ruote 0.9.18 → 0.9.19

data/lib/openwfe/version.rb

@@ -33,5 +33,5 @@
 
 module OpenWFE
 
-    OPENWFERU_VERSION = '0.9.18'
+  OPENWFERU_VERSION = '0.9.19'
 end

data/lib/openwfe/workitem.rb

@@ -2,31 +2,31 @@
 #--
 # Copyright (c) 2005-2008, John Mettraux, OpenWFE.org
 # All rights reserved.
-# 
-# Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without 
+#
+# Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
 # modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
-# 
+#
 # . Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this
-#   list of conditions and the following disclaimer.  
-# 
-# . Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, 
-#   this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation 
+#   list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+#
+# . Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice,
+#   this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation
 #   and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
-# 
+#
 # . Neither the name of the "OpenWFE" nor the names of its contributors may be
 #   used to endorse or promote products derived from this software without
 #   specific prior written permission.
-# 
-# THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS" 
-# AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE 
-# IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE 
-# ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE 
-# LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR 
-# CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF 
-# SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS 
-# INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN 
-# CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) 
-# ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE 
+#
+# THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS"
+# AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
+# IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
+# ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE
+# LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR
+# CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF
+# SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS
+# INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN
+# CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE)
+# ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE
 # POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 #++
 #
@@ -43,457 +43,464 @@ require 'openwfe/utils'
 
 module OpenWFE
 
+  #
+  # The convention for the result of some expressions is to store
+  # their result in a workitem field named "__result__".
+  #
+  FIELD_RESULT = "__result__"
+
+  #--
+  # WORKITEMS
+  #++
+
+  #
+  # The base class for all the workitems.
+  #
+  class WorkItem
+
+    attr_accessor :last_modified, :attributes
+
+    def initialize
+      @last_modified = nil
+      @attributes = {}
+    end
+
+    alias :fields :attributes
+    alias :fields= :attributes=
+
     #
-    # The convention for the result of some expressions is to store
-    # their result in a workitem field named "__result__".
-    #
-    FIELD_RESULT = "__result__"
-
-    #--
-    # WORKITEMS
-    #++
-
-    #
-    # The base class for all the workitems.
-    #
-    class WorkItem
-
-        attr_accessor :last_modified, :attributes
-
-        def initialize
-            @last_modified = nil
-            @attributes = {}
-        end
-
-        alias :fields :attributes
-        alias :fields= :attributes=
-
-        #
-        # Sets the last_modified field to now
-        #
-        def touch
-
-            @last_modified = Time.now
-        end
-
-        def to_h
-
-            h = {}
-            h[:type] = self.class.name
-            h[:last_modified] = @last_modified
-            h[:attributes] = @attributes
-            h
-        end
-
-        def self.from_h (h)
-
-            #wi = eval("#{h[:type]}.new")
-            wi = OpenWFE.get_class(h).new
-            wi.last_modified = h[:last_modified]
-            wi.attributes = h[:attributes]
-            wi
-        end
-
-        #
-        # A shortcut for 
-        #
-        #     workitem.attributes['key']
-        #
-        # is
-        #
-        #     workitem['key']
-        #
-        # (Note that
-        #
-        #     workitem.key
-        #
-        # will raise an exception if there is no attribute key).
-        #
-        def [] (key)
-
-            @attributes[key]
-        end
-
-        #
-        # A shortcut for 
-        #
-        #     workitem.attributes['key'] = value
-        #
-        # is
-        #
-        #     workitem['key'] = value
-        #
-        def []= (key, value)
-
-            @attributes[key] = value
-        end
-
-        #
-        # In order to simplify code like :
-        #
-        #    value = workitem.attributes['xyz']
-        #
-        # to
-        #
-        #    value = workitem.xyz
-        #
-        # or
-        # 
-        #    value = workitem['xyz']
-        #
-        # we overrode method_missing.
-        #
-        #    workitem.xyz = "my new value" 
-        #
-        # is also possible
-        #
-        def method_missing (m, *args)
-
-            methodname = m.to_s
-
-            if args.length == 0
-                value = @attributes[methodname]
-                return value if value
-                raise "Missing attribute '#{methodname}' in workitem"
-            end
-
-            #if methodname == "[]" and args.length == 1
-            #    value = @attributes[args[0]]
-            #    return value if value
-            #    raise "Missing attribute '#{methodname}' in workitem"
-            #end
-            #if methodname == "[]=" and args.length == 2
-            #    return @attributes[args[0]] = args[1]
-            #end
-
-            if args.length == 1 and methodname[-1, 1] == "="
-                return @attributes[methodname[0..-2]] = args[0]
-            end
-
-            super(m, args)
-        end
-
-        #
-        # Produces a deep copy of the workitem
-        #
-        def dup
-            OpenWFE::fulldup(self)
-        end
-
-        #
-        # A smarter alternative to
-        #
-        #     value = workitem.attributes[x]
-        #
-        # Via this method, nested values can be reached. For example :
-        #
-        #     wi = InFlowWorkItem.new()
-        #     wi.attributes = {
-        #         "field0" => "value0",
-        #         "field1" => [ 0, 1, 2, 3, [ "a", "b", "c" ]],
-        #         "field2" => {
-        #             "a" => "AA", 
-        #             "b" => "BB", 
-        #             "c" => [ "C0", "C1", "C3" ]
-        #         },
-        #         "field3" => 3,
-        #         "field99" => nil
-        #     }
-        #
-        # will verify the following assertions :
-        #
-        #     assert wi.lookup_attribute("field3") == 3
-        #     assert wi.lookup_attribute("field1.1") == 1
-        #     assert wi.lookup_attribute("field1.4.1") == "b"
-        #     assert wi.lookup_attribute("field2.c.1") == "C1"
-        #
-        def lookup_attribute (key)
-            OpenWFE.lookup_attribute(@attributes, key)
-        end
-
-        #
-        # The partner to the lookup_attribute() method. Behaves like it.
-        #
-        def has_attribute? (key)
-            OpenWFE.has_attribute?(@attributes, key)
-        end
-
-        #
-        # set_attribute() accomodates itself with nested key constructs.
-        #
-        def set_attribute (key, value)
-            OpenWFE.set_attribute(@attributes, key, value)
-        end
-
-        #
-        # unset_attribute() accomodates itself with nested key constructs.
-        #
-        def unset_attribute (key)
-            OpenWFE.unset_attribute(@attributes, key)
-        end
-
-        alias :lookup_field :lookup_attribute
-        alias :has_field? :has_attribute?
-        alias :set_field :set_attribute
-        alias :unset_field :unset_attribute
+    # Sets the last_modified field to now
+    #
+    def touch
 
