Introduction to Modules

Overview

Modules allow the administrator to install plug-ins for an external service so that features of the service can be used in Decisions via Flow steps or other configurations. Similar to how a browser extension adds capabilities of a service to the browser, modules do the same for Decisions.

Modules can contain new Flow steps, pre-built Flows, or more advanced configuration options for specific settings. Available modules can be found within the Decisions platform by navigating to System > Administration > Features. It is important to read the description of the module that is pending installation.

Available Modules

This is a list of the modules currently available out-of-the-box in Version 6 for installation to a Decisions environment. 

Active Directory Module

This module introduces new Flow steps that allow the Designer to build Flows centered around managing Active Directory. Once the module is installed, these new Flow steps can be used to create users, groups, associations, and more.

Approvals Module

This module offers several pre-built Flows that are primarily used for tracking request and approval activity within an organization. Approvals offer both basic and comprehensive Flows that scale from simple approvals to handling multi-level, parallel, or tracked approvals, and more. Designers can use the Approval Flows in their own workflow directly, as a subflow, or simply as a model to base a new design on. After installing the Approvals Module, a suite of new pre-built Flow options will become available.

For additional information or help on getting started with Approvals in Decisions, please refer to the documents listed below.

• Using the Approvals Module
• Introduction to Approval Chain
• Using Main Approval Flow

AWS Module

The Amazon Web Services (AWS) module offers additional Flow steps that are used for communicating with two Amazon Web Services; Kinesis and RedShift.

Azure Service Bus Module

Azure Service Bus is a .NET messaging system for application-to-application communication. This module adds capabilities to the Decisions messaging service. Flows that were built in Decisions can connect to the Azure Service Bus queues as subscribers in order to work messages. Users can also push messages to queues using Flow steps.

AzureServices

This module introduces Flow steps that assist with connecting and using services available in Microsoft Azure. 

Docker Module

This module allows certain Rules and Flows to run in managed containers. This capability will expand rapidly over the course of the next several releases. This feature is currently a restricted use module and would require the Designer to contact the Decisions Support Team to enable. The current Docker module is only available in Decisions version 6 and requires an Enterprise level license to use. This feature is currently limited, and only compatible with certain parts of Decisions. Specifically, the current Docker can only run containerized rules or flows with no UI elements (such as Forms) within AWS containers.

Docusign Module

This module introduces new Flow steps that can be used so documents can send to Docusign from a Flow to capture electronic signatures and initials. The steps are limited to using X,Y positioning on the document for marking where to sign. Additionally, Docusign’s “Tag” feature can indicate areas in the document that requires signatures. Once a document is sent to Docusign through a Decisions workflow, the Wait On External Event step is used to monitor Docusign so that the document can be pulled back to the Flow once it is complete. When installed, the Docusign Steps will be located in the Integration folder from the Step Catalog.

Enterprise Module

This module adds functionality for processing large amounts of batch data, persistent work queues, and data sharing in active/active clusters.

Exchange Module

This module allows the use of Microsoft Exchange services.

FHIR Module

Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) is a healthcare messaging format that allows systems to communicate in a standard way, in any organization dealing with digital healthcare data. This module adds support for HL7 FHIR as JSON using steps and datatypes. This module requires a Microsoft Open License library that can be found using the following link: https://github.com/ewoutkramer/fhir-net-api.

Flow Sets and Rule Sets

Flow Sets and Rule Sets allow for the construction of complex rules and similar flows that share common patterns. All of the Rules and Flows are executed using one service call or as a single step in a calling Flow, where each Flow or Rule is evaluated and a composite result will be ran. Here are two articles with further detail on how Flow Sets and Rule Sets are used in Decisions:

Flow Sets

Foreign Exchange Module

The Foreign Exchange Module offers Flow steps for getting real-time exchange rates between currencies. Please note that using this Module will require an account at StrikeIron.com. When you install this module, you will find the additional Flow Steps located in the Step Catalog under Integration > Foreign Exchange.

HL7 Module

The HL7 Module is the core of the HL7Flow product found at: http://www.hl7flow.com. This module adds a full HL7 Engine to the Decisions platform, allowing the Designer to combine the power of the Flow, Form, Rule, and Report Designers with HL7 data and common HL7 connection types to manage medical data streams.  The HL7 module includes data types for all standard messages, as well as interfaces.

Hosting

Decisions Hosting houses the process of handling multi-tenant functionality and is installed by the system when a Multi-Tenant server is present.

HubSpot Module

This module introduces new Flow steps for working with the HubSpot Contact and Companies API. 

IBMMQ Module

The IBM Messaging Queue (IBMMQ) module allows the use of IBM MQ as a messaging system in Decisions.

