Preface
Welcome to Informatica Process Developer
- About Informatica Process Developer
- Working in the Eclipse Environment
- Migrating from Earlier Versions
- Saving From One Editing Style to Another (BPMN and Classic)
- Converting Legacy Deployments to Contributions
Using Guide Developer for the First Time
- Launching Process Developer
- Using the Workspace to Store Projects
- Creating an Orchestration Project
  - Changing the Default Location of a Workspace Project
  - Orchestration Project Templates
- Adding or Removing a Project Orchestration Nature
- About Project Orchestration and Validation Builders
- Using Project References
- Creating a New Process
  - Beginning a New Process
  - Selecting the BPMN-Centric or BPEL-Centric Palette
- Importing an Existing BPEL Process
- Importing a Visio XML Drawing File
- Begin Your First Project with Process Developer Assistance
- Setting Up the Embedded Process Server
- Process Developer Orchestration File Resources
Getting Started with Informatica Process Developer
- Using Source Control Systems
- Navigating Through Process Developer
- Windows Perspectives Views and Editors
- Process Developer Perspective
- Guide Developer Debug Perspective
- BPMN-Centric and BPEL-Centric Edit Styles
- Using the Process Developer Process Editor
- Customizing the Process Developer Perspective
- Process Developer Menus and Toolbars
- Process Developer Preferences
- Accessing Process Developer Help
About Interfaces Service References and Local WSDL
- Importing a Local WSDL
- Importing a Service Reference
- Creating a New Interface
- Creating a Java Interface
- Using the Interfaces View to Create Activities
- Creating a WSDL File with Extensions for BPEL
- Using Sample Data for WSDL Messages
- Finding Where a WSDL Component is Used
- Using Process Search
Planning Your BPEL Process
- Using Top-Down or Bottom-Up Process Design
- Using WSDL References for Efficient Design
  - Creating WSDL Extensions for BPEL
  - Starting a Process by Dropping an Operation onto the Process Editor
- Importing WSDL Schema and Other Resources
- Declaring Extensions
  - Using the Process Developer Create XPath Extension
  - Using the Process Developer Disable Selection Failure Fault Extension
- Declaring Extension Elements and Attributes
- Understanding BPEL Process Structure and Properties
- Understanding BPEL Process Lifecycle
- Creating an Executable vs. an Abstract Process
  - Creating an Abstract Process
  - Tips for Working with Abstract Processes
- Creating a BPEL Process as a Service for Another BPEL Process
- Message Exchange Declaration
Participants
- What are Participants
- What are Partner Link Types and Partner Links
- Partner Link Type
- Partner Link
- Using Scoped Partner Links
- Partner Links and Endpoint References
Implementing a BPMN Task or Event in BPEL
- BPMN-to-BPEL Implementation of Tasks and Events
- Overview of BPEL Activities
- Defining an Activity and Its Properties
  - Selecting Values for Activity Properties
  - Selecting Activity Labels
  - Standard Properties for Activities
  - Adding a Background Color to a Task Scope People Activity and Handlers
- Understanding and Using Activity Sequences and Flows
- Receive
- Reply
- Throw
- Rethrow
- Signal
- Exit
- Wait
- Compensate
- Compensate Scope
- Break
- Continue
- Start End None
- Invoke
  - From Part to Variable
  - From Variable to Part
  - Input Variable
  - Output Variable
- Assign
  - Tips for Copy Operations
  - Copy Operation Query and Expression Examples
  - Copy Operation Literal Contents Examples
  - Copy Operation Dynamic Endpoint Reference Example
  - Element to Element Copy Operation with Keep Source Element Name Attribute
  - Copy Operation with Ignore Missing From Data Attribute
- Empty
- Suspend
- Validate
- Opaque
- Creating a Custom Activity
- Creating an Activity by Starting with a WSDL Interface
Implementing a BPMN Gateway or Control Flow
- BPMN-to-BPEL Implementation of Gateways and Control Flow
- Different Ways of Structuring Activities
  - Overview of Control Flow Items
  - Ungrouping Selected Structured Activities
- Gateway
- Pick
- Fork Join
- If
- While
- Repeat Until
- Scope
- For Each
- Sequence
- Flow
Using Variables
- Overview of Variables
- Adding a Variable
- Adding Variable Properties and Property Aliases
- Initializing a Variable
- Viewing Variables
- Deleting a Variable
- Using Sample Data in Process Variables View
- Using the XML Data Wizard
- Finding Where Variables are Used
- Using Variables in a Copy Operation
- Using Variables Based on WSDL Fault Messages
- Mapping WSDL Message Parts in Web Service Interaction Activities
- Validating Variables
- Working with Variable Attachments
Attachments
- Adding an Attachment
- Adding an Attachment for Simulation
- Remote Debugging with Variable Attachments
- Custom Functions for Manipulating Attachments
- Attachment Custom Function Examples
Using Links
- What is a Link
- Process Developer Extension for Links
- Adding a Link Between Activities
- Execution Rules for Links
- Designing With Links vs. Structured Activities
- Links and the Join Condition
- Link Properties
Data Manipulation
- Overview of Data Manipulation in BPEL
- Selecting XPath or XQuery for Expression Building
  - Example XQuery Expressions
  - Example XPath Expressions
- Using the Expression Builder
- Expected Expressions for Conditions Counters and Other Values
- Using the Query Builder
- Creating a Join Condition for an Incoming Link
- Deadline and Duration Expressions
Compensation
- Compensation Handlers and Compensate Activities
  - Default-Order Compensation Example
