Version: 8.2

Run the business process from the C# console app using the business process service

Level: advanced

To implement the example:

Implement a business process that adds a contact. Read more >>>
Implement a business process that retrieves the list of contacts. Read more >>>
Implement the C# console app. Read more >>>

Example

Run the following custom business processes from the C# console app using the ProcessEngineService.svc business process service:

"Add external contact" that adds a contact to the Contacts section. The Contact and Mobile phone field of the added contact must be populated.
"Retrieve the list of contacts" that retrieves the list of contacts from the Contacts section.

1. Implement a business process that adds a contact

1. Create a business process

Open the Configuration section. Instructions: Open the Configuration section.
Create a package. Instructions: Create a user-made package using Configuration section.

For this example, create the sdkWorkWithBusinessProcessService package.
Change the current package. Instructions: Change the current package.

For this example, change the current package to sdkWorkWithBusinessProcessService user-made package.
Create the business process schema. To do this, click Add → Business process.
Open the Settings tab.
Fill out the schema properties.

For this example, use the following schema properties.

Property
Property value
Title
Add external contact
Code
UsrAddExternalContactProcess
Save the changes.

Property	Property value
Title	Add external contact
Code	UsrAddExternalContactProcess

As a result:

The "Add external contact" business process will be created.
Creatio will add the "Add external contact" business process to the Process library section.

2. Set up the business process parameters

Open the properties of the business process schema. To do this, click an arbitrary place in the working area of the Process Designer.
Open the Parameters tab.

Add the business process parameters.

For this example, add the following parameters:

parameter that contains the contact name
parameter that contains the mobile phone of the contact

To do this:

Click Add parameter and select a parameter of the needed type.

Fill out the parameter properties.

Element	Element type	Property	Property value
Parameter that contains the contact name	Text	Title	Contact name
		Code	ContactName
		Data type	Text (50 characters)
Parameter that contains the mobile phone of the contact	Text	Title	Mobile phone
		Code	MobilePhone
		Data type	Text (50 characters)

As a result, the Parameters tab of the "Add external contact" business process will be as follows.

3. Implement adding a contact

Add a Script task element. To do this, click → place the Script task element between the Simple page element and Terminate page element in the working area of the Process Designer.
Fill out the element properties.

Property
Property value
Title
Add contact

Property	Property value
Title	Add contact

Implement the logic of working with process parameters. To do this, go to the element setup area and add the source code.

Add contact script task
// IMPORTANT: When implementing
// long-running operations,
// it is crucial to enable timely and
// responsive cancellation. To achieve
// this, ensure that your code
// is designed to respond appropriately
// to cancellation requests using
// the context.CancellationToken
// mechanism. For more detailed
// information and examples,
// please, refer to our documentation.

/* Create an instance of the "Contact" object. */
var schema = UserConnection.EntitySchemaManager.GetInstanceByName("Contact");

/* Create an instance of new object. */
var entity = schema.CreateEntity(UserConnection);

/* Set object columns to default values. */
entity.SetDefColumnValues();

/* Contact name. */
string contactName = Get<string>("ContactName");

/* Mobile phone of the contact. */
string contactPhone = Get<string>("MobilePhone");

/* Set "Name" column to process parameter value. */
entity.SetColumnValue("Name", contactName);

/* Set "MobilePhone" column to process parameter value. */
entity.SetColumnValue("MobilePhone", contactPhone);

/* Save added contact. */
entity.Save();

return true;

Publish the changes.

As a result, the diagram of the "Add external contact" business process will be as follows.

2. Implement a business process that retrieves the list of contacts

1. Create a business process

Select a user-made package to add the schema.

For this example, select the sdkWorkWithBusinessProcessService user-made package.
Create the business process schema. To do this, click Add → Business process.
Open the Settings tab.
Fill out the schema properties.

For this example, use the following schema properties.

Property
Property value
Title
Retrieve the list of contacts
Code
UsrRetrieveContactListProcess
Save the changes.

Property	Property value
Title	Retrieve the list of contacts
Code	UsrRetrieveContactListProcess

As a result:

The "Retrieve the list of contacts" business process will be created.
Creatio will add the "Retrieve the list of contacts" business process to the Process library section.

2. Set up the business process parameters

Open the properties of the business process schema. To do this, click an arbitrary place in the working area of the Process Designer.
Open the Parameters tab.
Add the business process parameters.

