Can we complete a workitem when it is still under "execution"?

Question

I have one task in my gui inbox(SBWP), when I try to execute it(Click the execute button) I found it locked the workitem(From transaction SM12) in my terms at once, now if I try to complete the workitem with one "Event" in my application, I found the "Event" can not complete the workitem because it is locked by me,but if I leave the "execution" at once after I triggered the "Complete" event for the workitem, it works then. so I guess
1. the FM:SWL_WI_EXECUTE lock the workitem first
2. the FM:SWL_WI_EXECUTE will "execute" Application BO Method to go to application screen.
3. The application trigger one event to complete the workitem without leaving.
4. But the workitem is still locked by SWL_WI_EXECUTE, so when the event receiver WF-BATCH try to change the status of the workitem, it failed, the workitem is not completed.
My question is DO WE HAVE A WAY TO DEQUEUE THE WORKITEM BEFORE LEAVING TO SBWP?
Thanks and best regards.

Answer 1

Hi,
This is correct behaviour for terminating events. The problem is that the terminating event could come from another user, which is why the task is locked whilst you are executing it. Normally the lock should not present a problem as the event would then be processed at a later stage, sometimes with the error monitoring job - i.e. up to 20 minutes later.
The solutions suggested by Glauco to use a terminating event in another branch of a fork will also work, but you will have the same issue: the work item will remain locked, the fork completes and the workflow will move on, leaving one in process item behind. This item eventually gets set to completed by the error monitoring job.
Perhaps you could also look at the way in which you are raising the event. When raising events directly from within an application is that the event should always be one of the very last things that are done.
Hope that helps,
Mike