Imagine that the user
1. Clicks on a button that kicks off a long running report on the server and gets back immediate control of the UI
2. Navigates to another view that fires off several interfaces to get data back
3. As soon as each interface call completes, the screen refreshes with the new data
4. Minutes later the report finishes and the user is presented with a real time browser notification
If the advantages dont jump at you, this list will make it obvious
1. Non blocking UI
2. No nasty polling to maintain
3. Reduced network traffic
4. Less waiting time
5. Real time server to browser notification
6. Parallel processing
This sounds like some modern website, but with a bit of engineering, we can transform Siebel into a more feature rich application.
Basics
Siebel executes code in two modes
1. Synchronous
2. Asynchronous
Synchronous
Server processes invoked by a users session eg. eScript/WFs run synchronously. In other words, you cannot have two pieces of code run in parallel. Synchronous execution freezes the users screen (including any browser side animation) and forces the user to wait until one process has completed before it runs another process.
Asynchronous
Processes can be made to run asynchronously, by dispatching the execution to a background process. This mode provides control back immediately, but a callback is not provided when that process finishes.
However with a little fancy footwork, we can get the best of both worlds. Dispatching code asynchronously with a callback.
Implementation
We will build a button that fires a piece of code that runs on the server for a 10 seconds. The user will be free to do what they choose, and when the server process is complete, a sexy message slides into view, displaying to the user the number of seconds the code took to run.
Ingredients
1. Ajax
Allows us to execute code in the background and get a callback. We will use javascript to launch our background process and listen for the response.
2. Interface
Since the code is triggered client side, we need a browser accessible Siebel interface that allows us to execute code and return some values.
Pick one of the following or come up with your own
A. SWE Querystring
B. XML Command Block
C. SOAP
3. Read Results
I'm going to pick option A. Options B and C will also work, but require dealing with XML payloads and using HTTP POST in javascript, which I'll leave for EAI developers to play with.
The solution entails using Ajax, which dispatches a call to a background process, essentially running synchronous code in a separate session. The user is free to move on and perform other tasks, when the background process finishes, it returns to the browser which registered a callback, the callback function can then notify the user of the results of the process.
4. Proxy
The proxy BS will act as a wrapper to call the intended process, and add the HTTP response headers. These headers are required because invoking a business service using the query string kicks off a server process, which dosnt return a property set to the browser. The proxy business service will convert the outputs into headers that the browser can understand.
5. Session
If we run Ajax calls against our active session, it will still block our UI, so to get around this problem we need a separate Application to offload and invoke our interface. Your second Application can be SI or HI, as long as its different from your active UI session.
The interaction sequence looks like this
There are two key pieces of code that is required for this to work.
1. Ajax Call
The following code is initiated from a button on the browser, and makes a HTTP GET request, using the SWE Querystring API. This querystring calls a Proxy BS, passing in the destination Business Service, Method, and arguments.
It also registers a callback routine to handle the result from the background process. This callback function can take summary data from the server business service and display the results to the users session or it can detect the users view, and refresh data that has been loaded in the background.
var reqUrl = "/Application2/"; reqUrl+="start.swe?SWECmd=ExecuteLogin&SWESetMarkup=XML&SWEDataOnly=1"+ "&ParamBS="+sBS+ "&ParamCallMETH="+sMeth+ "&SWEAC=SWECmd=InvokeMethod&SWEMethod=test&SWEService=MyProxyBS"; var xmlHttp = new XMLHttpRequest(); xmlHttp.open('HEAD', reqUrl, true); xmlHttp.onreadystatechange = function() { if (xmlHttp.readyState == 4) { if (xmlHttp.status == 200 || xmlHttp.status == 204) { var sResp = ""+ ",Status: "+xmlHttp.status+""+ ",Result: "+xmlHttp.getResponseHeader("time elapsed"); alert(sResp); } } }
2. Proxy BS
This Proxy BS written in eScript, handles the invokation of the destination Business Service, and creation of the custom HTTP headers. Once this piece of eScript finishes, it returns to the onreadystatechange handler in the code above.
