[rules-users] First experience with Drools 'BPM' ruleflow : some questions

Hi ! I've tried the Drools Ruleflow to implement process. I found it very nice and wonders if it's still usefull to retain the JBPM process : if anyone has an objective comparison of the two, I would be interested. Personaly I think I have a better acces to the workflow control and logic in Drools. I just miss the possibility to map an ActionClass when I want to do something requiring many java code lines. Otherwise it seems overall better. I still have a few questions for those that are experimented in Drools Ruleflow. Is there a way to render the process model more user friendly toward more 'business' people ? It seems to me I have to build my business model through JavaBeans, meaning I have to generate get/set methodes and have no graphical view of my process model. A graphical editor would be very nice. Is there a way to change a node type (other than XML hacking...) I wanted to test my process using action nodes. If I want to change them to ruleset or human task how can I do it ? Are they tool to facilitate process simulation ? Are they way to generate Human Task test screen ? Is it possible to instanciante a process variable in a node ? I had a 'testIt' variable, type specific Object. I did inject a null instance at process start. In a action node I tried : testIt = new MyObject(); Still testIt remains null. I can execute methods on variable, but not instanciate them ? Bugs ? As it's my first try I wouldn't report them until sure it's bugs (and they're not yet reported !) - In my first process I just clicked on 'OK' to enter constraints on split node (I had one on always true, and every other blank). That removed the process compil error. But generated a null pointer error at run time. I wished the error would give me the node name. I wished those null pointer error were detected in the process check phase. The possibility to have 'blank' constraints just to test other part of the process would be nice. - I have a split note with constraints going towards actions node. I realize one action node is useless and wants to map directly toward the next node in taht line (to remove the useless action node). Dragging the connection removes the constraits... Too bad :( - I got StackOverflow doing unintentionaly a loop in my process. I wished the engine would allow a special exit conditions on those case ! Thanks a lot for insights of experienced user !