Archiving
The purpose of archiving in WEBCON BPS is to enhance management of available database disk space, and thus increase system performance.
Archiving can be done in three operating modes – two of them collect workflow instances on external storage devices (database or network location), the third removes them completely.
All three archiving modes irreversibly delete workflow instances from the "Content database". Instance numbers will remain in the database (they must never be repeated within the system).
Methods of archiving workflow instances
1. Move to archive database
Designated instances of the workflow will be moved to an external archive database. The default archive database is created during installation (Database creation step), additional archive databases can be created using the WEBCON BPS installer (Tools for application management → Database creation).
A different archive database can be set individually for each process in its Settings tab:
The Attachment archiving mode may also be selected here – archiving may include either all versions of every attachment or just the most recent version of each attachment.
2. Move to an external network location
Designated instances of the workflow will be moved to an external network location in the form of a .zip file. The package will also include an .xml file detailing the history of the workflow instance, and a .pdf file which displays the state of the form right before being archived. Instances of individual subworkflows may be packaged in separate files (one subworkflow, one .zip file) or they may be bundled together in one package with instances from the main workflow.
The address of the network location is set in the Settings tab of the process configuration:
The Attachment archiving mode may also be selected here – archiving may include either all versions of every attachment or just the most recent version of each attachment.
3. Remove from content database
Designated instances of the workflow will be erased completely, without any form of retention.
For more information on archiving, see the section Archive workflow instances and in THIS ARTICLE on our technical blog.