System and method for automatically starting a document on a workflow process

A computer program product having executable instruction codes stored on a computer-usable medium, for automatically starting a plurality of items with different structures on a workflow process, comprising:

• a set of instruction codes for checking a definition of an item type for the item upon creation of each item of the plurality of items;
• a set of instruction codes for automatically assigning a workflow process to the item type definition according to predefined rules;
• a set of instruction codes for automatically starting the item on the workflow process assigned to the item type, to allow uniform treatment of all the items in the plurality of items, regardless of the structures of the items, without user interference;
• a set of instruction codes for creating a work package on an initial node in the workflow process;
• a set of instruction codes for assigning a priority to the work package;
• and
• a set of instruction codes for retrieving the workflow process and priority for the item type;
• a set of instruction codes for identifying a work node as a collection point, wherein the work node comprises an item having a root component containing attributes and a child component which implements the work package;
• wherein the attributes of the root component comprise an item ID, type, notify time, overload limit and exits to be run on the library server;
• a set of instruction codes for comparing the content of the folder with a list of required item types upon identification of the item at the collection point as a folder;
• a set of instruction codes for automatically advancing the identified folder with a required item type to a next work node,
• a set of instruction codes for holding the folder without the required item type at the collection point until the required item type is placed in the folder;
• and
• a set of instruction codes for advancing the item to the next work node upon determination that the item is not a folder.

A processor-implemented system embodied on a computer for automatically starting a plurality of items with different structures on a workflow process, comprising:

• means for checking a definition of an item type for the item upon creation of each item of the plurality of items;
• means for automatically assigning a workflow process to the item type definition according to predefined rules;
• means for automatically starting the item on the workflow process assigned to the item type, to allow uniform treatment of all the items in the plurality of items, regardless of the structures of the items, without user interference;
• means for creating a work package on an initial node in the workflow process;
• means for assigning a priority to the work package;
• and
• means for retrieving the workflow process and priority for the item type;
• means for identifying a work node as a collection point, wherein the work node comprises an item having a root component containing attributes and a child component which implements the work package;
• wherein the attributes of the root component comprise an item ID, type, notify time, overload limit and exits to be run on the library server;
• means for comparing the content of the folder with a list of required item types upon identification of the item at the collection point as a folder;
• means for automatically advancing the identified folder with a required item type to a next work node:
• means for holding the folder without the required item type at the collection point until the required item type is placed in the folder;
• and
• means for advancing the item to the next work node upon determination that the item is not a folder.