[jboss-dev-forums] [Design of JBoss jBPM] - Re: Task Forms

[tom.baeyens@jboss.com]

i like the <tf:formline/>. this makes the location of the form line image configurable in one spot in the web application.


but i'm not sure if the other proposals are appropriate.  making the forms more loosely coupled to their runtime environment is indeed a plus.

i see some potential downsides...

Using EL to access variables is a good thing (maybe they already are included in the lookup).  But you should take into account that users can define variable names with spaces.  In that case we need another lookup mechanism.

Also I not so sure if a dependency on the runtime environment is a problem if that environment is properly documented and makes use of known technologies.

We should avoid that people have to learn the jBPM Form Layer apart from JSF and Facelets.  At least, this was the idea when designing the forms solution.

Also with the buttons, the idea was that the graphical designer will generate those.  After initial generation of the form by the gpd, the users now are able to customize the boring form layout to their own wishes.

By just using plain JSF/Facelets constructs, it seems much more flexible for users to start tweaking the graphical form.

On the other hand, if users don't customize the forms, they can always re-generate after they made some updates that have an impact on the form.

So this explains why I was not too concerned with usability of the form constructs.  My main concern was lowering the learning curve.  The other important thought is that mostly, users will generate the forms and will not be looking at the form code.

In my current design, they only have a problem of loosing synchronization if they start customizing the form and then adding transitions, variables or other changes that have an impact on the form.  Then the user is placed for the dillemma of regenerating and loosing updates or maintaining his changes manually in the form.

I mainly wanted to give you the background of why i designed it this way. 

In summary, my advice would be to only go for the formline change.  But of course, you are free to override my opinion or try to change it.

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