In an information processing apparatus, when a workflow definition file with which a predetermined job is executed is created with a plurality of extension providers combined and when it is determined that at least one of the extension providers to be executed involves displaying of a setting screen corresponding to the at least one of the extension providers to be executed, a workflow definition file is created in which the setting screen is displayed before processing corresponding to a predetermined function to be executed by the at least one of the extension providers is executed.

An information processing apparatus displays a creation screen and adds display information. The creation screen is for a user to create a workflow by combining function providers. The function providers includes a function provider having a setting interface to call a setting screen to perform a setting of a corresponding function, and an execution interface to execute the corresponding function. In a case where a setting interface of a function provider added to the workflow refers to a result of an execution by an execution interface of a preceding function provider, display information is automatically added to a definition file for the workflow. The automatically added display information is information to display a message to prompt the user to standby during the execution by the execution interface of the preceding function provider.

A method of generating a workflow of an image forming job is provided. The method includes providing a list of selectable first functions, receiving a user input for selecting a first function from the list of first functions, providing a list of second functions that are continuously executable to the selected first function by using information about output data of the selected first function, receiving a user input for selecting a second function from the list of second functions, and generating a workflow defined to sequentially execute the selected first function and second function.

Provided is a method of generating a workform that defines an order of performing jobs, the method including: setting any one of an image forming apparatus and a mobile device as an input source for receiving a job target; setting a transforming method for transforming a job target received through the input source; setting any one of the image forming apparatus and the mobile device as a transmission destination for transmitting the job target transformed according to the transforming method; and storing a workform defining an order of performing jobs according to the input source, the transforming method, and the transmission destination.

An image processing apparatus is configured to execute first image data process, second image data process, a first storing process to store process combination information including a first default parameter and a second default parameter, and a combination process. The combination process includes a first obtaining process of obtaining an alternative parameter including at least one of a first alternative parameter and a second alternative parameter, a first combination execution process of executing the first image data process in accordance with the first alternative parameter when the first alternative parameter is obtained, and a second combination execution process of executing the second image data process in accordance with the second alternative parameter when the second alternative parameter is obtained.

An information processing apparatus having a cooperation function for causing a first application and a second application to cooperate, the first application operating on a network, the second application operating in the information processing apparatus, includes a holding unit configured to, in a case where the cooperation function gives an instruction to call the second application, hold data from the first application in association with predetermined specifying information, and an issuance unit configured to cause the cooperation function to issue to the second application a request to acquire data from the first application, wherein according to the request, the second application performs data acquisition using the specifying information, without using communication via Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP).

A management server is provided. The management server includes a user interface to receive an input of a plug-in corresponding to a job of an image forming apparatus to generate a workform, which defines a job performing order of the image forming apparatus, and to receive an input of an execution start condition of the plug-in, a workform generator to generate a workform based on the input plug-in and the execution start condition, and a communication interface to transmit the generated workform to the image forming apparatus.

Provided is a method of processing a workflow that cannot be solely processed by an image forming apparatus, by using a resource of a mobile device in which a bring your own device (BYOD) application is installed, and a mobile device for performing the method.

An information processing system includes a storage storing flow information in association with application identification information, for each application for executing a sequence of processes, the flow information defining program identification information and an execution order of the programs; a storage storing screen information in association with the application identification information for each application; a transmitter for sending, to a device, the screen information associated with the application identification information, when a first request including the application identification information is received from the device; a receiver for receiving a second request including information relating to the electronic data specified by a user in the screen displayed on the first device; an acquirer for acquiring the flow information associated with the application identification information; and an executor for executing the programs identified by the program identification information, in the execution order, to execute the sequence of processes.

A non-transitory storage medium stores a program set readable by a computer of a first information processing apparatus. The program set including a first program and a second program. The first program causes the first information processing apparatus to start the second program, and register the started second program, as a virtual scanner, in an operating system of the first information processing apparatus. The second program causes the first information processing apparatus to transmit a scan command of the first protocol to the external scanner, and receive a read result from the external scanner by the first protocol through the communication interface. The external scanner reads a document in response to receipt of the scan command transmitted from the information processing apparatus.