Open a catalog item from within a catalog item

[Suzanne_Ryan]

Here's the project:

User opens a catalog item for a Software Request.

While the user is filling out the form, depending on their location (gotten from the user record), we open the location specific, completely separate catalog item for them to complete.

I need to actually open up the form - not just create the RITM or TASK from within the workflow using the Cart API.   And I need to run the specific workflow for this item.

If the user's location doesn't have a specific form, we continue in this first form.

I can think of lots of ways to do this but I want it invisible to the user - so I think it needs to be a client script.

If we bounce over to a different catalog item without saving the first one, will that cause an issue?

If I have to do an order guide I will need to recreate 5 separate catalog items into the guide - one of which took a year to complete.   It's crazy complex.     I'd like to NOT do that.

Thanks for any ideas you may have...

[Community Alums]

Hi Suzanne,

Some quick questions here:

• How much alike are the workflows?
• What are the differences between the workflows?
• Could you branch the workflow and use variables to make the workflow more generic to support the various locations?
• How varied are the form variables?
• Did you create the variables for the complex item in a Variable Set (or collection of Variable Sets) so you can reuse them?

Thanks,

Ben

[Suzanne_Ryan]

Hi Ben, thanks so much for your response.

3 of the 5 workflows are pretty similar.   The other two are pretty complex.   Changes will be made to all of the workflows to try to align them as much as I can, but there are location specific requirements that can't change.

The differences are mostly in approvals.   Two of the items require complex approvals (One is up to 7 approvals per item).   Some need to validate if freeware is being requested, and that adds a layer to approvals.

No variable sets.

The thing is - I need to open one catalog item, gather the user info, and based on that, open the appropriate catalog item for that location. Once the second item is open, there are multiple variables that must be completed and that separate workflow kicked off to handle the requirements.

So I don't think the workflows will be connected at all - unless I'm just not seeing this clearly.

[Community Alums]

Suzanne,

If you no love nger needed information from the end user, I would say that creating a second catalog item would be the way to go, but it sounds like you need more information from the requester?

Ben

[Suzanne_Ryan]

The only information I'll need to pass is the requester name.   The variables will need to be completed on the second catalog item.

See, I have the 5 catalog items already in existence - and I don't necessarily want to alter them or combine them into one.   There are too many location specific requirements for that.     I just want the user to get to the correct catalog item by way of the first item (all it's asking for is the name, and it's populating the location via script).

How can I do that?