Context module

REQUIREMENTS
Permission	Submission moderator and higher
Connectivity	Online and offline

This document describes the functionality of the 'context' workflow module and how to properly configure if for a workflow.

Required permissions:

• You need to be a Operation administrator to create a workflow template.
• You need to be a Submission moderator to initiate a workflow instance.

Required connectivity:

• You need to be online to create a new or edit an existing workflow template.
• If you are online when you initiate a workflow instance the fields will be prefilled from the last workflow instance with the same location(s). Once the workflow instance has been loaded, you can complete the workflow in an offline mode.
• You can initiate a workflow instance when you are offline, and the fields will be filled with the latest cached information on the computer. This will be up to date unless workflows have been submitted using other computers since you were last online on the computer you are currently using.
• If you submit whilst offline the workflow will be uploaded to the InfoEx server the next time you are online. WARNING: If the internet connection is lost whilst this is being done, the workflow will not be submitted and you will lose the data.

Functionality

A 'context' step provides background information about a workflow including information on when each instance of the workflow was executed, the span of validity of the information entered during its execution and information on who participated in the workflow session.

It is not possible to explicitly add a context step to a workflow. However a context step is automatically added to any workflow that includes a step that submits observations to the InfoEx server (Observations module, Snowpack module, Hazard assessment module, Free form module, Avalanche control module, Run list module or Hazard comment module).

Layout

Fig. 1: Context workflow module at the beginning of a workflow with data submission.

The context workflow step consists of the following fields:

• Assessment Date and Time
  Date and time when assessment was started.

NOTE	This is the date and time that is associated with the observation in the Snowpack module, Hazard assessment module and Hazard comment module steps in this workflow.

• Assessment type
  Specifies whether the current assessment is a nowcast or a forecast.

• Valid Until Date and Time
  If the current assessment is a forecast, these fields allow you to specify until when the forecast is valid (i.e., expiry date and time).

NOTE	Please note that the valid until date and time does not have any effect on how the information submitted through the workflow is presented in the InfoEx.

• Users Present
  This field allows users to indicate who produced the assessment or record an attendance list for the meeting. All users associated with your operation are listed in the dropdown list of this field.

Settings

Fig. 2: Workflow 'context' settings

The context workflow module has the following settings (Fig. 2):

• Name
  Name of the workflow step shown in the header of the workflow. It is recommended that you choose a short name (e.g., 'Intro' instead of 'Introduction') to keep the navigation bar of the workflow as tidy as possible.

• Default Assessment Type
  Specifies the default setting for the assessment type for the workflow. Only two selections are possible
  • Nowcast: The assessment that examines the current conditions
  • Forecast: The assessment provides a forecast for the near future

• Valid until - Default date
  Specifies the default date of validity/expiry date of a forecast assessment relative to the assessment date. Options for the setting include Current day or + x days.

• Valid until - Default time
  Specifies the default time of day of validity/expiry date of a forecast assessment.

All of these settings simply specify the default values that are presented when the workflow is executed. However, the content of these fields can be changed during individual workflows.

Information shared within the InfoEx

None of the information entered in this workflow module are shared within the InfoEx.

Other workflow modules

• Modules for entering data that is shared among InfoEx subscribers
  • Observations module
  • Snowpack module
  • Hazard assessment module
  • Hazard comment module
• Modules for entering proprietary data
  • Free form module
  • Run list module (additional subscription required)
  • Avalanche control module (additional subscription required)
• Modules for viewing information
  • Report module
  • Webpage module
• Other modules
  • Context module
  • Workflow summary

Functionality tested by

• Dec. 27, 2013: Pascal Haegeli