the Management module that can be used to design Balanced Scorecard applications.

Business Activity Management combines Business Process Management with strategic and analytical information on specific business performance indicators, providing real-time status information and identifying critical events to assist senior management in making informed business decisions.

A component that provides a flexible, lightweight, scalable workflow process engine for intranets, extranets, and the Internet.

A Business Process Server component that provides an open, event-driven rule engine to formulate and enforce policies in business applications.

A Business Process Server component that enables users to develop customizable, sophisticated presentation flows for business processes, install them as Web applications, and execute them on their Web browsers.

An open repository of rich e-business information collected from different Business Process Server modules.

Business Process Execution Language is an XML-based language that uses a combination of Web services to enable task sharing across multiple organizations. BPEL integrates and replaces IBM’s WSFL (Web Services Flow Language) and Microsoft’s XLANG specifications (also referred to as BPEL4WS).

A Business Process Server component that offers users, managers, administrators and integrators a unified, customizable portal for single sign-on access to all Business Process Server functionalities to which they are granted permission.

An Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for OpenEdge Business Process. Enables OpenEdge Business Process users to develop and publish an Business Process Server application without leaving the development environment.

Business Process Management Notation provides a standardization system and common visual vocabulary for the modeling of business processes that span business partners and applications.

See BAM.

A Business Process Server feature that accurately calculates the Due Date of tasks, and provides support for multiple business calendars across different time zones.

The logical sequence of process activities, related to one another by a triggering activity, to achieve an outcome. It represents a business process that begins with a commitment and ends with the termination of that commitment. In Business Process Server, business flow includes workflow (the flow of all human-performed activities), integration flow (the flow of activities performed by systems) and presentation flow (from a user’s viewpoint, the flow of data from one Web page to the next).

The control flow and information flow among worksteps that define a business process.

A representation of an activity in the business domain, including its name, definition, attributes, behavior, relationships and constraints.

A process involving multiple worksteps in the form of operations, interactions and notifications performed by a user, group of users, an external adapter, or a script. Examples of internal business processes are purchasing, expense reporting, help desk, and time card. External processes may include order processing, sales, and customer service.

The concept of guiding work activities through a multi-step business process in order to improve performance and reduce costs within and across functional business units.

A combination of elements, including validation edits, logon verifications, database lookups, policies and transformations, that represent an enterprise’s way of doing business.

See Business Calendar.

In Business Process Server, part of the communication chain that provides messages and other data in a linear integration flow. The message process consists of an ordered sequence of destinations that can include adapters (and each adapter’s operations), other channels and Web services.

In Business Process Server, an integrated set of multiple, electronically connected but physically separated servers. This loosely coupled group of Nodes collaborate to provide shared access to the services that each node hosts. To other systems, the cluster appears as a single system.

In Business Process Server, a type of task performed by a set of specified multiple individuals and/or groups. Typically, this task is performed interactively, and is completed through their collective efforts.

Used to indicate the compensation flow for a workstep, in case of any error.

In Business Process Server, a type of task that has been accomplished by its performer(s).

In Business Process Server, a configuration directory or file.

A cache of database connections maintained in the database’s memory so that the connections can be reused when the database receives future requests for data.

In Business Process Server, a connection between two worksteps. Used to describe the control flow of a process.

See Dasboard or Application Server Console.

An entity that provides life cycle management, security, deployment and run-time services to components.

The sequences of worksteps and workstep conditions, as defined in a process template in Progress Developer Studio for OpenEdge or Business Process Modeler.

Generally, a small program that runs in the background while other, higher-priority programs run in the foreground. In Business Process Server, this process uses JDBC to connect to a database server and retrieve the called-for events.

A Business Process Server feature that provides a graphic overview of the status of several business processes on a single Web page, enabling users to monitor the progress of each process. Users can view business processes across all applications or for a selected application.

See Widget.

A set of values from which a variable, constant, function or other expression may take its value. Common data types include integer, Booleans, numbers or string.

A data placeholder associated with a process that persists through the entire process and defines the information flow of the business process. Dataslots associated with a processe can add information into (Input type) or out of (Output type) worksteps, and appear as editable or read-only fields on a user’s interface.

Database Event Channel uses the repository database that implements a queuing mechanism for events generated by Business Process Server processes or third-party systems.

In OpenEdge Business Process, the Decision workstep creates a condition between two worksteps and represents a division of the control flow of the application.

UTF-8 (Unicode) is the default encoding character set for English. Business Process Server supports English (United States).

In Business Process Server, a user or group selected to perform all tasks of an application in the place of the initial user assigned to the task.

See Publish.

The location to which a file or other data is moved or copied. In Business Process Server, a destination is a component of a channel that typically identifies an adapter or another channel.

