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A utility shape is an activity that can update a work item without human input. It may perform computations, searches, retrieve data from another system, make a decision affecting the course of the flow, and so on.
Some utility shapes appear in the flow immediately before an assignment shape, to complete preprocessing. Others may appear immediately after an assignment shape, for post-processing of user decisions and input.
Don't confuse
Utility
activities with functions — Java code in instances of the Rule-Utility-Function rule type. A Utility activity is defined in a class derived from the Work- or Data- base class and has an Activity Type of Utility
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1. Drag theshape onto the flow.
2. When the Utility Properties panel appears, complete these fields:
Field |
Description |
Name |
Enter a text name for this Utility shape. Choose a name meaningful to application users who see this on the work item history display, the breadcrumbs control (for entry points), and the Where-Am-I? diagram. For example, Compute Customer Open-To-Buy. The shape name is only descriptive; it does not affect runtime execution of the flow. This name also appears inside the Utility shape on the Diagram tab. |
Rule ![]() |
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Application |
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Work Type |
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Specification |
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Parameters |
If the utility selected requires parameters, supply a literal value for each parameter. PRPC validates these parameter values when you exit from Visio editing (unless the flow in is Draft mode).
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Audit Note |
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Entry Point? |
Select to indicate that this Utility shape is an entry point, which a user can return to using the breadcrumbs control or the standard flow action Previous. The default is cleared. Because a utility shape presents no user form, if a user clicks a breadcrumbs control to return to this entry point, flow processing resumes and pauses at the next assignment or other shape that requires user input. |
Only going back? |
This checkbox appears only when you select the Entry Point? checkbox. Select to restrict users at runtime from jumping ahead to this step without having completed the preceding steps. After having completed this step, users may jump back to it from steps that follow it.
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3. Click Apply when done. (To edit these shape properties after you save the Flow form, open the Diagram tab, right-click the shape, and select the Edit tab on the pop-up window.)
4. Connect at least one incoming connector to the utility shape.
5. Ordinarily, connect one outgoing connector from the utility shape.
If the activity uses the TaskStatus-Set method to one of a few possible activity outcomes, the outgoing connectors can depend on this Status value. For example, a utility activity might return the values "HIRE", "REJECT", and "WAIT" through a TaskStatus-Set method. Using three connectors from the utility, one for each status value, simplifies the flow diagram by eliminating a fork or decision shape.
You can add a Utility shape by dragging an activity of the following types from the Application Explorer onto the Visio diagram:
Locate
LoadDeclarativePage
OnChange
Trigger
Validate
Utility
Click the icon to select the rule. See Using the Application Explorer.
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About Activity rules How to create activities for use in flows TaskStatus-Set method |
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Standard activities for flows |