Create application processes

Once you have created an application, add an application process to manage and execute operations.

The application process operates using a series of steps. Each step tile is a specific configuration for an action in the process, such as:

Calling products, plugins, procedures, or components.
Executing direct commands or manual tasks.
Handling utility functions.
Performing rollback tasks.

Use the property browser accessed from the Hierarchy menu to create custom deployments. The browser lists properties set on the project or related object properties. View built-in or custom properties or parameters in process step conditions, including property names and paths.

Create an application process:

Use these steps to begin creating an application process.

On the left-hand side of the page, select the > to open the Hierarchy menu.
Select + in Application processes.
Select Create new. The first page for defining the new process displays.
In the New Application process dialog box, enter the following details:
1. Enter a Name.
2. (Optional) Enter a Description.
3. Select Deploy, Undeploy, or Other as appropriate, for the process type.
4. Select a workspace.
5. Check Exclusive access to require exclusive access to the environment. At runtime, the process waits until the environment is available and then locks it for use from other processes. Refer to Environment Locking for details.
6. Check Time limit, as required. This allows you to configure a maximum amount of time the step can execute; abort if it exceeds this time.
7. Add credentials as required. This allows the process to run in the context of the selected credential. Refer to Attaching Credentials to Application and Component Processes for more information.
Select OK.

The application process visual editor opens. The process model shows a process with Start and Finish steps and a New Step provided as a starting point in between them.

Figure 1. A new application process

Define the first New Step in the application process

The first step in this example includes a Component type process that applies a minor change to a database.

Select + on the New Step. The application process step dialog displays.
Define the step:
1. Enter a Name, then enter an optional Description.
2. Enter an optional description in the Description field.
3. Use the Stop on Error setting. Refer to Application Deployment Options.
4. Use the all setting in the Run if field. Refer to Define error conditions.
5. Select a workspace from the options in Select workspace.
6. Select Time limit and configure the time limit.
7. Select Next. The Step type dialog box displays.
Select a step type from the options.
1. Select a component from the list. It must already be defined at the application level to select a component.
Select OK.

Continue defining the application process.

Define the second step in the application process.

The second step in this example involves a component-type process to deploy a data store.

Select + on the bottom of the first step to add a new step below it.
Select + within the second step. The new Application process step definition window opens.
Define the second step in the Application process step dialog box as follows:
1. Enter a name such as deploy_store-backend in the Name field.
2. Select Stop on Error. Refer to Application Deployment Options.
3. Use the all setting in the Run if field. Refer to Define error conditions.
4. Select Next. The Step Type dialog box appears.
Define the Step Type. Select Manual to define a step requiring manual intervention.
Select OK.

Figure 2. The deploy application process
Select Run in the upper-right corner to perform a new run or manage the schedule for the application. Refer to Create and manage applications for more information.

Update the application process configuration if desired.

Edit application process configurations

Define the application process configurations as follows:

In the upper-right corner of the step tile, select to display the menu and view and edit the step using the following options:
- Details: View step details.
- Parameters: View step parameters. Refer to Application process run details.
- Properties: View step properties.
- Access Control: View access control settings.
- Add Connector: Add another connector to the step.
- Change History: View the Change History.
Select menu on the right-hand side of the screen to view application process options.
- Details: View step details.
  - Default options: These process run settings are only available at the application level. When set, they automatically execute each time the application process runs. The options are:
    
    Check Dependency: This is the default setting; it enables all step types. Refer to Manage dependencies.
    
    Smart Deploy: This option is available once a Component step type is added. Use this option to deploy only what has changed.
    
    Artifact Staging: This option is available once a Component step type is added. Refer to Stage artifacts.
- Parameters: View step parameters. Refer to Application process run details.
- Properties: View step properties.
- Access Control: View access control settings.
- Add Connector: Add another connector to the step.

Refer to Create and manage applications for more feature descriptions.