A developer designs, writes, and tests the applications used for Business Process Server. A developer may also be called a programmer.

A comprehensive cross-platform integrated development environment that is open, scalable, and standards-based, providing a stable, universal platform for application development.

Enterprise Information System is a collection of programs that organize data and provide information about an organization.

Enterprise JavaBeans is an architecture that defines program components, written in Java, that run in the server parts of a client/server computer network. EJB components are reusable in multiple applications and enable enterprises to control change at the server rather than have to update each computer with a client whenever a new program component is added.

An entity providing a run-time environment in which EJBs are executed and managed.

Software that provides services to EJB containers. An EJB server may host one or more EJB containers.

An event is an occurrence that is significant to the task or program, storing such business objects as a purchase order or the activation of a customer record. The event may call for a notification to, or a response from, the program, and report on both its status of the task or program and the business transactions it performs.

An event adapter is a two-way event translator. This adapter is able to receive events, apply business rules to them, and send them back to an event manager.

In Business Process Server, it is a channel on which the Event Publisher component of Business Process Server will publish events after applying the filter criteria.

In Business Process Server, the pairing of two or more events generated by Business Process Server or external systems.

In Business Process Server, a sequence of events that is generated by the execution of a particular process instance.

See XOr-join.

A collection of rulesets of a project to be executed together.

The concept of failure planning in an automated fashion, or the process of an alternative action taking over in the event of some specific failure.

Guided Decision Table provides the rich user interface for creating and editing rules in a web-based style.

In Business Process Server, an entity that has valid users or other groups as members who perform related work and have authorized access to specific components.

A Business Process Server feature that provides a convenient, graphical tool for managers to visually locate the bottlenecks in the process execution. It helps managers to get an overview of the status of the currently active instances, identify suspended instances, and analyze the history of the completed instances.

The ability of a system to implement load balancing to support backup services in case of system or node failure.

A module in Business Process Portal through which users interact with Business Process Server. By clicking Home, users can complete entries to various tasks and applications, update profile, set preferences, and link to the support infrastructure required to achieve these tasks. The Home module is the primary interface for all Business Process Server users.

See Internationalization.

Integrated Development Environment is a programming environment integrated into an application. Progress Developer Studio for OpenEdge is the IDE for OpenEdge Business Process.

In Business Process Server, a data structure used to capture business metrics, typically displayed as a table with one or two dimensions.

Used to transfer information into the active process or workstep.

An individual object within a specific class. In Business Process Server, a self-contained unit that is created each time you use a process template to run an Business Process Server application.

A feature in Business Process Server that allows managers to modify large numbers of instances, worksteps and tasks in batches, rather than on a one-by-one basis.

The creation of an executable process from the (abstract) application, replacing instance variables with default or user-defined values.

Software used for instant messaging wherein users can chat with each other by exchanging text messages in real-time using the Internet.

The flow of activities performed by systems that are part of a communication chain providing messages and related data.

The process of making software portable to other locales. Internationalized applications store their text in external resources, and use locale-sensitive utilities for formatting and collation.

Implementation of the Business Process Server DB-based realm user management system that uses JDBC protocol for user authentication.

Java Message Service is an application program interface that supports the formal communication known as messaging between computers in a network. It provides a common interface to standard messaging protocols and also to special messaging services in support of Java programs.

Key Performance Indicator, used in the Balanced Scorecard system, that provides the data translating enterprise goals into a set of measurable objectives.

Uses LDAP to check the user name, password, and privileges. Implementation of the LDAP user management system that retrieves user, group and password information.

The ability to switch between locations where similar requests are handled.

The process of adapting a product or service to a specific language, culture or region so the user interface is appropriate for the locality in which it is used.

A uniform logging framework provided for all Business Process Server components.

In Business Process Server, a Managed Adapter is an implementation of an adapter interface that facilitates data exchange between Business Process Server processes and external applications.

A module in Business Process Portal enabling the managers to query, report, and control processes and resources for users of Business Process Server. The Management module is visible only to Business Process Server users who have permissions to access it.

In Business Process Server, a type of user that can coordinate and monitor business processes, assign tasks to users in their department, and acts as the process owner. The person within the business process with the authority to manage the process and the responsibility for its overall performance.

In Business Process Server, the process of mapping process flow in order to interchange data. For example, dataslots in an Adapter workstep can be mapped to methods in an external adapter; dataslots in a Subprocess workstep can be mapped to dataslots in a parent process, and dataslots in a Web Service workstep can be mapped to a web service method.

In Business Process Server, a user (or another group) that is assigned to a group.

In Business Process Server, it is a type of workstep that enables users to use an incoming event or a message to initiate a process or a workstep; and conversely to generate an outgoing message with the completion of a workstep or a process. Using this type of workstep provides a way to synchronize process events and to define actionable events at various stages of the process execution.

