Incoming Webhooks
Overview
WorkflowGen features an incoming webhook application that allows users to interact with WorkflowGen from external sources by exchanging JSON payloads using HTTP POST requests. The application supports multiple types of operations.
Technical requirements
In addition to the standard WorkflowGen installation, the following components are required:
Visual C++ Redistributable Note: This library is required if you encounter the error
The specified module could not be found
regarding theedge
andedge-js
libraries when accessing the/wfgen/graphql
,/wfgen/hooks
, or/wfgen/scim
web apps.
For information on the installation procedure, see the WorkflowGen Technical Guide.
Configuration
Maximum query content length
The maximum query content length for incoming webhooks can be set by configuring the maxAllowedContentLength
property in the WorkflowGen web.config
file. The following example shows how to configure this property as 1 MB (note that the value should always be specified in bytes, so the value in the example is 1,024,000 bytes). The default value is 30,000,000 bytes.
Input file allowed folders
You must set the local or remote folder paths where files used by FILE type parameters are located. In the Webhooks section on the Integration tab in the Administration Module Configuration Panel, enter the folder names separated by commas in the Input file allowed folders (comma separated values) field.
Alternately, you can add the folder names separated by commas to the HooksInputFileAllowedFolders
parameter in the WorkflowGen web.config
file.
When using file uploads, you don't need to include the original file folder.
Maximum input file size
In the Webhooks section on the Integration tab in the Administration Module Configuration Panel, enter the maximum input file size in kilobytes in the Maximum input file size (kB) field.
Alternately, you can set the maximum input file content size in kilobytes as the value of the HooksMaxInputFileSize
parameter in the WorkflowGen web.config
file.
Maximum input file content size
When working with FILE type parameters content encoded in base64, you must enter the maximum input file content size in kilobytes in the Maximum input file content size (kB) field in the Webhooks section on the Integration tab in the Administration Module Configuration Panel.
Alternately, you can set the maximum input file content size in kilobytes as the value of the HooksMaxInputFileContentSize
parameter in the WorkflowGen web.config
file.
FILE type data content is only recommended for small files under 1 MB.
Performance tuning
WorkflowGen is installed with the following default webhooks settings (located under iisnode
in \wfgen\hooks\web.config
):
With these settings, only one node.exe
instance will handle HTTP requests. This should be sufficient in most cases, but you can optimize performance if needed by adjusting these values based on the number of potential concurrent requests.
Creating an incoming webhook application
To create a new incoming webhook application in your WorkflowGen application, click the Add Application button on the Applications page. Then, choose Incoming webhook from the Application type drop-down list, enter the Name and Description, and click Save.
The Applications page will now display your incoming webhook application information, including the application URL. This is the URL you should use to send WorkflowGen incoming webhooks. The last component of this URL corresponds to a token that WorkflowGen will use to identify your incoming webhooks.
You should fill in the Impersonate username textbox with the WorkflowGen username you use to perform your desired operations. Be aware that your impersonated user must have your asked-operation-required rights to complete the action; if not, you will receive a security error on your response payload. As well, if the impersonate username is not set, the workflow engine service default identity will be used (as defined in the Security section on the Integration tab in the Configuration Panel).
The generated URL and its associated token must remain private and not exposed to end-users in client-side (in JavaScript, for example). You should treat the token with the same level of security as you would a password.
If the token used in the incoming webhook URL is missing or invalid, a
404
status code will be returned. If the associated user is invalid, archived, or inactive, a403
status code will be returned. In both cases, the response will contain a descriptive error message.
Sending data in JSON
The incoming webhook application receives your HTTP POST request payload formatted as a JSON object.
Using the URL provided, you can post HTTP requests from external applications (e.g. Postman) to WorkflowGen in order to execute the available operations in your WorkflowGen application. For operations that require you to provide an object ID, the object ID value can be retrieved by using the GraphQL API. In most cases, object numbers can be used instead of IDs in operation payloads.
In case of an error, you will get a response payload providing error details such as:
Curl example
The requests should respect the structure shown in this example, where operation
refers to the name of the operation to execute, and args
contains the input
node that groups all of the request parameters to perform the operation.
To create a new request, the processName
parameter is required. The processVersion
parameter is optional and is used to find the correct process you want to use to create your request.
Response payload:
The response payload will be structured as follows:
Parameters
Parameter | Description |
| Process name (required) |
| Process version, used to find the correct process you want to use to create the request |
| This parameter will be null if the request creator did not define it in the request payload |
| ID of newly created request |
| Number of newly created request |
| This parameter contains the delegator ID; however, if the request was not created in delegation mode, its value will be null |
| This parameter contains the delegator username; however, if the request was not created in delegation mode, its value will be null |
System access users
Some operations (such as CancelAction
and UpdateRequestDataset
) require users to have system access to perform the operations. This can be configured in the System operations allowed users field under Security on the Integration tab in the Configuration Panel.
Request operations
Create a request
To create a new request from the webhooks API, make sure that sub-process mode is enabled with public access on the target process. (See the Process form section in the WorkflowGen Administration Guide for more information.)
