Question

How do you integrate IBM BPM with iBM Filenet?

Answer 1

FileNet Content Manager is integrated through CMIS and, on BAW, through the deeper Case / Content integration that shares the same FileNet Content Platform Engine. What you get and how to set it up:

1. Define an ECM server in the process app (Process App Settings > Servers > Enterprise Content Management server): CMIS URL of FileNet (https://cpe-host:9443/fncmis/resources/Service), the object store (repository) id, credentials or "use the process user" (SSO / LTPA between BAW and CPE).
2. Use the Content Management toolkit: coach views ECM File Uploader, ECM Document List, ECM Document Viewer; integration services for service flows (create / update / get / search documents and folders); the JavaScript API tw.system.ecm.
3. Document events: BAW can start a BPD or send a UCA when a document is filed / updated in FileNet (Document start event on the BPD, needs the CPE event handler that BAW deploys) - the "inbound scan starts a process" pattern.
4. Case management (BAW 19+ with case configured): case folders live in the FileNet target object store; processes started by case activities get the case folder (tw.system.currentProcessInstance.caseFolderId) and file documents into it (question 2927).

// service flow: file a generated PDF into a FileNet folder and set a property
var server = tw.env.ecmServer;                                  // name of the ECM server definition
var folder = tw.system.ecm.getFolderByPath(server, "/Claims/" + tw.local.claimNo);
var props = new tw.object.listOf.ECMProperty();
props[0] = new tw.object.ECMProperty(); props[0].objectTypeId = "ClaimNumber"; props[0].value = tw.local.claimNo;
var doc = tw.system.ecm.createDocument(server, folder.objectId, "Decision.pdf", "application/pdf", tw.local.pdfBase64, true, props);
tw.local.docId = doc.objectId;

Alternatives: the FileNet REST (CPE GraphQL on CP4BA) from a REST external service when CMIS is too limited (versions, security), and IBM Content Navigator plug-ins for the viewing side. On CP4BA the Workflow and FileNet components are installed together and pre-wired (object stores, SSO through Zen), so step 1 is only a selection.

References

• BAW documentation - integrating with Enterprise Content Management (FileNet, CMIS)
• Interacting with cases from processes