  - Specified Compensation Example
- Adding a Compensation Handler to a Scope
- Compensating an Invoke Activity
Correlation
What is Correlation
What is a Correlation Set
- Properties
- Property Aliases
- WSDL Syntax and Example for Property Names and Aliases
- Global and Local Correlation Sets
Creating Message Properties and Property Aliases
- Creating a Property Definition
- Creating a Property Alias
Adding a Correlation Set
- XML Syntax
- Example
- Correlation Sets: Required and Optional Properties
Deleting a Correlation Set
Adding Correlations to an Activity
Rules for Declaring and Using Correlation Sets
Correlation Sets and Engine-Managed Correlation
Event Handling
- What is Event Handling
- Adding Event Handlers
  - Adding an onEvent Event Handler
  - Adding an onAlarm Event Handler
- Processing Rules for Events
- Adding Boundary Events
  - Catch and Catch All Boundary Events and Compensate Compensate Scope and Rethrow
  - Using a Variable from a Catch or Interrupting OnEvent Boundary Event
Fault Handling
- What is BPEL Fault Handling
- Defining Catch and CatchAll Fault Handlers
- Fault Handling for Service Invocations
- Adding a Fault Handler
- Fault Handling Processing Rules
- Rules for Catching Faults in a Catch Activity
- Tips on Fault Handling
- Catching Undeclared and SOAP Faults
Simulating and Debugging
- What is the Process Developer Debug Perspective
  - Opening the Process Developer Debug Perspective
  - Switching Between Process Developer Perspectives
- Process Developer Debug Perspective Views and Menus
- Simulating Execution of a BPEL Process
- Supplying and Inspecting Sample Variable Data During Simulation
  - Setting up Sample Data Values for Input Output and Fault Messages
  - Inspecting Process Variables during Simulation
- Selecting Simulation Paths and Properties
- Inspecting Standard Faults During Simulation
- Simulation Preferences
- Setting Debug Preferences
- Debugging Remote Processes Running on the Server
- Correcting Retrying or Completing Activities
- Monitoring Client Message Traffic with TCP IP Monitor
Deploying Your Processes
- Preparing for Deployment
  - Preparing BPEL Files for Deployment
  - Selecting a Server Platform for Deployed Processes
- Endpoint Reference Addressing Considerations
- Overview of Process Deployment Steps
- Creating a Process Deployment Descriptor File
- Creating and Deploying a Business Process Archive Contribution
  - Deploying Project Dependencies and Viewing Excluded Dependencies
  - Deploying Additional Resources
- Managing Deployment Contributions
- Using a BPRD Script to Regenerate and Deploy a BPR Contribution
  - Running a BPRD Ant Script from within Process Developer
  - Running a BPRD Ant Script from the Command Line
- Deployment Complete
- Starting the Server and Running a Process
- How a BPEL Process is Instantiated
- What is Process Versioning
BPEL Unit Testing
- What is BPEL Unit Testing
- Creating a BPEL Unit Test File
- Running a BPEL Unit Test in Process Developer
- Creating and Running a B-unit Ant Script
- Editing a B-unit File
- Debugging a B-unit Test
- Creating and Running BPEL Unit Test Suites
- Example B-unit File
Creating POJO and XQuery Custom Functions
- Custom Functions Overview
- Implementing the Function Context and Adding Annotations
- Sample Custom Function
- Adding Global Custom Functions to the Process Server
- Writing XQuery Functions
Custom Service Interactions
- Using a REST-based Service
- Using an OAuth REST-Based System Service
  - Creating an OAuth Service
  - Specifying Deployment Details for an OAuth Service Provider
- Using a Java Messaging Service Invoke Handler
Process Exception Management
- What is Process Exception Management
- Suspending a Process on Uncaught Faults
Creating Reports for Process Server and Central
- Creating the User Reports Orchestration Project
- Using the Process Developer Report Template
- Using the Process Developer Data Source
- Creating a Data Set from the Process Developer Data Source
- Understanding the Process Developer Data Model
- Deploying a Process Developer Report
- Updating or Deleting a Deployed Report
- Reporting Service
Business Event Processing
- Defining an Event in the Process Deployment Descriptor
- Using System-Defined Events
- Creating an Event-Action BPEL Process
- Activity States Event Properties Task States and Task Event Types
Process Central Forms and Configuration
- What is Process Central
- Creating a Process Central Process Form
- Testing and Debugging Process Central Forms
- Creating a Process Central Configuration File
- Configuring Task Role Filters
- Deploying Forms Reports and Configuration Files
- Adding Multilingual Support to Process Central
- Process Central Advanced Configuration
Building a Process with a System Service
- Using a BPEL Template for a System Service-Based Process
- Alert Service
- Data Access Service
- Email Service
- Identity Service
- Migration Service
- Monitoring Alert Service
- Retry-Policy Service
- Server Log Service
- Shell Command Invoke Service
Human Tasks
- Getting Started with Human Tasks
- Participants and Tasks
- Using the People Activity
- Simulating Debugging Deploying
- Providing Renderings for Task Clients
- Custom Functions
  - Human Tasks Custom Functions
  - WS-HT (Human Task) Custom Functions
- Using Customized Task Clients
  - What is the Informatica Business Process Manager WS-HumanTask API
  - Using the WS-HT and Identity Service SDK
- Creating Custom Task Properties
- Creating Custom Escalation Actions
BPEL Faults and Reports
- BPEL Standard Faults
- User Reports Sample

