Difference between Author and processing instance

[#1]

Hi Folks,

Can anyone tell the difference between an author instance and processing instance in AEM Forms with respect to OSGi and JEE? When these kinds of instances needed?

Thanks,

Bibhu.

[BibhuNayak · Accepted solution]

Processing server: An instance of AEM Forms running in Author run mode with no users assigned to the forms-manager group. You can deploy AEM Forms on JEE or AEM Forms on OSGi as a processing instance. The users are not assigned to ensure that form authoring and management activities are not performed on the Processing instance and occur only on the Author instance. A Processing instance enables the following functionalities:

• Processing of raw form data arriving from a Publish instance: This is achieved primarily on a Processing instance via AEM workflows which trigger when the data arrives. The workflows can use the Form Data Model step provided out-of-the-box to archive the data or document to a suitable data store.
• Secure storage of form data : Processing provides a behind-the-firewall repository for raw form data which is isolated from users. Neither form designers on the Author instance nor end users on the Publish instance can access this repository.
  Adobe recommends to use a third-party data store to save final processed data instead of using AEM repository.
• Storage and post-processing of correspondence data arriving from a Publish instance: AEM workflows perform the optional post-processing of the corresponding letter definitions. These workflows can save the final processed data into suitable external data stores.
• HTML Workspace hosting: A processing instance hosts the frontend for HTML Workspace. HTML workspace provides the UI for associated task/group assignments for review and approval processes.

A Processing instance is configured to run in the Author run mode because:

• It enables reverse-replication of raw form data from a Publish instance. The default data storage handler requires the reverse-replication feature.
• AEM Workflows, which are the primary means of processing raw form data arriving from a Publish instance, are recommended to run on an author-style system.

[BibhuNayak · Accepted solution]

Hi Mayank,

Thanks for the beautiful explanation. It clears most of the things. So I conclude we can not get away with Processing instance if we need the HTML Workspace. Processing instance is a must, if Workspace is required. I believe workspace is a part of JEE installation. So if a customer has already OSGi instance for using Workspace only, he has to install JEE server from the scratch ?

Also, I came across the below question. I think the answer will be "C". Can you please correct me if I am wrong?

A client wants to submit HTML5 forms and/or Adaptive Forms data from their site to an internal human centric process. The forms data will be routed through various departments.

Which basic architecture is required to meet the client's needs?

A. An author server to host the site and the forms and a prcessing server for the workflows
B. A publisher to host the site and forms and a processing server for the workflows
C. A publisher to host the site and forms, an author to build the forms, and a processing server for the workflows.
D. Two publishers (one for the site and the other for the forms) and an author for the workflows

Thanks,

Bibhu.

[#4]

if you want to trigger human centric workflow on submission of Adaptive Form or HTML5 form the following options are available to you on OSGI instance

User Submits AF from publish instance. You can trigger a workflow on the OSGI processing instance to a human to review the submitted form. This is out of the box capability

User Submits HTML5 Form from publish instance. You can trigger a workflow on the OSGI processing instance to a human to review the submitted data. This tutorial here should help you 

Let us know if you need any further help/clarifications