BPMN Process Execution for Odoo 19

Turn FlowForge diagrams into live process automation. Design a workflow in FlowForge (Designer), publish it as a process definition, and let the engine route tasks to users, evaluate gateway conditions, execute Odoo methods, and collect form data — with a full portal for external users.

Part of the PraetorX Enterprise Module Suite — https://praetorx.net

Token-Based Execution

• Iterative token advancement through the BPMN process graph
• 500-step safety limit prevents infinite loops
• Queue-based processing via background cron jobs
• Tokens track position, state, and errors across the process
• Process variables are carried through the entire execution

UserTask Inbox

• UserTasks appear in the Odoo systray as activities
• Dynamic form rendering — 9 field types from FlowForge forms
• Form submissions become process variables for downstream use
• Reassign, cancel, or complete tasks with one click
• Task history with timestamps and user tracking

ServiceTask Automation

• Call any Odoo model method from a BPMN process
• Parameter mapping with ${variable} references to process variables
• Examples: create purchase orders, confirm sales, send emails
• Executes as the process starter — never superuser
• Error handling with token error state and traceback

ExclusiveGateway Routing

• Condition-based routing using safe_eval
• Evaluate conditions against process variables
• Route by amount, role, department — any business logic
• Default flows for unmatched conditions
• Supports complex expressions

Portal Task Forms

• External users complete tasks at /my/tasks
• QWeb-rendered forms with client-side validation
• CSRF protection and access tokens
• No backend access required
• Ideal for: customer onboarding, vendor qualification, surveys

Security & Multi-Company

• Record rules isolate data per company and per user
• ServiceTasks execute as process starter — never superuser
• Portal users see only their assigned tasks
• Multi-company support out of the box

Publishing a Process

1. Design a BPMN diagram in FlowForge (Designer)
2. Navigate to FlowForge → Process Definitions
3. Create a new definition, link it to your diagram
4. The BPMN XML is parsed into an executable process graph
5. Click "Start Instance" to launch a process

Configuring ServiceTasks

1. Go to FlowForge → ServiceTask Configuration
2. Map a BPMN ServiceTask element ID to an Odoo model + method
3. Define parameter mapping using ${variable} references
4. The method executes as the process starter (not superuser)

Example: map a ServiceTask to sale.order → action_confirm with ${order_id} as the record ID parameter.

User Permissions

Engine User:

• Start process instances
• Complete tasks in inbox
• View own instances

Engine Manager:

• All User permissions, plus:
• Manage process definitions
• Configure ServiceTasks
• View all instances
• Cancel or reassign tasks

To assign:

1. Go to Settings → Users & Companies → Users
2. Select a user
3. Under Other, set FlowForge Engine access to User or Manager

Starting a Process

1. Go to FlowForge → Process Definitions
2. Select a published definition
3. Click "Start Instance"
4. A token is created at the StartEvent and begins advancing

Completing UserTasks

1. Check the systray badge for pending tasks
2. Open the task from the inbox
3. Fill in the dynamic form (fields from FlowForge form builder)
4. Click Complete — form data becomes process variables
5. The token advances to the next element

Portal Tasks

1. External users log in to the portal
2. Navigate to My Tasks (/my/tasks)
3. Fill in the QWeb-rendered form
4. Submit — data flows into the process as variables

Monitoring Instances

1. Go to FlowForge → Process Instances
2. View status: running, completed, cancelled, error
3. Inspect tokens: position, state, error tracebacks
4. Cancel stuck instances or reassign blocked tasks

Models

• flowforge.process.definition — Published process with parsed BPMN graph
• flowforge.process.instance — Running process with variables and state
• flowforge.process.token — Token tracking position in the process graph
• flowforge.task.inbox — UserTask assignments with form data
• flowforge.service.task.config — ServiceTask model/method mapping