Custom WorkFlow - Custom Step

Question

Hi, 
 We are looking for options to incorporate a custom step in the work flow process. The custom step should connect to a database and verify the status of the person before moving on the next level approver. 
 We could find any options to write a custom code withing the workflow. The only options available is to choose the OOTB Approval procedure which is in turn non customizable 
 Any info would be of help. 
 Thanks 
 Jsmith

oliver.paulzen · Accepted Answer

Hi Jsmith, 
 the process I referred to was just meant to be an example of using the EX method. 
 And yes, again, this is feasible. 
 Write a script that... 
 
 connects to the external DB 
 checks the employee status 
 makes the decision 
 returns true or false 
 
 Run this script in your process. Use its return value to proceed to the next process step which calls the MakeDecision method on the PersonWantsOrg object with either positiv or negativ decision:

HTH, 
 Oliver 
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oliver.paulzen · Answer

Hi Kapil, 
 events initiated by the EX approval procedure are generated on the associated PersonWantsOrg (if IT Shop request) or AttestationCase (if attestation) objects. IMHO, the best example still is the combination of approval workflow Approval of AD group create requests and process VI_ESS_PersonWantsOrg create AD group mentioned earlier in this thread. 
 The first argument of the MakeDecision method (referenced as param1 in the process step definition) needs to be the UID_Person of a valid decision maker or "sa" for "system decision". As there's usually no employee entitled to decide a request at this point (ie. level that contains the EX step), "sa" is the only option you're left with. 
 The third argument (decision reason) is stored alongside with the decision itself in PWODecisionHistory and might be retrieved from there. 
 HTH, 
 Oliver

oliver.paulzen · Answer

Hi Kapil, 
 immer gerne 
 Notifications to the recipient are sent out automatically if this is configured in your workflow steps and/or approval policy (e.g. "Mail template approved/denied" setting). Please see the documentation (chapter "Notifications in the Request Process" in the IT Shop Guide) for further information. If the ootb behavior does not fulfill your requirements, you can copy and modify the standard process, add new ones to the relevant events (e.g. OrderGranted) or add EX steps to your workflow in order to generate processes that send the notifications you need. 
 No, it's not supported to have custom approval procedures. 
 The answer to your last question depends on the way you want to process this information in the subsequent steps. E.g. if an automatic decision should be based on the reason of an EX decision, you would add a workflow step with approval procedure "CD - Calculated decision" and formulate a suitable condition in its configuration (see the document mentioned above for an example of such a condition). 
 HTH, 
 Oliver