Designer

9.2.4.6
- 9.2.5

Back Next

Input Variable

The input for an invoke, reply, or people activity can be constructed within the Input (or Data) tab of the activity's Properties
view. Use the Input (or Data) tab of the invoke, reply or people activity as follows:

The input for an invoke or reply activity can be constructed within the Input (or Data) tab of the activity's Properties
view. Use the Input (or Data) tab of the invoke or reply as follows:

Assignment Type

Single Variable
. Select a variable if no input preparation is desired via an assign activity. Select an existing process variable or select New Variable. The variable must be of the operation's input message type, or, if the operation requires only one part, the variable's type can be the element type of the one part.

XPaths
. Select XPaths if you want to use a table to map from data within existing variables or a literal to the contents of the input message. The table uses XPath expressions that allow you to select nodes from a variable to assign to the input variable as well as compute values (strings, numbers, or Boolean values) from the content of variable. See Adding XPaths
below.

XQuery
. Select XQuery if you want to fill each input message part with a single query written in the XQuery expression language. This language allows you to create a query that looks like an XML document, but where pieces of the document are constructed using a superset of the XPath expression syntax. It supplements XPath with a SQL-like "FLWOR expression" (FOR, LET, WHERE, ORDER BY, and RETURN) for performing joins. See Adding XQuery
below.

For example XPath and XQuery expressions, see

Selecting XPath or XQuery for Expression Building

Tip:
If you want to use Javascript to prepare some or all of an input message, create an assign activity instead of using the Input tab. Each copy operation in an assign can use a different expression language.

Adding XPaths

On the Input (or Data) tab of an invoke, reply, or people activity, ensure that the Assignment Type is XPaths.

On the Input (or Data) tab of an invoke or reply activity, ensure that the Assignment Type is XPaths.

In the table, select Add
to populate the b

column.

In the To Path column, select the child node of the part, if needed.

In the E/L column, select the From type: Expression or Literal.

In the From column, select the

Dialog (...) Button

at the end of the table cell. For a literal, select Generate
and notice that the literal XML document is generated for you based on the type needed for the chosen To Part and To Path. To add an expression, fill in the Expression text box. For a shortcut, see

Using Content Assist

For more information on expression languages, see

Using the Expression Builder

The following is an example of a literal mapping:

Optionally, in Copy Attachments
, select a variable that can have attachments that you want to copy to or from. Note that you must copy all attachments. If you want only some attachments, you can add an Assign activity before the activity. See

Adding an Attachment

for details.

When you use XPaths, a temporary variable called parameters
is created to contain the parts. For details, see Viewing Container Variables
below.

Adding XQuery

For easy XQuery development, see

Writing XQuery Functions

On the Input (or Data) tab of an invoke, reply, or people activity, ensure that the Assignment Type is XQuery.

Notice that a XML template is generated for the message part. If desired, after editing the document, you can regenerate the template.

Fill in the XQuery expressions as desired for each element. Optionally, select Builder
to open the Query Builder to insert expressions or functions into the query.

The following is an example of an XQuery mapping.

Optionally, copy attachments, as described above in the XPaths discussion.

Viewing Container Variables

Iif you use XPaths or XQuery, a container variable is added to the Process Variables view, called

parameters

. Similarly, if you are copying attachments to the input variable, you will see the container variable,

attachmentCopyResult

. These variables are hidden by default since they are used only temporarily at runtime to process parts of a full variable. Select Show Internal Variables
to make them visible.

Rename Saved Search

Table of Contents

Designer

Designer

Input Variable

Input Variable