ICal Module

The ICal Module allows for the creation of ICal invites and events. ICal is the data format used to request meetings on common calendar programs like Microsoft Exchange/Outlook and Google Calendars. 

Kafka Module

This module allows the use of Apache Kafka as a messaging system in Decisions.

MongoDB Module

MongoDB is a cross-platform document-oriented database program. This module allows for the integration of these database services.

MSCRM Module

The Microsoft Customer Relationship Management (MSCRM) module allows for integration with Microsoft's CRM services.

MSMQ Module

Microsoft Messaging Queue (MSMQ) is a .NET messaging system for application-to-application communication. To use this module, MSMQ capabilities must be installed on the application server.

Okta Module

This module allows for integration with Okta identity and access management services.

OPC Module

This module is used as an Open Platform Communications (OPC) connector.

OpenId Module

OpenId is a form of authentication. This module allows OpenId to connect with Single Sign-On (SSO) functionality.

PGP Module

The PGP add-on offers integration in Decisions with PGP document encryption, also known as Pretty Good Privacy.

Powershell Module

The Powershell Module allows for the execution of Powershell scripts from Flows within Decisions. Powershell is a powerful scripting platform that has a large number of integration plugins, these plugins make system software and enterprise application integration possible.

Python Module

This module adds support for the storage and execution of scripts written in the Python coding language.

QR Codes Module

The QR Codes Module offers steps that allow QR Coded images to be interpreted within a flow and also allows for QR Codes to be created. 

R Module

This module adds support for the storage and execution of scripts written in the statistical and graphing coding language, R.

RabbitMQ Module

RabbitMQ is a .NET messaging system for application-to-application communication. The RabbitMQ Module adds RabbitMQ capability into the Decisions messaging service, allowing the Designer to connect Flows to RabbitMQ queues as subscribers so the Flows can work messages. Designers can also push messages to queues using Flow steps provided by this Module.

For more information about the benefits of the RabbitMQ Module in Decisions, please visit our Setting Messaging Overview document.

Remedy Module

Remedy is an enterprise-grade help desk ticketing system for IT and System Management needs. This Module offers Flow steps that allow a user to receive, create, and

Salesforce Module

For most Salesforce interactions, this web service integration in Decisions Studio will generate steps that run against the Salesforce Enterprise WSDL, including all custom datatypes and functionality. This Module adds some specific help steps to deal with integration difficulties that may occur with Salesforce Web Services document handling.

SAML Module

SAML, Security Assertion Markup Language, is a standard Single Sign-On (SSO) mechanism for sharing user authentications. Google, Facebook, and other services allow authentication to be shared using this mechanism. Decisions can use SAML to provide user authentication, although an additional setup is required for integration to a SAML provider. To find out more about SAML within Decisions, please visit our Single Sign-On SAML document.

SCCM Module

The SCCM Module offers settings and Flow steps used to integrate with Microsoft’s System Center Configuration Manager for automating IT management tasks. These additional features can be used in Flows to send Task Sequences to machine collections in order to automate common system management functions. An example of this would be an IT person installing software updates for company computers after a manager approves the updates using the Decisions Flow engine. These additional steps can be found in the Step Catalog under the SCCM Steps section.

Sharepoint Module

The Sharepoint Module offers Flow steps for dealing with lists and documents in Sharepoint using the Flow Designer. This Module is not needed to embed Decisions Forms, Flows, and user-driven Workflows in Sharepoint; it is only needed if the Designer wants the Flow Engine to be able to access, update, and modify lists or documents in Microsoft Sharepoint.

SymantecSMP Module

The Symantec Management Platform is a system for central IT administration and system management activity like software deployment, or updating computer configurations across an enterprise. Decisions offers Flow steps that allows the Designer to add workflows based around the Symantec Management Platform. An example of this would be if a user assigned tasks to a manager using our workflow; once approved, the user could activate a management activity in Symantec Management Platform to deliver software or update a computer.

Telephony Module

The Telephony Module offers integration options for use with Twillio. This Module also offers steps for automating Dual-Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) and Short Message Service (SMS) interactions.

Unit Tests Module

The Unit Tests Module is the Unit Test framework used exclusively by the Decisions Quality Assurance team to validate the functionality of the Decisions platform. It is included only to allow Decisions QA to run tests on servers for ensuring that the server infrastructure is properly functioning.

USPS Module

This module includes steps that work with the US Postal Service API.

Utilities Module

The Decisions Utilities Module holds the base functionality for project importing from other formats. For example, if the Designer has a large number of workflows that need to be imported from another system, Decisions Support would need to be contacted to discuss the implementation of this module.

Word To PDF Module

The Word-To-PDF Module offers the Designer additional Flow steps for converting Microsoft Word documents into PDF documents.