Understanding Process Data

xCP 1.x compatible

There are three kind of process data used in Process Builder:

Package attributes are the metadata associated with the object
Process variables can be single attributes or a complex hierarchy of attributes named Structured Data Types (SDT)
Process parameters are predefined values used in all instances

Packages

Packages are metadata associated with the Documentum object which is passed between activities in an existing process. Package data is persistent.

Process variables

Process variables are not persistent. This kind of variables must be mapped in the Process Data Mapping Activity to a package attribute if the value of the variable should persist beyond the life of the process instance.

Structured Data Types are not persistent. They are global and can be used by any process.
It is not possible to delete or modify used SDT attributes. New attributes to an existing SDT can be added. SDT should be used to group logically related business data.
SDTs are more lightweight than object attributes and are better for performance and scalability. Replace as many process variables as possible with SDT attributes (xCP Performance Tuning Guide).

Process parameters

Process parameters are fixed values defined in the process template and available for all process instances. Administrators can change process parameters without uninstalling the process. The changed parameter value is used in all process instances after saving the value.

Any changes to the data model require uninstalling, saving and reinstalling the form and process templates. 
Example: to change a SDT or SDT attribute after implementing you must break the data binding in Forms Builder and rebind the renamed SDT.

Updating process data

To modifying an SDT – variable it brings a lot of trouble in your environment.
To change the SDT properties you must delete the selected SDT from the environment and recreate the SDT including the old properties and the changed properties.

Modifications:

remove an attribute from the SDT
decrease the length of a string value (increase the length can be done at any time)
change the type of an attribute
change from repeating to non-repeating