Creating and uploading a new document

User task nodes provide a flexible framework to defining and configuring UI templates and actions for specific template config nodes, such as an upload file button.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure the following prerequisites are met:

Access Permissions: Ensure that you have the necessary permissions to use the Documents Plugin. The user account used for these operations should have the required access rights.
Kafka Configuration: Verify that the Kafka messaging system is properly configured and accessible. The Documents Plugin relies on Kafka for communication between nodes.
- Kafka Topics: Familiarize yourself with the Kafka topics used for these operations (later in this section).

To upload a document using this process, follow the steps outlined below.

Step-by-step guide: uploading an previewing a document

In the previous section, you learned how to generate documents from HTML templates. This section focuses on creating a process where users can generate a document, review and sign it, and subsequently upload it.

Process overview

This process involves several key nodes, each performing specific tasks to ensure smooth document creation, preview, and upload:

Start and End Nodes: These nodes mark the beginning and end of the process, respectively.
User Task Node: Collects user input necessary for document generation.
Send and Receive Message Tasks (Kafka): Handle communication with Kafka for generating the document and retrieving it after processing.
Service Task Node: Appends the path of the generated document to the process, enabling further actions.
User Task Nodes: Facilitate the preview of the generated document and manage the upload of the signed document.

Configuring the process

Document generation

Follow the steps outlined in Generating from HTML templates configure the document generation part of the process.

If you only need to upload a new file without generating it from templates, skip the template generation steps.

After configuration, your request and response messages should resemble the examples below.

Request message example

This JSON structure represents a Kafka message sent through the ..in topic to initiate a request in the Process Engine. It includes information for generating an “AccountCreation” document with a custom ID “119237” in English. Data specifies client details extracted dynamically from user input (first name, last name, age, country) and company information (name, registration date).

This an example of a message that follows the custom integration data model.

{
  "documentList": [
    {
      "customId": "119246", //this will match the name of the folder in the storage solution
      "templateName": "AccountCreation",
      "language": "en",
      "data": {
        "application": {
          "client": {
            "firstName": "John",
            "lastName": "Doe",
            "age": "33",
            "country": "AU"
          },
          "company": {
            "name": "ACME",
            "registrationDate": "24.01.2024"
          }
        }
      },
      "includeBarcode": false
    }
  ]
}

Response message example

This JSON structure represents the response received on the ..out Kafka topic, where the Process Engine expects a reply. It contains details about the generated PDF file corresponding to the custom ID “119237” and the “AccountCreation” template. The response provides file-related information such as file ID, document type, document label, storage path, download path, number of pages, and any potential errors (null if none). The paths provided in the response facilitate access and download of the generated PDF file.

{
  "generatedFiles": {
    "119246": {
      "AccountCreation": {
        "customId": "119246",
        "fileId": "f705ae5b-f301-4700-b594-a63b50df6854",
        "documentType": "AccountCreation",
        "documentLabel": "GENERATED_PDF",
        "minioPath": "flowx-dev-process-id-119246/119246/457_AccountCreation.pdf", // path to the document in the storage solution
        "downloadPath": "internal/files/f705ae5b-f301-4700-b594-a63b50df6854/download", //link for download
        "noOfPages": 1,
        "error": null
      }
    }
  },
  "error": null
}

Preview document

Configure the preview part of the process.

Service task node

We will configure the service task node to construct the file path for the generated document.Configure a business rule to construct a file path for the generated document. Ensure the base admin path is specified.

Ensuring the base admin path is specified is crucial, as it grants the required administrative rights to access the endpoint responsible for document generation.