+      @last_modified = Time.now
     end
 
+    def to_h
+
+      h = {}
+      h['type'] = self.class.name
+      h['last_modified'] = @last_modified
+      h['attributes'] = @attributes
+      h
+    end
+
+    def self.from_h (h)
+
+      wi = OpenWFE.get_class(h).new
+      wi.last_modified = h['last_modified']
+      wi.attributes = h['attributes']
+      wi
+    end
+
+    #
+    # A shortcut for
+    #
+    #   workitem.attributes['key']
+    #
+    # is
+    #
+    #   workitem['key']
     #
-    # The common parent class for InFlowWorkItem and CancelItem.
+    # (Note that
     #
-    class InFlowItem < WorkItem
+    #   workitem.key
+    #
+    # will raise an exception if there is no attribute key).
+    #
+    def [] (key)
 
-        attr_accessor :flow_expression_id, :participant_name
+      @attributes[key]
+    end
 
-        def last_expression_id
-            @flow_expression_id
-        end
+    #
+    # A shortcut for
+    #
+    #   workitem.attributes['key'] = value
+    #
+    # is
+    #
+    #   workitem['key'] = value
+    #
+    def []= (key, value)
 
-        def last_expression_id= (fei)
-            @flow_expression_id = fei
-        end
+      @attributes[key] = value
+    end
 