For this example, add the parameter that contains the list of contacts. To do this:
1. Click Add parameter and select a parameter of the needed type.
2. Fill out the parameter properties.
  
  Element
  Element type
  Property
  Property value
  Parameter that contains the list of contacts
  Text
  Title
  List of contacts
  Code
  ContactList
  Data type
  Unlimited length text

Element	Element type	Property	Property value
Parameter that contains the list of contacts	Text	Title	List of contacts
Code	ContactList
Data type	Unlimited length text

As a result, the Parameters tab of the "Retrieve the list of contacts" business process will be as follows.

3. Implement retrieving the list of contacts

Add a Script task element. To do this, click → place the Script task element between the Simple page element and Terminate page element in the working area of the Process Designer.
Fill out the element properties.

Property
Property value
Title
Retrieve contacts

Property	Property value
Title	Retrieve contacts

Implement the logic of working with process parameters. To do this, go to the element setup area and add the source code.

Retrieve contacts script task
// IMPORTANT: When implementing
// long-running operations,
// it is crucial to enable timely and
// responsive cancellation. To achieve
// this, ensure that your code
// is designed to respond appropriately
// to cancellation requests using
// the context.CancellationToken
// mechanism. For more detailed
// information and examples,
// please, refer to our documentation.

/* Create an "EntitySchemaQuery" instance. */
EntitySchemaQuery query = new EntitySchemaQuery(UserConnection.EntitySchemaManager, "Contact");

/* Flag the "Id" primary column as required to select. */
query.PrimaryQueryColumn.IsAlwaysSelect = true;

/* Add columns to the query. */
query.AddColumn("Name");
query.AddColumn("MobilePhone");

/* Retrieve an entity collection. */
var entities = query.GetEntityCollection(UserConnection);

/* Create the list of contacts to serialize in JSON. */ 
List<object> contacts = new List<object>();

foreach (var item in entities)
{
    var contact = new
    {
        Id = item.GetTypedColumnValue<Guid>("Id"),
        Name = item.GetTypedColumnValue<string>("Name"),
        MobilePhone = item.GetTypedColumnValue<string>("MobilePhone")
    };
    contacts.Add(contact);
}

/* Save the contact collection that is serialized in JSON to the "ContactList" parameter. */
string contactList = JsonConvert.SerializeObject(contacts);
Set<string>("ContactList", contactList);

return true;

4. Set up the business process methods

Open the properties of the business process. To do this, click an arbitrary place in the working area of the Process Designer.
Open the Methods tab.
Add the business process methods.
1. Click and fill out the method properties.
  
  Property
  Property value
  Namespace
  Newtonsoft.Json
2. Click Save.
Publish the changes.

Property	Property value
Namespace	Newtonsoft.Json

As a result:

The Methods tab of the "Retrieve the list of contacts" business process will be as follows.
The diagram of the "Retrieve the list of contacts" business process will be as follows.

3. Implement the C# console app

1. Create a C# console app

Open an external IDE.

For this example, open Microsoft Visual Studio.
Create a project.
1. Go to the Get started block.
2. Click Create a new project. This opens the Create a new project window.
3. Select Console App (.NET Framework).
4. Click Next. This opens the Configure your new project window.
5. Fill out the project properties.
  
  For this example, use the project properties as follows.
  
  Property
  Property value
  Project name
  WorkWithBusinessProcessService
  Framework
  .NET Framework 4.7.2
  
  Fill out other project properties based on your business goals.
6. Click Create.

Property	Property value
Project name	WorkWithBusinessProcessService
Framework	.NET Framework 4.7.2

As a result:

The "WorkWithBusinessProcessService" project of console app will be created.
Microsoft Visual Studio will open the "WorkWithBusinessProcessService" project of the console app.

2. Implement the business logic of the console app

Implement the authentication of external requests to Creatio.
1. Open the Program.cs file.
2. Implement the configuration object of the AuthService.svc service response body.
3. Specify data to implement the authentication of external requests.
4. Implement the method that authenticates external requests.
5. Authenticate external requests using user credentials.
Implement running of business processes.
1. Specify URL of the ProcessEngineService.svc business process service.
2. Implement the method that runs a business process of adding a contact.
3. Run a business process that adds a contact.
4. Implement the method that runs a business process of retrieving the list of contacts.
5. Run a business process that retrieves the list of contacts.
Save the changes.

