Transient packages are not related to any part of the WfMC XPDL specification but are a unique feature of Together Workflow Editor.
Transient packages are always available to the editor user (independently of the main package that is currently being edited) and the editor user can always copy elements (such as commonly used Activities and Transition structures, Applicatons or Participants definitions, etc.) from the transiently referrenced package into the currently edited package. XPDL Packages imported as transient are neither being validated for errors nor are these transient referrences stored in the current XPDL file. They are just shown for your convenience during modelling work. If a transient package is referencing other packages the user must be aware that the referenced packages won't be imported automatically.
![]() | The Transient Package Pool displays all the transiently opened packages. Using the buttons on top you are able to add new or remove existing transiently referrenced packages from the editor. The Transient Package Pool can be hidden by clicking on the "Transient package pool" tab with the right mouse button and selecting "Close". It can be shown again by selecting "Add Transient package pool" in the context menu of the "Overview" tab or the background of the "Special Area". |
You are able to pre-configure Together Workflow Editor to load certain XPDL packages in transient mode (see the section called “Property file togwebasic.properties”) at startup to have access to most commonly needed XPDL elements for copying them into the XPDL package you are editing. This feature is typically used for copying certain workflow design patterns from a pattern pool into processes. Predefined common workflow patterns can be found in the Together Workflow Editor installation directory "...\examples\valid\WorkflowPatterns\".
You should be aware that there is a major difference in reusing XPDL elements from external packages and copying XPDL elements from other (transiently loaded) XPDL packages. Common subflows, application or participant definitions should normally be reused by modelling externally referenced packages instead of copying definitions redundantly into other packages.
The Transient Package Pool background color can be changed through the transientpkgpool.properties file. (BackgroundColor = R=?,G=?,B=?)
As with all other components you are also able to change the content of the toolbar and the order of the toolbar buttons.