-        #
-        # Just a handy alias for flow_expression_id
-        #
-        alias :fei :flow_expression_id
-        alias :fei= :flow_expression_id=
+    #
+    # In order to simplify code like :
+    #
+    #  value = workitem.attributes['xyz']
+    #
+    # to
+    #
+    #  value = workitem.xyz
+    #
+    # or
+    #
+    #  value = workitem['xyz']
+    #
+    # we overrode method_missing.
+    #
+    #  workitem.xyz = "my new value"
+    #
+    # is also possible
+    #
+    def method_missing (m, *args)
+
+      methodname = m.to_s
+
+      if args.length == 0
+        value = @attributes[methodname]
+        return value if value != nil
+        raise "Missing attribute '#{methodname}' in workitem"
+      end
+
+      #if methodname == "[]" and args.length == 1
+      #  value = @attributes[args[0]]
+      #  return value if value
+      #  raise "Missing attribute '#{methodname}' in workitem"
+      #end
+      #if methodname == "[]=" and args.length == 2
+      #  return @attributes[args[0]] = args[1]
+      #end
+
+      if args.length == 1 and methodname[-1, 1] == '='
+        return @attributes[methodname[0..-2]] = args[0]
+      end
+
+      super(m, args)
+    end
 
-        def to_h
-            h = super
-            h[:flow_expression_id] = @flow_expression_id.to_h
-            h[:participant_name] = @participant_name
-            h
-        end
+    #
+    # Produces a deep copy of the workitem
+    #
+    def dup
+      OpenWFE::fulldup(self)
+    end
+
+    #
+    # A smarter alternative to
+    #
+    #   value = workitem.attributes[x]
+    #
+    # Via this method, nested values can be reached. For example :
+    #
+    #   wi = InFlowWorkItem.new()
+    #   wi.attributes = {
+    #     "field0" => "value0",
+    #     "field1" => [ 0, 1, 2, 3, [ "a", "b", "c" ]],
+    #     "field2" => {
+    #       "a" => "AA",
+    #       "b" => "BB",
+    #       "c" => [ "C0", "C1", "C3" ]
+    #     },
+    #     "field3" => 3,
+    #     "field99" => nil
+    #   }
+    #
+    # will verify the following assertions :
+    #
+    #   assert wi.lookup_attribute("field3") == 3
+    #   assert wi.lookup_attribute("field1.1") == 1
+    #   assert wi.lookup_attribute("field1.4.1") == "b"
+    #   assert wi.lookup_attribute("field2.c.1") == "C1"
+    #
+    def lookup_attribute (key)
+      OpenWFE.lookup_attribute(@attributes, key)
+    end
 
-        def InFlowItem.from_h (h)
-            wi = super
-            wi.flow_expression_id = FlowExpressionId.from_h(h[:flow_expression_id])
-            wi.participant_name = h[:participant_name]
-            wi
-        end
+    #
+    # The partner to the lookup_attribute() method. Behaves like it.
+    #
+    def has_attribute? (key)
+      OpenWFE.has_attribute?(@attributes, key)
     end
 