Request payload:
Response payload:
A parameter's array can be included in the createRequest
operation payload. Be aware that a data with the same name and data type must previously exist in the process for each parameter in the array to store the parameter's value. The following example shows how to send parameters corresponding to the four supported data types (TEXT, NUMERIC, DATETIME, and FILE).
Request payload:
Response payload:
Properties
Property | Type | Description |
| String | Process name (required) |
| Int | Process version, used to find the correct process you want to use to create the request |
| String | Client mutation identifier |
| Boolean | Indicates if the process is in test |
| Base64-encoded string | User identifier that is used by the user to perform the mutation on behalf of another person, with the pattern |
| Base64-encoded string | Process identifier with the pattern |
| Array | Array of parameters (see Parameter definitions) |
Update a request dataset
A request dataset context can be updated by adding a parameter array. In this case a request number or a request ID should be provided.
This operation requires users to have system access to perform it. This can be configured in the System operations allowed users field under Security on the Integration tab in the Configuration Panel.
Request payloads:
Response payload:
For more information on FILE parameter manipulations when sent within incoming webhook payloads, see the File upload section.
Properties
Property | Type | Description |
| String | Client mutation identifier |
| Int | Request number |
| Base64-encoded string | Request identifier with the pattern |
| Array | Array of parameters (see Parameter definitions) |
Cancel a request
You can cancel a request by using the request number or the request ID.
Request payloads:
Response payload:
Properties
Property | Type | Description |
| String | Client mutation identifier |
| Int | Request number |
| Base64-encoded string | Request identifier with the pattern |
| Boolean | Indicates if participant members have to be notified |
| Base64-encoded string | User identifier that is used by the user to perform the mutation on behalf of another person, with the pattern |
Delete a request
A request can be deleted by using the request number or the request ID.
Request payloads:
Response payload:
Properties
Property | Type | Description |
| String | Client mutation identifier |
| Base64-encoded string | Request identifier with the pattern |
| Int | Request number |
Action operations
Complete an action
To complete an action, provide the request number and the action number, or the action ID.
Request payloads:
Response payload:
To complete an action, a parameter array can be included in the request payload arguments.
Request payload:
Response payload:
Properties
Property | Type | Description |
| Int | Request number |
| Int | Action number |
| String | Activity name |
| String | Client mutation identifier |
| Boolean | Indicates if the process is in test |
| Base64-encoded string | User identifier that is used by the user to perform the mutation on behalf of another person, with the pattern |
| Base64-encoded string | Action identifier with the pattern |
| Array | Array of parameters (see Parameter definitions) |
Cancel an action
To cancel an action, provide the request number and the action number, or the action ID. The following conditions must be met:
The viewer and the user (if they don't share the same identity, as in delegation mode) must have access to the request.
The action must be open.
The action must have a cancel or default exception defined in the transition.
The viewer is:
an administrator or process folder manager OR
a supervisor with cancellation rights OR
the action assignee.
Request payloads:
Response payload:
Properties
Property | Type | Description |
| String | Client mutation identifier |
| String | Exception:
|
| Base64-encoded string | Action identifier with the pattern |
| Int | Action number |
| Base64-encoded string | User identifier used by the user to perform the mutation on behalf of another person with the pattern |
| Int | Request number |
| Cancellation type:
|
Cancel a request's actions by name
All of the actions with the same name in a request can be cancelled at the same time by using their name in this operation payload. The following conditions are met:
The viewer and the user (if they do not share the same identity, as in delegation mode) must have access to the request.
The action must be open.
The action must have a cancel or default exception defined in the transition.
The viewer is:
an administrator or a process folder manager OR
a supervisor with cancellation rights OR
the action assignee.
Request payload:
Response payload:
Properties
Property | Type | Description |
| String | Activity name |
| String | Client mutation identifier |
| String | Exception:
|
| Base64-encoded string | User identifier used by the user to perform the mutation on behalf of another person with the pattern |
| Int | Request number |
| Cancellation type:
|
Assign an action
To assign an action, provide the request number and the action number, or the action ID; you must also provide the assigneeUserName
or the assigneeId
.
Request payloads:
Response payload:
Properties
Property | Type | Description |
| Base64-encoded string | User identifier of the person assigned to the action with the pattern |
| String | Client mutation identifier |
| Base64-encoded string | Action identifier with the pattern |
| Int | Action number |
| Base64-encoded string | User identifier used by the user to perform the mutation on behalf of another person with the pattern |
| Int | Request number |
Cancel an action assignment
To cancel an action assignment, you should provide the request number and the action number, or the action ID.
Request payloads:
Response payload:
Properties
Property | Type | Description |
| String | Client mutation identifier |
| Base64-encoded string | Action identifier with the pattern |
| Int | Action number |
| Base64-encoded string | User identifier used by the user to perform the mutation on behalf of another person with the pattern |
| Int | Request number |
End-user operations
Create a favorite
The incoming webhook application lets users add processes and views to their favorites lists using the process or view IDs.
