Introduction

• The ForkList Instruction is the dynamic version of the JS7 - Fork / Join Instruction.
• Technically it implements the Fork / Join operation, however, it offers to create the number of branches dynamically from order variables:
  • The ForkList Instruction expects an order to provide a Variable Set that is implemented as a list (array) of values. The list can include can include any number of name/value pairs for variables.
  • The ForkList Instruction is designed as a single branch when configuring the workflow with the Configuration View of the JOC Cockpit user interface. Depending on the number of entries provided with a ForkList Variable Set carried by an order the Agent will dynamically create branches for each entry of the Variable Set.
• The underlying use case suggests that users want to execute the same workflow in parallel for each element of a Variable Set.

Workflow Instruction: ForkList

The workflow editor offers to add a ForkList Instruction like this:

Explanation:

• The ForkList Instruction is assigned a Variable Set countries that is of type List.
  • Assignment is available when displaying workflow properties and when selecting the ForkList Instruction in the editor panel.
  • The Variable Set makes use of one or more variables, the example uses the countryCode variable with type String.
  • Any number of variables can be added to a Variable Set.
• When an order is added to this workflow then it has to provide the countries Variable Set populated with country codes.
• For each element of the Variable Set, i.e. for each country code, JS7 dynamically creates a branch with the ForkList Instruction.
  • Child orders are created for each branch that runs in parallel.
  • The handling of child orders is the same as for the Fork Instruction.
• A workflow can include any number of ForkList Instructions.
  • ForkList Instructions can be nested and a branch can include e.g. Fork Instructions, Resource Lock Instructions etc.
  • More than one ForkList Instruction can use the same Variable Set.

Adding Orders to a Workflow with ForkList Instructions

When adding an order to a workflow that includes a ForkList Instruction then the popup window offers to add any number of elements to the countries Variable Set.

x

Explanation:

• From this example a single order enters the workflow and is split into three child orders for each country when meeting the ForkList Instruction.
• Jobs in forked branches are running in parallel, i.e. jobs for the three countries specified are parallelized.

Adding Schedules to a Workflow with ForkList Instructions

When creating a schedule for a workflow that includes a ForkList Instruction then users can specify the countries Variable Set like this.

Explanation:

• This example adds three elements to the countries Variable Set and specifies the country codes.
• Jobs in forked branches of the workflow are executed in parallel for each country specified.
• It is an option to add a second Variable Set that would result in a second order being created by the schedule.