     #
-    # When the term 'workitem' is used it's generally referring to instances
-    # of this InFlowWorkItem class.
-    # InFlowWorkItem are circulating within process instances and carrying
-    # data around. Their 'payload' is located in their attribute Hash field.
-    #
-    class InFlowWorkItem < InFlowItem
-
-        attr_accessor :dispatch_time
-        attr_accessor :filter
-
-        #
-        # In OpenWFEja, workitem history was stored, OpenWFEru doesn't do
-        # it (no need to copy history over and over).
-        #
-        # (deprecated)
-        #
-        attr_accessor :history
-
-        attr_accessor :store
-            #
-            # special : added by the ruby lib, not given by the worklist
-
-        #
-        # Outputting the workitem in a human readable format
-        #
-        def to_s
-
-            s = ""
-            s << "  #{self.class} :\n"
-            s << "  - flow_expression_id : #{@flow_expression_id}\n"
-            s << "  - participant_name :   #{@participant_name}\n"
-            s << "  - last_modified :      #{@last_modified}\n"
-            s << "  - dispatch_time :      #{@dispatch_time}\n"
-            s << "  - attributes :\n"
-
-            s << "    {\n"
-            @attributes.keys.sort.each do |k|
-                v = @attributes[k]
-            s << "      #{k.inspect} => #{v.inspect},\n"
-            end
-            s << "    }"
-            s
-        end
-
-        #
-        # For some easy YAML encoding, turns the workitem into a Hash
-        # (Any YAML-enabled platform can thus read it).
-        #
-        def to_h
-
-            h = super
-            h[:dispatch_time] = @dispatch_time
-            #h[:history] = @history
-            h[:filter] = @filter
-            h
-        end
-
-        #
-        # Rebuilds an InFlowWorkItem from its hash version.
-        #
-        def InFlowWorkItem.from_h (h)
-
-            wi = super
-            wi.dispatch_time = h[:dispatch_time]
-            #wi.history = h[:history]
-            wi.filter = h[:filter]
-            wi
-        end
-
-        #
-        # Sets the '__result__' field of this workitem
-        #
-        def set_result (result)
-
-            @attributes[FIELD_RESULT] = result
-        end
-
-        #
-        # Makes sure the '__result__' field of this workitem is empty.
-        #
-        def unset_result
-
-            @attributes.delete FIELD_RESULT
-        end
-
-        #
-        # Just a shortcut (for consistency) of
-        #
-        #     workitem.attributes["__result__"]
-        #
-        def get_result
-
-            @attributes[FIELD_RESULT]
-        end
-
-        #
-        # Returns true or false.
-        #
-        def get_boolean_result
-
-            r = get_result
-            return false unless r
-            (r == true or r == "true")
-        end
+    # set_attribute() accomodates itself with nested key constructs.
+    #
+    def set_attribute (key, value)
+      OpenWFE.set_attribute(@attributes, key, value)
     end
 
     #
-    # When it needs to cancel a branch of a process instance, the engine
-    # emits a CancelItem towards it.
-    # It's especially important for participants to react correctly upon
-    # receiving a cancel item.
+    # unset_attribute() accomodates itself with nested key constructs.
     #
-    class CancelItem < InFlowItem
+    def unset_attribute (key)
+      OpenWFE.unset_attribute(@attributes, key)
+    end
+
+    alias :lookup_field :lookup_attribute
+    alias :has_field? :has_attribute?
+    alias :set_field :set_attribute
+    alias :unset_field :unset_attribute
+
+  end
 
-        def initialize (workitem)
+  #
+  # The common parent class for InFlowWorkItem and CancelItem.
+  #
+  class InFlowItem < WorkItem
 
-            super()
-            @flow_expression_id = workitem.fei.dup
-        end
+    attr_accessor :flow_expression_id, :participant_name
+
+    def last_expression_id
+      @flow_expression_id
+    end
+
+    def last_expression_id= (fei)
+      @flow_expression_id = fei
     end
 
     #
-    # LaunchItem instances are used to instantiate and launch processes.
-    # They contain attributes that are used as the initial payload of the 
-    # workitem circulating in the process instances.
-    #
-    class LaunchItem < WorkItem
-
-        DEF = "__definition"
-        FIELD_DEF = "field:#{DEF}"
-
-        attr_accessor :workflow_definition_url
-            #, :description_map
-
-        alias :wfdurl :workflow_definition_url
-        alias :wfdurl= :workflow_definition_url=
-
-        #
-        # This constructor will build an empty LaunchItem.
-        #
-        # If the optional parameter process_definition is set, the
-        # definition will be embedded in the launchitem attributes
-        # for retrieval by the engine.
-        #
-        # There are several ways to specify the process definition.
-        # Here are some examples:
-        #
-        #   # Use a Ruby class that extends OpenWFE::ProcessDefinition
-        #   LaunchItem.new(MyProcessDefinition)
-        #
-        #   # Provide an XML process definition as a string
-        #   definition = """
-        #     <process-definition name="x" revision="y">
-        #       <sequence>
-        #         <participant ref="alpha" />
-        #         <participant ref="bravo" />
-        #       </sequence>
-        #     </process-definition>
-        #   """.strip
-        #   LaunchItem.new(definition)
-        #
-        #   # Load an XML process definition from a local file
-        #   require 'uri'
-        #   LaunchItem.new(URI.parse("file:///tmp/my_process_definition.xml"))
-        #
-        #   # If you initialized your engine with 
-        #   # {:remote_definitions_allowed => true}, then you can also load an
-        #   # XML process definition from a remote url
-        #   require 'uri'
-        #   LaunchItem.new(URI.parse("http://foo.bar/my_process_definition.xml"))
-        #
-        def initialize (process_definition=nil)
-
-            super()
-
-            if process_definition
-                @workflow_definition_url = FIELD_DEF
-                @attributes[DEF] = process_definition
-            end
-        end
-
-        #
-        # Turns the LaunchItem instance into a simple 'hash' (easily
-        # serializable to other formats).
-        #
-        def to_h
-
-            h = super
-            h[:workflow_definition_url] = @workflow_definition_url
-            h
-        end
-
-        def self.from_h (h)
-
-            li = super
-            li.workflow_definition_url = h[:workflow_definition_url]
-            li
-        end
+    # Just a handy alias for flow_expression_id
+    #
+    alias :fei :flow_expression_id
+    alias :fei= :flow_expression_id=
+
+    def to_h
+      h = super
+      h['flow_expression_id'] = @flow_expression_id.to_h
+      h['participant_name'] = @participant_name
+      h
     end
 
