Workflow Basics.

Components of Oracle Workflow

1. Workflow Builder

2. Workflow Engine

3. Workflow Definitions Loader

4. Notification Systems

5. Workflow Monitor

About Workflow Builder:

Work Flow builder is a Graphical interface to create and modify a business process with simple drag and drop operations. It has two components -
1 Navigator Window
2 Process Window
A workflow builder would be used by a person to design and modify a workflow.

About Workflow Engine:

The Workflow Engine embedded in the Oracle server monitors workflow states and coordinates the routing of activities for a process. Changes in workflow state, such as the completion of workflow activities, are signaled to the engine via a PL/SQL API or a Java API. Based on flexibly–defined workflow rules, the engine determines which activities are eligible to run, and then runs them. The Workflow Engine supports sophisticated workflow rules, including looping, branching, parallel flows, and sub-flows.

About Definitions Loader:

The Workflow Definitions Loader is a utility program that moves workflow definitions between database and corresponding flat file representations.
The workflow can be downloaded/uploded using the concurrent program “Workflow Definitions Loader” or from Unix box using the WFLOAD command.