Assignments
Assignments are a sequence of messages between web services.
Assignments are used to copy data from one variable to
another, as well as to construct and insert new data using expressions.
Expressions are primarily used to perform simple computations (such as
incrementing sequence numbers) required for describing business protocol
behavior. Expressions operate on (do something to) message selections,
properties, and literal constants to produce a new value for a variable
property or selection. Assignments can also be used to copy endpoint references
to and from partner links.
To add an
assignment to a model:
- Select the model and
right-click. From the context menu, select Add Assignment.
- In Outline
view, select the Assignment for which you want to specify properties.
Assignments are indicated by the
icon. - The following table lists
the properties that you can specify for an Assignment.
Attribute |
|
Description |
|
From |
Message/Property
and Query |
If
selected, this will produce a Message/Property field with a Select button
that provides the available choices. |
|
|
Message
and BPEL Property |
Messages:
request, risk, approval, error. BPEL
properties are entered as string values. |
|
|
Expression |
The
Expression must be made up of a combination of Values, Properties, and
Attributes, which are separated by operators such as add or multiply. The
expression language is defined in the ExpressionLanguage
attribute of the Business Process Diagram |
|
|
Endpoint
Reference |
URL for
a web service. |
|
|
XML
Literal |
An XML literal
consists of a start tag (<tag>), optional XML content, and a matching
end tag (</tag>). They may span multiple lines. The content may consist
of literal text, predefined XML entities, numerical character references,
comments, or other tags. Nested tags must be properly balanced. |
|
|
Opaque |
Not
visible. |
|
To |
Message/Property
and Query |
If
selected, this will produce a Message/Property field with a Select button
that provides the available choices. |
|
|
Partner
Link |
URL of associated
web service. |
|
|
Message
and BPEL Property |
The
target for the Assignment must be a property of the process or the
activity itself. |
|
AssignTime |
Start |
End |
An
Assignment may have an AssignTime setting.
If the Object is an activity (Task, SubProcess, or Process), then the
Assignment must have an AssignTime. A value
of Start means that the assignment shall occur at the start of the
activity. This can be used to assign the higher-level (global) properties of
the process to the (local) properties of the activity as an input to the
activity. A value of End means that the assignment shall occur at the
end of the activity. This can be used to assign the (local) properties of the
activity to the higher-level (global) properties of the process as an output
to the activity. |