var oBSWeb = TheApplication().GetService("Web Engine HTTP TXN"); oBSWeb.InvokeMethod("GetAllRequestParameters", Inputs, Outputs); //Get parameters from querystring var sBSToCall = Outputs.GetProperty("ParamBS"); var sMethToInv = Outputs.GetProperty("ParamCallMETH"); //Call your BS //processing time here.... var sElaspedTime="1000"; //set response headers for the browser to read Inputs.SetProperty("time elapsed",sElaspedTime); oBSWeb.InvokeMethod("SetResponseHeaders",Inputs,Outputs);
The example above just uses an alert, but an imaginative developer can implement a sexier dialog, or invoke a refresh on the current view
Summary
I've demonstrated usage of the SWE API, but Siebel provides a similar more supportable architecture in the form of an EAI Object manager, making the SOAP interface a more suitable fit.
This is no simple piece of configuration, and it is not recommended that you attempt it without the consultation of your local Siebel Architect. The intention of this article, is to illustrate how Siebel and browser technologies can come together to achieve a solution that was written off as impossible.
This concept was POC'd for client who needed real time notifications for bulk processing, it allowed the user to continue on, and get a fancy notification once the process was completed.
To satisfy our Funky town series, we have to ask ourselves
1. Will it perform well?
Yes, code can be distributed in parallel, and run in the background
2. Is it maintainable?
Yes, if the code is put into a framework, and maintained by an experienced professional
3. Can it be upgraded?
Yes, the solution can be built using a supported architecture, and abstracted through a business services. and
4. Is it sexy?
Yes, its what Siebel Open UI promises to be, except Open UI dosnt do server side callbacks! (Confirmed with Siebel in 4th Qtr 2011)
Hi Jason,
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I just wanted to know one thing. When you say Application 2 you mean a different object manager or it has to be a complete different URL??
Hi Neel, if you have separate object managers, that should work, as it should be treated as different sessions.
ReplyDeleteOne question. how to invoke the custom bs by using this proxy bs. for an example i want to call "List Emp" BS by passing inputs as "Emp Id" = "ABCD"
ReplyDeleteHi Tamojit.
ReplyDeleteYou have to implement a proxy BS that takes inputs, eg. BS name, method, inputs, and relay them to your custom BS, and pass back the outputs.
Hi Jason,
ReplyDeleteSorry to ask on different topic all together not related to above post. Technically is there any difference in REST Inbound Siebel WebService and an Inbound HTTP Call in siebel versions prior to 8.1.1.4. If yes can you guide me for same.
Thanks,
-Rahul-
Hi Jason,
ReplyDeleteSorry to ask on different topic all together not related to above post. Technically is there any difference in REST Inbound Siebel WebService and an Inbound HTTP Call in siebel versions prior to 8.1.1.4. If yes can you guide me for same.
Thanks,
-Rahul-
Hi Rahul
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately I haven't used RESTful services to be able to compare for you.
Jason
Hi,
ReplyDeletewe have a view in open UI where some of the data will be loaded with VBC(5 applets)
Will this approach work for siebel VBC Data refresh as well? Since we are having a separate session called for bulk processing.
Thanks.
BD
Hi BD
ReplyDeleteThat's a good question. Conceptually you would have to implement the following.
1. On page load page dispatch an Ajax SOAP request with the current context id, and session id to a Siebel Inbound WS
2. The Siebel Inbound WS runs in the background, orchestrates the calls, and persist the results to a transient BC with the session Id.
3. Once the WS has completed, the Ajax callback will notify the browser to refresh, and your VBC will read from the transient BC above
I want to call two web service in parallel from one process (WF/BS). Also I need response status as well. Please suggest..
ReplyDeleteYou would need a component that can do multi threading. What is the business requirement?
ReplyDelete