New with IBM Forms 4.0.0.2 is the IBM Case Manager (ICM) Integrator. This new feature extends IBM Forms Webform Server capabilities to interact directly with IBM Case Manager 5.1. ICM solutions can be enhanced with IBM Forms ability to bring validated and secure information to the case and provides a flexible and intelligent UX for displaying and updating case properties
IBM Forms can be hosted within ICM and interact with case properties and events without writing code. Customers can use IBM Forms with the ICM client on a step page, as an attachment to a task, on a case page in place of a case data widget and on any page within a modal dialog (read only). Form fields can be automatically mapped to case properties and saved in Content Engine with data, attachments and signatures.
IBM Forms lets you extend ICM solutions to customers and employees through the web or intranet. Forms can be rendered on any web page or within WebSphere Portal. This means users can fill out forms on the web or intranet to initiate a case. In this scenario IBM Forms becomes an web UX component to your case solution and allows you to greatly expand its reach and value.
IBM Forms can be tightly integrated into the case worker experience. This is done through integration with the Case Form Widget. This lets you present the forms as an integral part of the caseworker experience. It can be viewed, edited and persisted as a natural part of the case workflow. You get all the richness of IBM Forms along with the ability to fully interact with case properties. The form can interact with outside services directly through its inherent capabilities as well as interact with other case widgets using events.
The creation of integrated solutions is straight forward and easy. IBM Form templates are created using the IBM Forms Designer. Form data elements are assigned a case property name (public). The public data name of a template field in the form must match the name of the associated case property. Form templates are saved as XFDD files. Form templates are deployed to FileNet Content Manger (CM) using Workplace XT or other back-end tools.
A case management solution is created and deployed using IBM Case Manger Builder. For IBM Forms to be part of a case the Case Form Widget settings are configured to open the desired IBM Form using the IBM Case Manager Client. For IBM Form to be part of a step within a workflow they are registered with attachments using IBM Case Manager Client or by following a round trip process that involves the FileNet Process Designer.
The installation requires that ICM be installed before IBM Forms. IBM Forms installer places IBM Case Manager Integrator code and API files into Case Manager directories. IBM Forms configuration tasks are fully integrated into the Case Manager Administration Client (CMAC). The rest of IBM Forms Server can then be installed in IBM WebSphere Application Server or WebSphere Portal environments.