Program.cs
using System;
using System.IO;
using System.Net;

namespace WorkWithBpmByWebServices
{
    /// <summary>
    /// Configuration object of the "AuthService.svc" service response body.
    /// </summary>
    class ResponseStatus
    {
        public int Code { get; set; }
        public string Message { get; set; }
        public object Exception { get; set; }
        public object PasswordChangeUrl { get; set; }
        public object RedirectUrl { get; set; }
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Main program class.
    /// </summary>
    internal class Program
    {

        /* URL of Creatio instance that has the corresponding business processes implemented. */
        private const string baseUri = "https://mycreatio.com";

        /* URL of "AuthService.svc" service. */
        private const string authServiceUri = baseUri + @"/ServiceModel/AuthService.svc/Login";

        /* URL of "ProcessEngineService.svc" service. */
        private const string processServiceUri = baseUri + @"/0/ServiceModel/ProcessEngineService.svc/";

        private static ResponseStatus status = null;

        public static CookieContainer AuthCookie = new CookieContainer();

        /// <summary>
        /// Method that authenticates external requests using user credentials.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="userName">Login that user uses to log in to Creatio.</param>
        /// <param name="userPassword">Password that user uses to log in to Creatio.</param>
        /// <returns>If the request is authenticated, returns "true." Otherwise, "false."</returns>
        public static bool TryLogin(string userName, string userPassword)
        {
            var authRequest = HttpWebRequest.Create(authServiceUri) as HttpWebRequest;

            /* Request method. */
            authRequest.Method = "POST";

            /* Request header. */
            authRequest.ContentType = "application/json";

            authRequest.CookieContainer = AuthCookie;

            using (var requestStream = authRequest.GetRequestStream())
            {
                using (var writer = new StreamWriter(requestStream))
                {
                    writer.Write(@"{
                    ""UserName"":""" + userName + @""",
                    ""UserPassword"":""" + userPassword + @"""
                    }");
                }
            }

            using (var response = (HttpWebResponse)authRequest.GetResponse())
            {
                using (var reader = new StreamReader(response.GetResponseStream()))
                {
                    string responseText = reader.ReadToEnd();
                    status = new System.Web.Script.Serialization.JavaScriptSerializer().Deserialize<ResponseStatus>(responseText);
                }
            }

            if (status != null)
            {

                /* If the code contains a "0" value, the authentication is successful. Otherwise, it is failed. */
                if (status.Code == 0)
                {
                    return true;
                }

                Console.WriteLine(status.Message);
            }
            return false;
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Method that runs a business process of adding a contact.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="contactName">Parameter that contains the contact name.</param>
        /// <param name="mobilePhone">Parameter that contains the mobile phone of the contact.</param>
        public static void AddExternalContact(string contactName, string mobilePhone)
        {

            /* Request string.*/
            string requestString = string.Format(processServiceUri + "UsrAddExternalContactProcess/Execute?ContactName={0}&MobilePhone={1}", contactName, mobilePhone);
            HttpWebRequest request = HttpWebRequest.Create(requestString) as HttpWebRequest;

            /* Request method. */
            request.Method = "GET";

            request.CookieContainer = AuthCookie;
            using (var response = request.GetResponse())
            {
                Console.WriteLine(response.ContentLength);
                Console.WriteLine(response.Headers.Count);
            }
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Method that runs a business process of retrieving the list of contacts.
        /// </summary>
        public static void RetrieveContactList()
        {

            /* Request string.*/
            string requestString = processServiceUri + "UsrRetrieveContactListProcess/Execute?ResultParameterName=ContactList";
            HttpWebRequest request = HttpWebRequest.Create(requestString) as HttpWebRequest;

            /* Request method. */
            request.Method = "GET";

            request.CookieContainer = AuthCookie;
            using (var response = request.GetResponse())
            {
                using (var reader = new StreamReader(response.GetResponseStream()))
                {
                    string responseText = reader.ReadToEnd();
                    Console.WriteLine(responseText);
                }
            }
        }

        static void Main(string[] args)
        {

            /*  Authenticate external requests using user credentials. */
            if (!TryLogin("SomeCreatioLogin", "SomeCreatioPassword"))
            {
                Console.WriteLine("Wrong login or password. Application will be terminated.");
            }
            else
            {
                try
                {

                    /* Run a business process that adds a contact. */
                    AddExternalContact("John Johanson", "+1 111 111 1111");

                    /* Run a business process that retrieves the list of contacts. */
                    RetrieveContactList();
                }
                catch (Exception)
                {
                    /* Process exception here or throw it further. */
                    throw;
                }

            };

            Console.WriteLine("Business processes are run. Press ENTER to exit...");
            Console.ReadLine();
        }
    }
}

As a result, the "WorkWithBusinessProcessService" project of console app will be implemented.

