Action Table
An Action Table is a critical component in workflow management systems. It acts as a set of rules or instructions that govern how workflow items transition from one state to another throughout a process.
- Storage Format:
The action table is often stored as an ADO Recordset (ActiveX Data Objects), which is a way to hold tabular data in memory, allowing easy querying, updating, and navigating through rows and columns. This format facilitates efficient access and manipulation of the rules governing workflow state changes. - Structure:
Each row in the action table corresponds to one possible state transition. For example, it might specify that a workflow item currently in the state “Pending Approval” can transition to “Approved” or “Rejected” based on certain conditions or actions. - Columns in the Table Typically Include:
- Current State: The state in which the workflow item currently resides.
- Action/Trigger: The event or user action that initiates the transition.
- Next State: The state the workflow item will move to after the action.
- Conditions: Optional rules or conditions that must be met for the transition to occur.
- Permissions: Who or what role is authorized to perform this transition.
- Notifications: Whether a notification or alert should be triggered upon transition.
- Purpose:
The action table ensures that the workflow follows a predefined path and enforces business rules consistently. It prevents invalid or unauthorized transitions and maintains the integrity of the workflow process. - Example Scenario:
In a document approval system, the action table may specify that:- From Draft, the only allowed action is Submit for Review, which moves the item to In Review.
- From In Review, reviewers can either Approve or Request Changes, which moves the document to Approved or back to Draft, respectively.
- Dynamic and Extensible:
Because action tables are stored as records, they can be modified, extended, or queried dynamically without changing the workflow engine’s core logic. This allows administrators or power users to customize workflows to suit evolving business needs.