| Message: | Description: | Where stored: |
|---|---|---|
| Input message | Contains the input parameters passed to the flow by the calling program. | Input message file |
| Output message | Contains the output parameters returned to the calling program by the flow. | Output message file |
| Variable message | Contains the variable elements used by the flow while it is being performed. | Variable message file |
The term variable is used to refer to a message element of a simple type (see General information about how messages are used in flows).
When you generate runtime code for the service flow, the runtime code generator uses your message definitions to allocate space for the data elements accessed by the flow.
To define the input message:
| Action: | Item: | User interface: |
|---|---|---|
| a) Click | Basic tab | Flow message editor |
| b) Right-click | Flow message editor, Basic tab, left pane | |
| c) Click | Add Element | |
| d) Click | localElement1 | |
| e) Type | itemQuantity | Flow message editor, Basic tab, right pane, Name field |
| f) Click | Advanced tab | Flow message editor |
| g) Click | Flow message editor, Advanced tab | |
| h) Click | The cell in the Type column to the right of itemQuantity | |
| i) Scroll the list and select (New Simple Type Restriction) | The drop-down list that opens when you clicked the empty cell in the preceding step. | |
| j) Scroll the list and select xsd:short | The Base Type drop-down list | The New Simple Type Restriction window |
| k) Click | OK | |
| l) Click | Flow message editor, Advanced tab | |
| m) Click | Properties tab | Flow message editor |
| n) Click | Flow message editor, Properties tab, left pane | |
| o) Type 0 See CAUTION. |
Min field | Flow message editor, Properties tab, the Inclusive Constraints group |
| p) Type 999 | Max field | |
| q) Click | Basic tab | Flow message editor |
Close the flow message editor.
| Action: | Item: | User interface: |
|---|---|---|
| a) Right-click | The CatalogSample.Interface folder | EST Project Explorer |
| b) Click | Popup menu | |
| c) Type a file name for the message file: | o_CatalogOrder.sfmxsd | New Message Definition wizard |
| d) Click | Finish |
| Action: | Item: | User interface: |
|---|---|---|
| a) Right-click | o_catalogOrder.sfmxsd | Flow message editor, Basic tab |
| b) Click | Add Message | |
| c) Click | message1 | |
| d) In the Properties group, in the Name field, type a new name for the message. | o_CatalogOrder |
| Action: | Item: | User interface: |
|---|---|---|
| a) Click | Basic tab | Flow message editor |
| b) Right-click | Flow message editor, Basic tab, left pane | |
| c) Click | Add Element | |
| d) Click | localElement1 | |
| e) Type | returnCode | Flow message editor, Basic tab, right pane, Name field |
| f) Click | Advanced tab | Flow message editor |
| g) Click | Flow message editor, Advanced tab | |
| h) Click | The cell in the Type column to the right of returnCode | |
| i) Scroll the list and select (New Simple Type Restriction) | The drop-down list that opens when you clicked the empty cell in the preceding step. | |
| j) Scroll the list and select xsd:short | The Base Type drop-down list | The New Simple Type Restriction window |
| k) Click | OK | |
| l) Click | Flow message editor, Advanced tab | |
| m) Click | Properties tab | Flow message editor |
| n) Click | Flow message editor, Properties tab, left pane | |
| o) Type 0 See CAUTION. |
Min field | Flow message editor, Properties tab, the Inclusive Constraints group |
| p) Type 99 | Max field | |
| q) Click | Basic tab | Flow message editor |
| Action: | Item: | User interface: |
|---|---|---|
| a) Click | Basic tab | Flow message editor |
| b) Right-click | Flow message editor, Basic tab, left pane | |
| c) Click | Add Element | |
| d) Click | localElement1 | |
| e) Type | returnMessage | Flow message editor, Basic tab, right pane, Name field |
| f) Click | Advanced tab | Flow message editor |
| g) Click | Flow message editor, Advanced tab | |
| h) Click | The cell in the Type column to the right of returnMessage | |
| i) Scroll the list and select (New Simple Type Restriction) | The drop-down list that opens when you clicked the empty cell in the preceding step. | |
| j) Scroll the list and select xsd:string | The Base Type drop-down list | The New Simple Type Restriction window |
| k) Click | OK | |
| l) Click | Flow message editor, Advanced tab | |
| m) Click | Properties tab | Flow message editor |
| n) Click | Flow message editor, Properties tab, left pane | |
| o) Leave blank | Length field | Flow message editor, Properties tab, the Length Constraints group |
| p) Leave blank | Min field | |
| o) Type 80 See CAUTION. |
Max field | |
| q) Click | Basic tab | Flow message editor |
As with the output message, the steps to define the variable message are very similar to the steps that you used to define the input message. Therefore, again, this subtopic presents the steps in a more streamlined fashion.
