Workflow Best Practices

Accessing an element in an array via index

Use the following sample expression to access an element in an array via index in FABRIC_WORKFLOW_CONTEXT namespace.

FABRIC_WORKFLOW_CONTEXT.resp.Employee.get(2).name

This means, if a response has an array of Employee in FABRIC_WORKFLOW_CONTEXT.resp.Employee, then you can get the name of the third employee by this expression.

Accessing scope attributes via FABRIC_WORKFLOW_CONTEXT namespace

Use Case: Workflows are executed in the background. In case of long-running workflows, if you are using attributes from an identity scope or session scope, there is no guarantee that those attributes are available throughout the workflow execution.

Recommended best practices: When a workflow needs any kind of attributes from an IDENTITY or SESSION scope, always try to populate the necessary data from all other scopes to FABRIC_WORKFLOW_CONTEXT, and use these values from FABRIC_WORKFLOW_CONTEXT.

You can configure the attributes from an IDENTITY or SESSION scope by using Process Incoming Payload mapping editor or a service task.

  • Click Configure under Process Incoming Payload of a in User task properties, in a workflow service. The Process Incoming Payload dialog box appears.

    1. Specify a top-level key name in FABRIC_WORKFLOW_CONTEXT field. The top-level key stores data copied from output elements of the other namespaces.
    2. Map parameters in the table to copy data from other namespaces. Individual elements of the output can be accessed by using a dot(.) notation with a key.

      For example, Fabric_Workflow_Context.UserTaskKey1.applicationId = Device_request.applicationId

      • Top-level key: UserTaskKey1 , which stores data copied from the mapped output of the element, applicationId.
      • The applicationId element is mapped to the applicationId parameter that is available in the DEVICE_REQUEST namespace.
  • Avoid using the IDENTITY scope as it can expire at any time while the workflow is under execution. Instead, populate the necessary values from an IDENTITY scope to FABRIC_WORKFLOW_CONTEXT by using a service task.
  • Avoid using the SESSION scope as it can contain custom data elements that might get lost while persisting when a workflow execution fails. Instead, populate the necessary values from a SESSION scope to FABRIC_WORKFLOW_CONTEXT by using a service task.
    Though an attempt will be made for persisting the session scope data on workflow failure, but it is not fully guaranteed.