The process of moving from the use of one operating environment to another operating environment that is typically seen as improvement. Migration can involve moving to new hardware, new software, or both. It may involve a new application, another type of database, or a redesigned network. Migration is also used to refer simply to the process of moving data from one storage device to another. Business Process Server supports data migration as well as application migration.

An Business Process Server process which contains at least one monitoring workstep.

It is a workstep in an Business Process Server application, that uses Business Events from one or more activities of a non-Business Process Server application to oversee those non-Business Process Server application's activities in the Business Process Server application. Business Process Server supports two types of monitoring worksteps. A monitoring workstep to which a human performer is assigned, is a monitoring human workstep. A monitoring workstep to which any performer other than human is assigned, is a monitoring system workstep.

Generally, an element in a hierarchical tree structure. A node can be the root, a parent or the child of another node. In Business Process Server clustering, a node refers to an individual system that is part of a cluster.

It is a mode of offline communication for the performers and managers of a collaborative task.

Uses the OpenEdge AppServer-based single point of authentication (SPA) service to authenticate users against the OpenEdge database to which the AppServer is connected, while the JDBC realm supports Business Process Server for groups, user attributes, and permissions.

In Business Process Server, connects multiple predecessor worksteps to one successor workstep. The successor workstep is performed when any one of the predecessor worksteps is completed.

Output Dataslots are used to transfer information from the active process or workstep into another process or workstep. Unlike Input dataslots, Output dataslots can be modified by the other process/workstep.

Process Automation Kernel (internally developed at Progress OpenEdge).

An entity that executes a workstep. Depending on the workstep type, the performer can be a human user, a group of users, an adapter or other external performer, or a script.

In Business Process Server, a data structure that provides you a dynamic structre, and quick and easy access to values in it.

A category used in the Balanced Scorecard management application to indicate how an organization’s business activities are meeting its strategic goals. Balanced Scorecard Perspectives include: Finance, Customer Relations, Innovation/Growth and Internal Processes.

An underlying computer system on which application programs can run; Windows and Macintosh are examples of two different platforms.

In Web Services, a port is a collection of communication end points that can exchange information. Each port is defined abstractly as a port type, which supports a collection of operations. Each operation processes a particular set of messages. A binding maps a port type to a specific network protocol and message format. The port, or end point, is then instantiated at a specific network address.

Pre-JavaScript performs an action that is executed Before Activation. Post-JavaScript performs an action when the work is completed.

The flow of information and user input from one interface to the next. Typically, related to a single Activity workstep in the process and generated in a BPM Workflow environment.

An Business Process Server feature that focuses on Continuous Process Improvement and Process Life Cycle Management, enabling users to capture important metrics from all phases of a business process. This feature allows managers to compare findings from modeling and simulation phases to actual run-time data, providing solutions to key business issues and resulting in more effective business processes.

A self-contained unit that is created each time you start an Business Process Server application. The process instance persists until the last workstep in the process is completed.

An Business Process Server tool for bulk migration of running instances from one process to another.

A stand-alone component that enables users to design templates for basic business processes and store or retrieve them from the central process repository, and to design and run simulations of processes.

An Business Process Server feature for replacing the installed process without versioning, facilitating the running process instances to seamlessly adapt to the new workflow.

An Business Process Server feature for replacing the installed process without versioning, facilitating the running process instances to refresh and seamlessly adapt to the new workflow.

A central place (can contain several databases) in which a group of processes is stored and maintained in an organized way, and can be accessed to retrieve information.

Software that models the dynamics of a real process in order to create a computerized version that can be used for learning and training.

In Business Process Server, a model of business flow that includes worksteps, connectors and dataslots. After users publish and install it as an application in the Business Process Server directory structure, they can use the application to create process instances.

In Business Process Server, the moving of a process from the development environment (for example, Progress Developer Studio for OpenEdge) to the executable environment (Business Process Portal). In Progress Developer Studio for OpenEdge, the process, unless otherwise specified, is also automatically installed when it is published.

A mode of inter-application communications, where users either publish messages to a community of users or subscribe to one or more of the listed messages, message types or channels. A Publish/Subscribe message is posted to a general audience and not sent to a specific destination.

An application that makes information about a specified topic available to a subscriber in a publish/subscribe system.

A first in-first out data structure where messages, files and other elements are stored before being sent from one area to another. In Business Process Server, it is a JMS Queue resource defined in the JMS provider of the application server. An event channel can be configured to use a specified JMS Queue. Also see WorkItem Queue.

The actions and activities assigned to a valid Business Process Server user who is a member of a group. In Business Process Server, only members of a group can be assigned a role. A role indicates the relationships of the user in a group context.

In Business Process Server, a feature that restarts the workflow from a workstep previously selected as the rollback point in the process, performed automatically in the event of a failure.

