Default method - how to pass value to method container?

Question

Hello,
I am dealing with a hyperlink in 'Objects and Attachements' section of the workitem.When i click on the link, the default method of the business object gets called automatically.
My question is: How to pass values to the default method (i.e. method container) as i don't invoke the method in my workflow explicitly?  The method gets called when we click on the hyperlink.
Regards,
Monica.

Answer 1

Hello Monica,
a default method doesn't require parameters (and cannot make use of them), as they are designed to be called from various situation, such as the view from a workflow container, the display button within a workitem or the attachment list. So this is part of the system design.
To make an object dependent of workitem values I usually follow two different design patterns:
<b>1) Using a flowitem/workitem instance with a special default method</b>
- Create a subobject from type WORKITEM (if I'm going to use values from the current workflow instance) or subobject from type WORKINGWI (if I'm going to use values from the current dialog workitem).
- Do not make a general substitution for this new object type
- If using a ZWORKITEM, create an instance of this object type before the dialog step and then pass this object to the dialog workitem
- If using ZWORKINGWI, assign the object instance during the data flow to the step.
- In the properties of the object choose (any one) default method
- Within the coding you have the reference to the workitem/flowitem as object-key-... and you can further use functions/methods to read the workitem/flowitem container and do whatever has to be done
<b>2) Retrieving values from the current workitem on-the-fly</b>
Within the coding of the default method call the function module SWO_QUERY_REQUESTER that returns the instance/id of the current workitem-in-work (with is also set when using the hyperlink from a workitem). If the list is empty, there's no active workitem, otherwise use functions/methods to read the workitem container.
--> edit: Solution is not release safe, is it aint working with SAP R/3 Enterprise and higher
Best regards,
   Florin
Message was edited by:
        Florin Wach