Is wf_activity reference safe to use?

Uncle Rob · ‎07-27-2015

So I know that wf_activity on task and sys_approval tables will refer back to the activity that triggered the record. I also notice that the column is inactive by default.

Is this to keep initiates safe, or is the field functionality being deprecated?

I'd like to know because I plan on building reports and metrics around the activity name of of a task / approval vs its Short Description or assignment group.

Mark Stanger · ‎07-28-2015

I always activate this field as part of a deployment, and have done so for several years. It's been inactive since it was created as far as I know. I've never seen any issue with using it and have never heard of it being deprecated in the future.

I like to use it to supply more information on task records about the specific approval step happening. When you look at a list of approvers on a change for example, you can dot-walk through the 'wf_activity' field and show the name of the approval activity there so people know what each approval is for.

If you're going to use it, I strongly suggest making it read only if it isn't already just so that it doesn't get changed and break the associated workflow. I'd also recommend you avoid showing the direct link to the workflow activity whenever possible so that people don't accidentally click it and end up at that record wondering what it is.

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alju845 · ‎05-05-2017

Hi Mark,

A few years down the line do you still think its ok to use this field? I need to be able to show the name of the activity so that the approver can identify what type of approval is required. Im not sure if there is something new that does this in Istanbul.

Any comment would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Alberto