Rational Developer for System z, Version 7.6

Creating an Invoke node directly from an existing operation

This topic describes three features, each of which allows you to create a particular type of Invoke node directly from an existing operation of the same type.
The three features are:
Note: This functionality is similar to associating an operation with an existing plain Invoke node (see Associating an operation with a plain Invoke node) except that here you add the operation directly to the flow editor canvas rather than adding it to an existing plain Invoke node on the flow editor canvas.

General information

The Add Operation menu selection, or alternatively the corresponding drag feature, allows you to add a nonterminal operation, an outbound Web service operation, or a screen operation directly to the flow editor canvas, thereby creating an Invoke nonterminal node, or an Invoke outbound Web service node, or an Invoke screen operation node (see Table 1).
Table 1. Add Operation
Adding an operation of a particular type directly to the flow editor canvas: Creates an Invoke node of the same type:
Nonterminal operation:
Nonterminal operation
Invoke nonterminal node:
Invoke nonterminal node
Outbound Web service operation:
Outbound web service operation
Invoke outbound Web service node:
Invoke outbound web service node
Screen operation:
Screen operation
Invoke screen operation node:
Invoke screen operation node

To create an Invoke node from an existing operation, you can either:
  • Use the Add Operation menu selection; or
  • Drag an operation from the EST Project Explorer to the flow editor canvas.
CAUTION:
If you want to create an Invoke screen operation node, then instead of using the manual method described in this topic, you should consider using the Record Flow feature to automatically create a sequence of Invoke screen operation nodes (see Recording a flow in the host editor). If you create an Invoke screen operation node manually as described in this topic, then you will have to manually create the mappings for the node.

Using the Add Operation menu selection

To use the Add Operation menu selection:
  1. In the flow editor, right-click anywhere over a blank area of the canvas, then click Add Operation.
    Note: Alternatively, you can select Flow > Add Operation from the main menu of the workbench.
  2. The Select Operation window opens. This window displays a filtered version of the EST Project Explorer that includes the artifacts shown in the following table:
    Table 2. Artifacts in the Select Operation window
    Type of artifact: From which types of folder and subfolder: From which service flow projects:
    • All operations
    Operations subfolders in:
    • Terminal applications subproject
    • Nonterminal applications subproject
    • Outbound Web services subproject
    • Only the service flow project to which the flow belongs.
  3. In the Select Operation window:
    1. Expand a nonterminal applications subproject, an outbound Web services subproject, or a terminal applications subproject.
    2. Expand the Operations subfolder of the subproject.
    3. Expand the operations file containing the operation that you want to add to the flow.
    4. Select the operation that you want to add to the flow.
    5. Click OK to close the Select Operation window.
  4. The flow editor creates the Invoke node from the operation and names the Invoke node with the name of the operation.

Using the drag feature with terminal and nonterminal operations

Note: You can configure Enterprise Service Tools to open a configuration wizard when you drag a terminal operation into a terminal flow. See Setting overall preferences for service flow projects for information about setting the Enable screen invoke creation wizard in flow editor option.
To drag a terminal or nonterminal operation, do the following:
  1. In the EST Project Explorer:
    1. Expand the service flow project containing the flow that you have opened in the flow editor.
    2. For a nonterminal operation, do the following:
      1. Expand a nonterminal applications subproject, an outbound Web services subproject, or a terminal applications subproject.
      2. Expand the Operations subfolder of the subproject.
      3. Expand the operations file containing the operation that you want to add to the flow.

      For a terminal operation, proceed to the next step.

    3. Select the operation that you want to add to the flow.
  2. Drag the operation to the flow editor canvas.

    For a nonterminal operation, the procedure is complete.

    For a terminal operation, proceed to the next step.

  3. For a terminal operation, if you have selected the Enable screen invoke creation wizard in flow editor preference, a configuration wizard opens. Configure the node as follows:
    1. Select a screen interaction and output screen for the terminal operation. Click Next.
    2. Select the preceding node in the flow. Click Next.
    3. If desired, select variables for any Insert actions or Extract actions in the screen interaction. Click Finish.
The flow editor creates the correct type of Invoke node, gives the Invoke node the same name as the operation, and configures the Invoke node to invoke the operation.

For a screen operation the wizard also connects previous nodes to the new node and creates a mapping routine for the selected screen interaction.


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