View the result

To view the outcome of the example, run the project. To do this, click Start.

As a result:

ProcessEngineService.svc service will run an "Add external contact" and "Retrieve the list of contacts" business processes.
The "Add external contact" business process will add the contact whose fields are populated using the specified values to the Contacts section. View the result >>>
The "Retrieve the list of contacts" business process will retrieve the list of contacts from the Contacts section. View the result >>>

Source code

Add contact
Retrieve contacts
Program.cs

// IMPORTANT: When implementing
// long-running operations,
// it is crucial to enable timely and
// responsive cancellation. To achieve
// this, ensure that your code
// is designed to respond appropriately
// to cancellation requests using
// the context.CancellationToken
// mechanism. For more detailed
// information and examples,
// please, refer to our documentation.

/* Create an instance of the "Contact" object. */
var schema = UserConnection.EntitySchemaManager.GetInstanceByName("Contact");

/* Create an instance of new object. */
var entity = schema.CreateEntity(UserConnection);

/* Set object columns to default values. */
entity.SetDefColumnValues();

/* Contact name. */
string contactName = Get<string>("ContactName");

/* Mobile phone of the contact. */
string contactPhone = Get<string>("MobilePhone");

/* Set "Name" column to process parameter value. */
entity.SetColumnValue("Name", contactName);

/* Set "MobilePhone" column to process parameter value. */
entity.SetColumnValue("MobilePhone", contactPhone);

/* Save added contact. */
entity.Save();

return true;

// IMPORTANT: When implementing
// long-running operations,
// it is crucial to enable timely and
// responsive cancellation. To achieve
// this, ensure that your code
// is designed to respond appropriately
// to cancellation requests using
// the context.CancellationToken
// mechanism. For more detailed
// information and examples,
// please, refer to our documentation.

/* Create an "EntitySchemaQuery" instance. */
EntitySchemaQuery query = new EntitySchemaQuery(UserConnection.EntitySchemaManager, "Contact");

/* Flag the "Id" primary column as required to select. */
query.PrimaryQueryColumn.IsAlwaysSelect = true;

/* Add columns to the query. */
query.AddColumn("Name");
query.AddColumn("MobilePhone");

/* Retrieve an entity collection. */
var entities = query.GetEntityCollection(UserConnection);

/* Create the list of contacts to serialize in JSON. */ 
List<object> contacts = new List<object>();

foreach (var item in entities)
{
    var contact = new
    {
        Id = item.GetTypedColumnValue<Guid>("Id"),
        Name = item.GetTypedColumnValue<string>("Name"),
        MobilePhone = item.GetTypedColumnValue<string>("MobilePhone")
    };
    contacts.Add(contact);
}

/* Save the contact collection that is serialized in JSON to the "ContactList" parameter. */
string contactList = JsonConvert.SerializeObject(contacts);
Set<string>("ContactList", contactList);

return true;

using System;
using System.IO;
using System.Net;

namespace WorkWithBpmByWebServices
{
    /// <summary>
    /// Configuration object of the "AuthService.svc" service response body.
    /// </summary>
    class ResponseStatus
    {
        public int Code { get; set; }
        public string Message { get; set; }
        public object Exception { get; set; }
        public object PasswordChangeUrl { get; set; }
        public object RedirectUrl { get; set; }
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Main program class.
    /// </summary>
    internal class Program
    {

        /* URL of Creatio instance that has the corresponding business processes implemented. */
        private const string baseUri = "https://mycreatio.com";

        /* URL of "AuthService.svc" service. */
        private const string authServiceUri = baseUri + @"/ServiceModel/AuthService.svc/Login";

        /* URL of "ProcessEngineService.svc" service. */
        private const string processServiceUri = baseUri + @"/0/ServiceModel/ProcessEngineService.svc/";

        private static ResponseStatus status = null;

        public static CookieContainer AuthCookie = new CookieContainer();