+    def InFlowItem.from_h (h)
+      wi = super
+      wi.flow_expression_id = FlowExpressionId.from_h(h['flow_expression_id'])
+      wi.participant_name = h['participant_name']
+      wi
+    end
+  end
+
+  #
+  # When the term 'workitem' is used it's generally referring to instances
+  # of this InFlowWorkItem class.
+  # InFlowWorkItem are circulating within process instances and carrying
+  # data around. Their 'payload' is located in their attribute Hash field.
+  #
+  class InFlowWorkItem < InFlowItem
+
+    attr_accessor :dispatch_time
+    attr_accessor :filter
+
     #
-    # Turns a hash into its corresponding workitem (InFlowWorkItem, CancelItem,
-    # LaunchItem).
+    # in some contexts (ruote-rest, ruote-web2, the web...) workitems
+    # have an URI
     #
-    def OpenWFE.workitem_from_h (h)
+    attr_accessor :uri
 
-        #wi_class = eval(h[:type])
-        wi_class = get_class(h)
-        wi_class.from_h(h)
+    #
+    # In OpenWFEja, workitem history was stored, OpenWFEru doesn't do
+    # it (no need to copy history over and over).
+    #
+    # (deprecated)
+    #
+    attr_accessor :history
+
+    attr_accessor :store
+      #
+      # special : added by the ruby lib, not given by the worklist
+
+    #
+    # Outputting the workitem in a human readable format
+    #
+    def to_s
+
+      s = ""
+      s << "  #{self.class} :\n"
+      s << "  - flow_expression_id : #{@flow_expression_id}\n"
+      s << "  - participant_name :   #{@participant_name}\n"
+      s << "  - last_modified :    #{@last_modified}\n"
+      s << "  - dispatch_time :    #{@dispatch_time}\n"
+      s << "  - attributes :\n"
+
+      s << "  {\n"
+      @attributes.keys.sort.each do |k|
+        v = @attributes[k]
+      s << "    #{k.inspect} => #{v.inspect},\n"
+      end
+      s << "  }"
+      s
+    end
+
+    #
+    # For some easy YAML encoding, turns the workitem into a Hash
+    # (Any YAML-enabled platform can thus read it).
+    #
+    def to_h
+
+      h = super
+      h['dispatch_time'] = @dispatch_time
+      #h[:history] = @history
+      h['filter'] = @filter
+      h
+    end
+
+    #
+    # Rebuilds an InFlowWorkItem from its hash version.
+    #
+    def InFlowWorkItem.from_h (h)
+
+      wi = super
+      wi.dispatch_time = h['dispatch_time']
+      wi.filter = h['filter']
+      wi
+    end
+
+    #
+    # Sets the '__result__' field of this workitem
+    #
+    def set_result (result)
+
+      @attributes[FIELD_RESULT] = result
+    end
+
+    #
+    # Makes sure the '__result__' field of this workitem is empty.
+    #
+    def unset_result
+
+      @attributes.delete FIELD_RESULT
+    end
+
+    #
+    # Just a shortcut (for consistency) of
+    #
+    #   workitem.attributes["__result__"]
+    #
+    def get_result
+
+      @attributes[FIELD_RESULT]
+    end
+
+    #
+    # Returns true or false.
+    #
+    def get_boolean_result
+
+      r = get_result
+      return false unless r
+      (r == true or r == 'true')
+    end
+  end
+
+  #
+  # When it needs to cancel a branch of a process instance, the engine
+  # emits a CancelItem towards it.