| Action: | Item: | User interface: |
|---|---|---|
| a) Right-click | The CatalogSample.Interface folder | EST Project Explorer |
| b) Click | Popup menu | |
| c) Type a file name for the message file: | v_CatalogOrder.sfmxsd | New Message Definition wizard |
| d) Click | Finish |
| Action: | Item: | User interface: |
|---|---|---|
| a) Right-click | v_catalogOrder.sfmxsd | Flow message editor, Basic tab |
| b) Click | Add Message | |
| c) Click | message1 | |
| d) In the Properties group, in the Name field, type a new name for the message. | v_CatalogOrder |
| Action: | Item: | User interface: |
|---|---|---|
| a) Click | Basic tab | Flow message editor |
| b) Right-click | Flow message editor, Basic tab, left pane | |
| c) Click | Add Element | |
| d) Click | localElement1 | |
| e) Type | itemNumber | Flow message editor, Basic tab, right pane, Name field |
| f) Click | Advanced tab | Flow message editor |
| g) Click | Flow message editor, Advanced tab | |
| h) Click | The cell in the Type column to the right of itemNumber | |
| i) Scroll the list and select (New Simple Type Restriction) | The drop-down list that opens when you clicked the empty cell in the preceding step. | |
| j) Scroll the list and select xsd:short | The Base Type drop-down list | The New Simple Type Restriction window |
| k) Click | OK | |
| l) Click | Flow message editor, Advanced tab | |
| m) Click | Properties tab | Flow message editor |
| n) Click | Flow message editor, Properties tab, left pane | |
| o) Type 0 See CAUTION. |
Min field | Flow message editor, Properties tab, the Inclusive Constraints group |
| p) Type 9999 | Max field | |
| q) Click | Basic tab | Flow message editor |
| Action: | Item: | User interface: |
|---|---|---|
| a) Click | Basic tab | Flow message editor |
| b) Right-click | Flow message editor, Basic tab, left pane | |
| c) Click | Add Element | |
| d) Click | localElement1 | |
| e) Type | itemQuantity | Flow message editor, Basic tab, right pane, Name field |
| f) Click | Advanced tab | Flow message editor |
| g) Click | Flow message editor, Advanced tab | |
| h) Click | The cell in the Type column to the right of itemQuantity | |
| i) Scroll the list and select (New Simple Type Restriction) | The drop-down list that opens when you clicked the empty cell in the preceding step. | |
| j) Scroll the list and select xsd:short | The Base Type drop-down list | The New Simple Type Restriction window |
| k) Click | OK | |
| l) Click | Flow message editor, Advanced tab | |
| m) Click | Properties tab | Flow message editor |
| n) Click | Flow message editor, Properties tab, left pane | |
| o) Type 0 See CAUTION. |
Min field | Flow message editor, Properties tab, the Inclusive Constraints group |
| p) Type 999 | Max field | |
| q) Click | Basic tab | Flow message editor |
| Action: | Item: | User interface: |
|---|---|---|
| a) Click | Basic tab | Flow message editor |
| b) Right-click | Flow message editor, Basic tab, left pane | |
| c) Click | Add Element | |
| d) Click | localElement1 | |
| e) Type | available | Flow message editor, Basic tab, right pane, Name field |
| f) Click | Advanced tab | Flow message editor |
| g) Click | Flow message editor, Advanced tab | |
| h) Click | The cell in the Type column to the right of available | |
| i) Scroll the list and select (New Simple Type Restriction) | The drop-down list that opens when you clicked the empty cell in the preceding step. | |
| j) Scroll the list and select xsd:string | The Base Type drop-down list | The New Simple Type Restriction window |
| k) Click | OK | |
| l) Click | Flow message editor, Advanced tab | |
| m) Click | Properties tab | Flow message editor |
| n) Click | Flow message editor, Properties tab, left pane | |
| o) Leave blank | Length field | Flow message editor, Properties tab, the Inclusive Constraints group |
| p) Leave blank | Min field | |
| o) Type 3 See CAUTION. |
Max field | |
| q) Click | Basic tab | Flow message editor |
Close the flow message editor.