Actions

Action Edit

Action Type: Set to Business Rule
Trigger Type: Choose Automatic because is not a user-triggered action
Required Type: Set as Mandatory

Parameters

Language: We will use MVEL for this example
Body Message: Fill in the body message request

adminPath = "https://admin-main.playground.flowxai.dev/document/";
processInstanceId = input.?generatedDocuments.?generatedFiles.keySet().toArray()[0];
downloadPath = input.?generatedDocuments.?generatedFiles.?get(processInstanceId).Company_Client_Document.downloadPath;

if(downloadPath != null){
    output.put("generatedDocuments", {
        "filePath" : adminPath + downloadPath
    });
}

Explanation of MVEL code

adminPath: Base URL for the admin path.

adminPath = "https://admin-main.playground.flowxai.dev/document/";

processInstanceId: Extracts the process instance ID from the input. Assumes an input structure with a generatedDocuments property containing a generatedFiles property. Retrieves the keys, converts them to an array, and selects the first element.

processInstanceId = input.?generatedDocuments.?generatedFiles.keySet().toArray()[0];

downloadPath: Retrieves the downloadPath property using the obtained processInstanceId.

downloadPath = input.?generatedDocuments.?generatedFiles.?get(processInstanceId).Company_Client_Document.downloadPath;`

if condition: Checks if downloadPath is not null and constructs a new object in the output map.

if(downloadPath != null){
    output.put("generatedDocuments", {
        "filePath" : adminPath + downloadPath
    });
}

User Task

Now we will configure the user task to preview the generated document.

Actions

Configure the Actions edit section:

Action Type: Set to Save Data.
Trigger Type: Choose Manual to allow user-triggered action.
Required Type: Set as Mandatory.

Let’s see what we have until now.The screen where you can fill in the client details:

The screen where you can preview and download the generated document: Preview Document

Upload document

Configure the user task where we will upload the signed document genereated from the previous document template.

Node Config

Swimlane: Choose a swimlane (if multiple) to restrict access to specific user roles.
Stage: Assign a stage to the node.
Data stream topics: Add the topic where the response will be sent; in this example ai.flowx.updates.document.html.persist.v1 and its key: uploadedDocument.

Actions

Configure the following node actions:

Upload File action with two child actions:
- Business Rule
- Send Data to User Interface
Save Data action

Upload file action

This is a standard predefined FlowX Node Action for uploading files. This is done through Kafka and by using persist topics.

Configuring the File Upload action

Action edit

Action Type: Set to Upload File.
Trigger Type: Choose Manual to allow user-triggered action.
Required Type: Set it as Optional.
Repeatable: Check this option if the action can be triggered multiple times.

Parameters

Topics: Kafka topic where the file will be posted, in this example ai.flowx.in.document.persist.v1.

To identify your defined topics in your current environment, follow the next steps:

From the FLOWX.AI main screen, navigate to the Platform Status menu at the bottom of the left sidebar.
In the FLOWX Components list, scroll to the document-plugin-mngt line and press the eye icon on the right side.
In the details screen, expand the KafkaTopicsHealthCheckIndicator line and then details → configuration → topic → document → persist. Here will find the in and out topics for persisting (uploading documents).

Document Type: Metadata for the document plugin, in this example BULK.
Folder: Configure a value by which the file will be identified, in this example it will be the${processInstanceId} (it will be replaced at runtime with a generated process instance id).
Advanced configuration (Show headers): This represents a JSON value that will be sent on the headers of the Kafka message, in this example:

{"processInstanceId": ${processInstanceId}, "destinationId": "upload_document", "callbacksForAction": "uploadDocument"}`

callbacksForAction - the value of this key is a string that specifies a callback action associated with the “upload_document” destination ID (node). This is part of an event-driven system (Kafka send action) where this callback will be called once the “upload_document” action is completed.

Data to send

Keys: Used when data is sent from the frontend via an action for data validation.

When configuring the UI action that corresponds to the Upload File node action, you must set the UI action type to upload. This ensures proper integration between the frontend interface and the backend upload functionality.

Now, configure the child actions of Upload File Action.

Business rule

This is necessary to create the path to display the uploaded document.

Configuring the Business Rule action

Action Edit

Order: Set to 1 so it will be processed before the second child action.
Action Type: Set to Upload File.
Trigger Type: Choose Automatic, it does not need user intervention.
Required Type: Set as Mandatory.
Repeatable: Check this option if the action can be triggered multiple times.