        /// <summary>
        /// Method that authenticates external requests using user credentials.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="userName">Login that user uses to log in to Creatio.</param>
        /// <param name="userPassword">Password that user uses to log in to Creatio.</param>
        /// <returns>If the request is authenticated, returns "true." Otherwise, "false."</returns>
        public static bool TryLogin(string userName, string userPassword)
        {
            var authRequest = HttpWebRequest.Create(authServiceUri) as HttpWebRequest;

            /* Request method. */
            authRequest.Method = "POST";

            /* Request header. */
            authRequest.ContentType = "application/json";

            authRequest.CookieContainer = AuthCookie;

            using (var requestStream = authRequest.GetRequestStream())
            {
                using (var writer = new StreamWriter(requestStream))
                {
                    writer.Write(@"{
                    ""UserName"":""" + userName + @""",
                    ""UserPassword"":""" + userPassword + @"""
                    }");
                }
            }

            using (var response = (HttpWebResponse)authRequest.GetResponse())
            {
                using (var reader = new StreamReader(response.GetResponseStream()))
                {
                    string responseText = reader.ReadToEnd();
                    status = new System.Web.Script.Serialization.JavaScriptSerializer().Deserialize<ResponseStatus>(responseText);
                }
            }

            if (status != null)
            {

                /* If the code contains a "0" value, the authentication is successful. Otherwise, it is failed. */
                if (status.Code == 0)
                {
                    return true;
                }

                Console.WriteLine(status.Message);
            }
            return false;
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Method that runs a business process of adding a contact.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="contactName">Parameter that contains the contact name.</param>
        /// <param name="mobilePhone">Parameter that contains the mobile phone of the contact.</param>
        public static void AddExternalContact(string contactName, string mobilePhone)
        {

            /* Request string.*/
            string requestString = string.Format(processServiceUri + "UsrAddExternalContactProcess/Execute?ContactName={0}&MobilePhone={1}", contactName, mobilePhone);
            HttpWebRequest request = HttpWebRequest.Create(requestString) as HttpWebRequest;

            /* Request method. */
            request.Method = "GET";

            request.CookieContainer = AuthCookie;
            using (var response = request.GetResponse())
            {
                Console.WriteLine(response.ContentLength);
                Console.WriteLine(response.Headers.Count);
            }
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Method that runs a business process of retrieving the list of contacts.
        /// </summary>
        public static void RetrieveContactList()
        {

            /* Request string.*/
            string requestString = processServiceUri + "UsrRetrieveContactListProcess/Execute?ResultParameterName=ContactList";
            HttpWebRequest request = HttpWebRequest.Create(requestString) as HttpWebRequest;

            /* Request method. */
            request.Method = "GET";

            request.CookieContainer = AuthCookie;
            using (var response = request.GetResponse())
            {
                using (var reader = new StreamReader(response.GetResponseStream()))
                {
                    string responseText = reader.ReadToEnd();
                    Console.WriteLine(responseText);
                }
            }
        }

        static void Main(string[] args)
        {

            /*  Authenticate external requests using user credentials. */
            if (!TryLogin("SomeCreatioLogin", "SomeCreatioPassword"))
            {
                Console.WriteLine("Wrong login or password. Application will be terminated.");
            }
            else
            {
                try
                {

                    /* Run a business process that adds a contact. */
                    AddExternalContact("John Johanson", "+1 111 111 1111");

                    /* Run a business process that retrieves the list of contacts. */
                    RetrieveContactList();
                }
                catch (Exception)
                {
                    /* Process exception here or throw it further. */
                    throw;
                }

            };

            Console.WriteLine("Business processes are run. Press ENTER to exit...");
            Console.ReadLine();
        }
    }
}

Resources

Package with example implementation (business processes)

Archive with C# console app implementation

1. Implement a business process that adds a contact​

1. Create a business process​

2. Set up the business process parameters​

3. Implement adding a contact​

2. Implement a business process that retrieves the list of contacts​

1. Create a business process​

2. Set up the business process parameters​

3. Implement retrieving the list of contacts​

4. Set up the business process methods​

3. Implement the C# console app​

1. Create a C# console app​

2. Implement the business logic of the console app​

View the result​

Source code​

Resources​

1. Implement a business process that adds a contact

1. Create a business process

2. Set up the business process parameters

3. Implement adding a contact

2. Implement a business process that retrieves the list of contacts

1. Create a business process

2. Set up the business process parameters

3. Implement retrieving the list of contacts

4. Set up the business process methods

3. Implement the C# console app

1. Create a C# console app

2. Implement the business logic of the console app

View the result

Source code

Resources