+  # It's especially important for participants to react correctly upon
+  # receiving a cancel item.
+  #
+  class CancelItem < InFlowItem
+
+    def initialize (workitem)
+
+      super()
+      @flow_expression_id = workitem.fei.dup
+    end
+  end
+
+  #
+  # LaunchItem instances are used to instantiate and launch processes.
+  # They contain attributes that are used as the initial payload of the
+  # workitem circulating in the process instances.
+  #
+  class LaunchItem < WorkItem
+
+    DEF = "__definition"
+    FIELD_DEF = "field:#{DEF}"
+
+    attr_accessor :workflow_definition_url
+      #, :description_map
+
+    alias :wfdurl :workflow_definition_url
+    alias :wfdurl= :workflow_definition_url=
+
+    #
+    # This constructor will build an empty LaunchItem.
+    #
+    # If the optional parameter process_definition is set, the
+    # definition will be embedded in the launchitem attributes
+    # for retrieval by the engine.
+    #
+    # There are several ways to specify the process definition.
+    # Here are some examples:
+    #
+    #   # Use a Ruby class that extends OpenWFE::ProcessDefinition
+    #   LaunchItem.new(MyProcessDefinition)
+    #
+    #   # Provide an XML process definition as a string
+    #   definition = """
+    #   <process-definition name="x" revision="y">
+    #     <sequence>
+    #     <participant ref="alpha" />
+    #     <participant ref="bravo" />
+    #     </sequence>
+    #   </process-definition>
+    #   """.strip
+    #   LaunchItem.new(definition)
+    #
+    #   # Load an XML process definition from a local file
+    #   require 'uri'
+    #   LaunchItem.new(URI.parse("file:///tmp/my_process_definition.xml"))
+    #
+    #   # If you initialized your engine with
+    #   # {:remote_definitions_allowed => true}, then you can also load an
+    #   # XML process definition from a remote url
+    #   require 'uri'
+    #   LaunchItem.new(URI.parse("http://foo.bar/my_process_definition.xml"))
+    #
+    def initialize (process_definition=nil)
+
+      super()
+
+      if process_definition
+        @workflow_definition_url = FIELD_DEF
+        @attributes[DEF] = process_definition
+      end
     end
 
-    def OpenWFE.get_class (h)
+    #
+    # Turns the LaunchItem instance into a simple 'hash' (easily
+    # serializable to other formats).
+    #
+    def to_h
 
-        cl = h[:type]
-        return nil if cl.index(";")
-        return nil if cl.index(" ")
-        eval(cl)
+      h = super
+      h['workflow_definition_url'] = @workflow_definition_url
+      h
     end
 
+    def self.from_h (h)
+
+      li = super
+      li.workflow_definition_url = h['workflow_definition_url']
+      li
+    end
+  end
+
+  #
+  # Turns a hash into its corresponding workitem (InFlowWorkItem, CancelItem,
+  # LaunchItem).
+  #
+  def OpenWFE.workitem_from_h (h)
+
+    wi_class = get_class(h)
+    wi_class.from_h(h)
+  end
+
+  WI_CLASSES = [
+    OpenWFE::LaunchItem, OpenWFE::InFlowWorkItem, OpenWFE::CancelItem
+  ].inject({}) { |r, c| r[c.to_s] = c; r }
+
+  #
+  # returns the workitem class for the given hash
+  #
+  def OpenWFE.get_class (h)
+
+    WI_CLASSES[h['type']]
+  end
+
 end