Wf-XML
Encyclopedia
Wf-XML is a BPM
standard developed by the Workflow Management Coalition
.
Wf-XML is designed and implemented as an extension to the OASIS
Asynchronous Service Access Protocol. ASAP provides a standardized way that a program can start and monitor a program that might take a long time to complete. It provides the capability to monitor the running service, and be informed of changes in its status. Wf-XML extends this by providing additional standard web service operations that allow sending and retrieving the “program” or definition of the service which is provided. A process engine has this behavior of providing a service that lasts a long time, and also being programmable by being able to install process definitions.
Wf-XML offers a standard way for a BPM engine to invoke a process in another BPM engine, and to wait for it to complete. Process editing tools and process execution tools may be produced by different vendors. A standard way to retrieve process definitions and send definitions will allow a user to match the best process definition tool with the best process execution engine for their needs. Wf-XML completes the job by giving a standard way to pass the process definition between the design tool and the execution engine
The roots of the current effort began in 1997 with the Internet Engineering Task Force
(IETF) effort named Simple Workflow Access Protocol (SWAP) led by Netscape
, Oracle Corporation
and others. This was followed by the WfMC standard known as Wf-XML 1.0 and Wf-XML 1.1. Wf-XML was implemented by a number of commercial products. Wf-XML 1.0 and Wf-XML 1.1 predated SOAP
and so did not use SOAP message structures. ASAP and Wf-XML 2.0 uses SOAP messages to provide the same capability.
Wf-XML provides a standard way to retrieve a process definition from a BPM engine, and to provide an updated one to the BPM engine. A process design tool could used this standard web services based protocol to browse processes on remote BPM server. It provides an interface between such a design tool and the BPM engine; this is the traditional WfMC Interface 1 for getting and setting the process definition. There is no other effort known to be proposed for standardizing this interaction.
Wf-XML 2.0 is defined using WSDL
, thus generally accepted as a standard web service. It should be known that services built using Wf-XML 2.0 and later are not backwards compatible with those using Wf-XML 1.1, as the earlier protocol was not based on SOAP messages.
Business process management
Business process management is a holistic management approach focused on aligning all aspects of an organization with the wants and needs of clients. It promotes business effectiveness and efficiency while striving for innovation, flexibility, and integration with technology. BPM attempts to...
standard developed by the Workflow Management Coalition
Workflow Management Coalition
Workflow Management Coalition is a consortium, formed to define standards for the interoperability of workflow management systems. It was founded in May 1993 as an offshoot of the Black Forest Group with original members including IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Fujitsu, ICL, Staffware and approximately 300...
.
Wf-XML is designed and implemented as an extension to the OASIS
Oasis
In geography, an oasis or cienega is an isolated area of vegetation in a desert, typically surrounding a spring or similar water source...
Asynchronous Service Access Protocol. ASAP provides a standardized way that a program can start and monitor a program that might take a long time to complete. It provides the capability to monitor the running service, and be informed of changes in its status. Wf-XML extends this by providing additional standard web service operations that allow sending and retrieving the “program” or definition of the service which is provided. A process engine has this behavior of providing a service that lasts a long time, and also being programmable by being able to install process definitions.
Wf-XML offers a standard way for a BPM engine to invoke a process in another BPM engine, and to wait for it to complete. Process editing tools and process execution tools may be produced by different vendors. A standard way to retrieve process definitions and send definitions will allow a user to match the best process definition tool with the best process execution engine for their needs. Wf-XML completes the job by giving a standard way to pass the process definition between the design tool and the execution engine
The roots of the current effort began in 1997 with the Internet Engineering Task Force
Internet Engineering Task Force
The Internet Engineering Task Force develops and promotes Internet standards, cooperating closely with the W3C and ISO/IEC standards bodies and dealing in particular with standards of the TCP/IP and Internet protocol suite...
(IETF) effort named Simple Workflow Access Protocol (SWAP) led by Netscape
Netscape
Netscape Communications is a US computer services company, best known for Netscape Navigator, its web browser. When it was an independent company, its headquarters were in Mountain View, California...
, Oracle Corporation
Oracle Corporation
Oracle Corporation is an American multinational computer technology corporation that specializes in developing and marketing hardware systems and enterprise software products – particularly database management systems...
and others. This was followed by the WfMC standard known as Wf-XML 1.0 and Wf-XML 1.1. Wf-XML was implemented by a number of commercial products. Wf-XML 1.0 and Wf-XML 1.1 predated SOAP
SOAP
SOAP, originally defined as Simple Object Access Protocol, is a protocol specification for exchanging structured information in the implementation of Web Services in computer networks...
and so did not use SOAP message structures. ASAP and Wf-XML 2.0 uses SOAP messages to provide the same capability.
Wf-XML provides a standard way to retrieve a process definition from a BPM engine, and to provide an updated one to the BPM engine. A process design tool could used this standard web services based protocol to browse processes on remote BPM server. It provides an interface between such a design tool and the BPM engine; this is the traditional WfMC Interface 1 for getting and setting the process definition. There is no other effort known to be proposed for standardizing this interaction.
Wf-XML 2.0 is defined using WSDL
Web Services Description Language
The Web Services Description Language is an XML-based language that is used for describing the functionality offered by a Web service. A WSDL description of a web service provides a machine-readable description of how the service can be called, what parameters it expects and what data structures...
, thus generally accepted as a standard web service. It should be known that services built using Wf-XML 2.0 and later are not backwards compatible with those using Wf-XML 1.1, as the earlier protocol was not based on SOAP messages.
See also
- WorkflowWorkflowA workflow consists of a sequence of connected steps. It is a depiction of a sequence of operations, declared as work of a person, a group of persons, an organization of staff, or one or more simple or complex mechanisms. Workflow may be seen as any abstraction of real work...
- Business Process ManagementBusiness process managementBusiness process management is a holistic management approach focused on aligning all aspects of an organization with the wants and needs of clients. It promotes business effectiveness and efficiency while striving for innovation, flexibility, and integration with technology. BPM attempts to...
- Business Process ModelingBusiness process modelingBusiness Process Modeling in systems engineering is the activity of representing processes of an enterprise, so that the current process may be analyzed and improved. BPM is typically performed by business analysts and managers who are seeking to improve process efficiency and quality...
- Workflow Management CoalitionWorkflow Management CoalitionWorkflow Management Coalition is a consortium, formed to define standards for the interoperability of workflow management systems. It was founded in May 1993 as an offshoot of the Black Forest Group with original members including IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Fujitsu, ICL, Staffware and approximately 300...
- XPDLXPDLThe XML Process Definition Language is a format standardized by the Workflow Management Coalition to interchange business process definitions between different workflow products, i.e...