Request payload:
The above code will create a favorite using the process or view description, but adding a custom description is also possible, as shown in the following example:
Request payload:
Response payload:
Properties
Property | Type | Description |
| String | Client mutation identifier |
| String | Favorite description |
| Base64-encoded string | Favorite item identifier with the pattern |
Update a favorite
The incoming webhook application lets users update an existing favorite process or view by using its favorite ID.
Request payload:
Response payload:
Properties
Property | Type | Description |
| String | Client mutation identifier |
| String | Favorite description |
| Base64-encoded string | Favorite item identifier with the pattern |
Delete a favorite
The incoming webhook application lets users delete an existing favorite process or view from their favorites list by using its favorites ID.
Request payload:
Response payload:
Properties
Property | Type | Description |
| String | Client mutation identifier |
| Base64-encoded string | Favorite item identifier with the pattern |
Add a comment
The incoming webhook application lets users add comments to requests.
Request payload:
Response payload:
Properties
Property | Type | Description |
| String | Client mutation identifier |
| String | New comment message |
| Base64-encoded string | Identifier of the object to which the comment with be added with the pattern |
Remove a comment
The incoming webhook application lets users remove comments from requests.
Request payload:
Response payload:
Properties
Property | Type | Description |
| String | Client mutation identifier |
| Base64-encoded string | Comment identifier with the pattern |
Parameter definitions
These parameters define single data values used in the Create a new request, Update a request dataset, Complete an action, and Complete a form action operations.
Operation values
Property | Type | Description |
| DateTime | Parameter datetime value |
| String | Parameter name |
| Float | Parameter numeric value |
| String | Parameter text value |
| Object | File values (see below) |
File values
Property | Type | Description |
| Base64-encoded string | File content |
| String | File content type |
| String | File description |
| String | File name |
| Int | File size in bytes |
| DateTime | Identifies the date and time when the file was updated |
| Upload | File upload |
| URI | File URL |
File upload
As of version 7.2.0, the incoming webhook application supports the fileValue.updatedAt
, fileValue.content
, and fileValue.url
fields when sending FILE parameters (as shown in the previous example).
The fileValue.updatedAt
field should use the ISO 8601 date format.
File content
The fileValue.content
field should contain the file content encoded in base64. In this case, the fileValue.url
field is not required. You must set the maximum input file content size (see the Configuration section above for instructions on how to set these).
File URL
The fileValue.url
field contains the file URL. When working with FILE parameters, you must set the input file allowed folders and the maximum input file size (see the Configuration section above for instructions on how to set these).
The following path patterns are supported:
Local file should use the File URI scheme:
Public file URL:
Local host file URL:
Multipart file upload
As of WorkflowGen version 7.14.0, incoming webhooks support multipart file uploads for the following mutations:
createRequest
completeAction
completeFormAction
updateRequestDataset
Curl example for a single upload
The content type should be
multipart/form-data
.The
payload
field is required and contains the operation and its arguments.input.parameters[X].fileValue
should contain anuploadMap
whose value is the(\"fileValue\": {\"uploadMap\":\"1\" })
key of the file to be uploaded.The key should be an alphanumeric string that matches the file key (
"1"
in the above example).For each
uploadMap
declared, a file with the same key must be attached.
Each file to be uploaded should contain the alphanumeric key and the file path (
"1=@C:\test1.txt"
).Each attached file must match an
uploadMap
.The files should follow the
payload
part.
Curl example for multiple uploads
Limits
The maximum number of uploads in the same request is 30.
The maximum file upload size is set in the
HooksMaxInputFileSize
configuration parameter.
The multipart/form-data
content type is only advised for HTTP requests with file uploads. If the fileValue.name
, fileValue.description
, fileValue.contentType
, and fileValue.size
properties are not defined, they will be set from the uploaded file information; otherwise, they will take the values defined the payload.
Delegation mode
Some of these operations can be done in delegation mode, by adding the onBehalfOfUserName
(delegator username) or the onBehalfOf
(delegator ID) arguments to the request JSON payload, such as in the following example:
Request payloads:
In this case, the response payload will also contain the onBehalfOf
and onBehalfOfUserName
arguments.
In the case of CancelActionAssignment
and UpdateRequestDataset
operations, the delegation mode is not supported.
clientMutationId
clientMutationId
clientMutationId
is an optional argument that can be used by the requester to identify the execution of an operation. Its value is defined in the input payload (e.g. a UUID). If defined, the same value is returned by the operation.
Request payload:
Response payload:
Known limitations
For file type data parameters, the URL must start with file://
, and the path has to be available to the WorkflowGen server.
Performance optimization
The value of the nodeProcessCountPerApplication
setting is set to 0
by default for the best performance in Node.js applications. This creates one node process based on the number of virtual processors that are configured. You can change this value at any time to a custom number of node processes; for example, nodeProcessCountPerApplication=2
will create two node processes independently of the number of virtual processors.
For more information, see https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/app-service/app-service-web-nodejs-best-practices-and-troubleshoot-guide#nodeprocesscountperapplication.
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