Process classes are Controller classes used to implement all the process flows by calling the business objects. Basically, they are used to implement any batch, background or interactive process in the system. We also use EJBs (Stateless Session Beans) for the process classes as well to implement the process functionality.

What does this section cover?

Creating the Process Classes

In this example, we are going to implement a process class that will create a number of installed items. All process classes should be placed under com.crm.process.* named packages and extend either com.crm.process.CRMProcess or one of its subclasses. Process classes that are handled by the scheduler should extend com.crm.process.CRMProcessRunBean.

Creating CRMProcessInstalledItemBean.java

To implement the desired process flow we add the corresponding methods.

createInstalledItems

    /**
     * Creates a number of installed items.
     * 
     * @param numberOfInstalledItems - the number of installed items to construct
     * @return a list of installed items
     * @throws Exception
     */
    public ArrayList<CRMDO> createInstalledItems(Integer numberOfInstalledItems) throws Exception {
    	
    	ArrayList<CRMDO> installedItems = new ArrayList<CRMDO>();
    	
    	for (int i=0; i<numberOfInstalledItems; i++)
    	{
    		CRMDOInstalledItem installedItem = (CRMDOInstalledItem)installedItemBean.construct();
    		
    		installedItem.setSerialNumber(newGuid());
    		
    		installedItem = (CRMDOInstalledItem)installedItemBean.validateAndSave(installedItem);
    		
    		installedItems.add(installedItem);
    	}
    	
    	return installedItems;
    }

Note that our method does not contain any complex business logic. In short, it executes a loop and for each iteration, it uses the business logic provided by the installedItemBean business object and sets a new serial number on the data objects returned. When the loop completes, it returns a list of the installed item data objects created.

To start implementing the view layer, go to Developing the View layer