Parameters

Language: In this example we will use MVEL.
Body Message: Fill in the body of the message request by applying a logic similar to the one utilized in configuring the “preview_document” node. Establish a path that will be later employed to showcase the uploaded document within a preview UI component.

adminPath = "https://admin-main.playground.flowxai.dev/document/";
downloadPath = input.?uploadedDocument.?downloadPath;

if(downloadPath != null){
    output.put("uploadedDocument", {
        "filePath" : adminPath + downloadPath
    });
}

Send Data to User Interface

This is necessary to send the previously created information to the frontend.

Configuring the Send Data to User Interface action

Action Edit

Order: Set to 2 so it will be processed after the previously created Business Rule.
Action Type: Set to Send data to user interface.
Trigger Type: Choose Automatic, it does not need user intervention.
Required Type: Set as Mandatory.
Repeatable: Check this option if the action can be triggered multiple times.

Parameters

Message Type: Set to Default.
Body Message: Populate the body of the message request; this object will be utilized to bind it to the document preview UI element.

{
    "uploadedDocument": {
        "filePath": "${uploadedDocument.filePath}"
    }
}

Target Process: Used to specify to what running process instance should this message be sent - set to Active Process.

Save Data

Configure the last node action to save all the data.Action edit

Order: Set to 3.
Action Type: Set to Save Data.
Trigger Type: Choose Manual to allow user-triggered action.
Required Type: Set as Mandatory.

Request message example

To initiate the document processing, a Kafka request with the following JSON payload will be sent through ..in topic:

This an example of a message that follows the custom integration data model.

{
  "tempFileId": "05081172-1f95-4ece-b2dd-1718936710f7", //a unique identifier for the temporary file
  "customId": "119246", //a custom identifier associated with the document
  "documentType": "BULK" //the type of the document 
}

Response message example

Upon successful processing, you will receive a JSON response on the ..out topic with details about the processed document:

{
  "customId": "119246",
  "fileId": "96975e03-7fba-4a03-99b0-3b30c449dfe7",
  "documentType": "BULK",
  "documentLabel": null,
  "minioPath": "flowx-dev-process-id-119246/119246/458_BULK.pdf",
  "downloadPath": "internal/files/96975e03-7fba-4a03-99b0-3b30c449dfe7/download",
  "noOfPages": null,
  "error": null
}

Now the screen is configured for uploading the signed document: Upload File

Receiving the reply

The response, containing information about the generated and uploaded documents as mentioned earlier, is sent to the output Kafka topic defined in the Kafka Receive Event Node. The response includes details such as file IDs, document types, and storage paths.

The reply body is expected to contain the following values:

customId: A custom identifier associated with the document.
fileId: The ID of the file.
documentType: The document type.
minioPath: The path where the uploaded file is saved. It represents the location of the file in the storage system, whether it’s a MinIO path or an S3 path, depending on the specific storage solution.
downloadPath: The download path for the uploaded file. It specifies the location from where the file can be downloaded.
noOfPages: The number of pages in the document (if applicable).
filePath: The path to the file that we built in our example so we can display the document.

Getting Started

Platform overview

FlowX.AI Designer

Building projects

Building blocks

Platform deep dive

API reference

Creating and uploading a new document

Prerequisites

Step-by-step guide: uploading an previewing a document

Process overview

Configuring the process

Request message example

Response message example

Service task node

Actions

User Task

Actions

Node Config

Actions

Upload file action

Action edit

Parameters

Data to send

Business rule

Send Data to User Interface

Save Data

Request message example

Response message example

Receiving the reply

Getting Started

Platform overview

FlowX.AI Designer

Building projects

Building blocks

Platform deep dive

API reference

​Prerequisites

​Step-by-step guide: uploading an previewing a document

​Process overview

​Configuring the process

​Request message example

​Response message example

​Service task node

​Actions

​User Task

​Actions

​Node Config

​Actions

​Upload file action

​Business rule

​Send Data to User Interface

​Save Data

​Request message example

​Response message example

​Receiving the reply

Prerequisites

Step-by-step guide: uploading an previewing a document

Process overview

Configuring the process

Request message example

Response message example

Service task node

Actions

User Task

Actions

Node Config

Actions

Upload file action

Business rule

Send Data to User Interface

Save Data

Request message example

Response message example

Receiving the reply