Patent ID: 7454742

Claim:
A processor-implemented method for automatically starting a plurality of items with different structures on a workflow process, comprising: upon creation of each item of the plurality of items, a library server checking a definition of an item type for the item; automatically assigning a workflow process to the item type definition according to predefined rules; automatically starting the item on the workflow process assigned to the item type, to allow uniform treatment of all the items in the plurality of items, regardless of the structures of the items, without user interference; creating a work package on an initial node in the workflow process; assigning a priority to the work package; and the library server retrieving the workflow process and priority for the item type; identifying a work node as a collection point, wherein the work node comprises an item having a root component containing attributes and a child component which implements the work package; wherein the attributes of the root component comprise an item ID, type, notify time, overload limit and exits to be run on the library server; upon identification of the item at the collection point as a folder, comparing the content of the folder with a list of required item types; automatically advancing the identified folder with a required item type to a next work node; holding the folder without the required item type at the collection point until the required item type is placed in the folder; and upon determination that the item is not a folder, advancing the item to the next work node.