Question

How can Business Data be Updated using REST API?

Answer 1

"Business data" here means the process instance's variables (and the exposed business data that the search index shows). Update them with the process variables resource of the classic REST API, or the task data actions while a task is open:

# 1. instance variables (any running instance; full replacement of each variable you name)
PUT /rest/bpm/wle/v1/process/2072.123/variables
Content-Type: application/json
BPMCSRFToken: <token>
{ "order": { "number": "ORD-42", "status": "APPROVED", "customer": { "id": "c1", "name": "Ana Perez" } }, "approver": "jdoe" }

# read first (to modify in place)
GET /rest/bpm/wle/v1/process/2072.123?parts=data
# 2. task data (a task's input/output variables; updates the instance when the task completes)
PUT /rest/bpm/wle/v1/task/2078.456?action=setData&params={"order":{...}}&parts=data
# 3. complete a task with output data in one call
PUT /rest/bpm/wle/v1/task/2078.456?action=finish&params={"decision":"APPROVED","comment":"ok"}
# 4. BAW 21+ Process REST v2: the instance's "actions" list shows set_data when the caller may change data (see /bpm/docs of your level for the call)

The exposed business data used by searches (the "business data" columns in Process Portal) is updated automatically by the engine when the underlying variable changes through any of these calls - there is no separate API for it. Rules: send whole variables (the engine does not merge partial objects), keep types consistent with the business object, and obtain the CSRF token first on BAW 20+ / CP4BA. Server-side from a script the same is BPMRESTRequest (question 3127); inside the flow use data mapping (question 3160).

References

• Process REST API - process variables, task setData / finish
• Process REST v2 (BAW 21+)
• BPMCSRFToken