A definition of a process, or set of processes, applied to an event or a message.

Business Process Server provides a rule-based, event correlation and action engine that evaluates the state of objects and executes specified actions if conditions hold. At run time, this engine evaluates the rules. As business rules are executed, they may change the course of process execution.

A set of rules associated with a specific Business Process Server application in the form of a compiled file. The rule file gets loaded in the rule engine when the application is installed.

A rule group represents a set of rules that are designed to achieve a particular function.

The rule module usually represents a set of rules that implement a logical unit of the application. The rules inside a rule module can be grouped into rule groups.

Contains a collection of rule classes along with the semantics for forward-chaining execution of those rules. A Ruleset can be executed directly in code.

An interactive utility that enables Business Process Server users to quickly develop rules that can be applied to a business process.

An application is an implementation of a business process. It can contain one or more process templates, performers, adapters, customized forms or rules. An application can be published, installed and run on BP Servers. In Business Process Server, an application is an installed, executable business process that automates a workflow.

A command in the Start > Programs > Progress > OpenEdge > BP Server > Admin Consoles > Business Process Console that opens an Application Server Console.

An Business Process Server component that allows Business Process Server application developers to: a) publish their applications as Web Services, and b) find and convert other available Web Services on the Internet into Business Process Server applications.

In BPM Designer and Business Process Modeler, Shapes indicate activities and gateways in the process flow diagram.

See Process Simulation.

Progress Business Process Template is the format used to store the process template information.

A ruleset can be in either active, inactive, or draft state. Only active rulesets are used for rule execution.

The most commonly used data type typically consisting of a sequence of data values, or bytes, that usually stand for characters (a "character string").

In Business Process Server, a process template referenced in a parent process template. Use a Subprocess workstep to include any process template as a subprocess in the parent process template.

An application that requests information about a specified topic in a publish/subscribe system.

Swim lanes are used in workflow diagrams to organize complex processes across functional boundaries. For example, seen as horizontal lines in a process template, swim lanes can be used to place individual task steps into different categories that depend on task ownership.

A form of communication that requires applications to run concurrently. In Business Process Server, BP Server will wait for a synchronous workstep to complete before moving on to the next step.

In Business Process Server, a performer is assigned one or more workitems that the performer sees as tasks. There are two types of tasks: Assigned, which are assigned specifically to you; and Available, which are available to be performed by you or other members of your user group.

It is a preset package containing graphical appearance details, used to customize the look and feel.

Used to indicate the direction of a workflow after Overdue Actions have been executed and the Last Overdue action is completed.

In Business Process Server, it is a JMS Topic resource defined in the JMS provider of the application server. An event channel can be configured to use a specified JMS topic.

In Business Process Server, a valid human performer with authorized access to specific modules.

A set of characteristics containing particulars of a user and his/her preferences that can be typically set by the user for his/her convenience and ease of use.

The ability to manage changes by creating, tracking and controlling different versions of an item. In Business Process Server, application versioning allows users to publish new versions of an installed application without removing that application and all of its active instances, and without stopping the servers.

An Business Process Server workstep or predefined Web application that starts a Web-based application from an Business Process Server-designed process.

An element of a graphical user interface, usually of some mechanical nature and relatively small size, that displays information or provides a specific way for a user to interact with the operating system and application programs. Widgets include icons, pull-down menus, buttons, toggle buttons, forms, and many other devices for displaying information and inviting, accepting, and responding to user actions.

The logical sequence of activities performed by human performers, typically in a OpenEdge BPM Designer or Business Process Modeler environment. Workflow includes the tasks, procedural steps, organizations or people involved, required input and output information, and tools needed for each activity in a business process.

In Business Process Server, workitems are generated for each human-performed workstep in a process instance. A workitem is an individual unit of work assigned as a task to a valid human performer or to multiple performers in a valid user group. Activity worksteps create one workitem in the case of a single performer or multiple workitems (depending on the number of users in the group) in the case of a group performer. A workitem name refers not only to the process instance and workstep, but also to the individual performer(s) that the workitem is assigned to.

In Business Process Server, a workitem queue is a dynamic data structure to which users and groups are added, allowing them to subscribe to workitems assigned to the queue. Workitem queues are dynamic in that you can add, remove or update users and groups to a queue during run time.

A step in a business process that can have human or computer performers, or it can be a subprocess. During development of an application, developers create "worksteps" that appear to the user as a unit of work to be completed. A workstep name refers to the process instance and workstep.

In Business Process Server, connects multiple predecessor worksteps to one successor workstep. The process flow proceeds only once from multiple predecessor worksteps to the successor workstep. When the Exclusive Or-join (XOR) workstep is completed, any other predecessor human-performed worksteps are terminated.