This topic describes how to associate a flow with a plain Invoke
node, thereby creating an Invoke flow node.
General information
Restriction: Note the three following restrictions:
- An Invoke flow node is supported only where a nonterminal flow (a flow
containing Invoke nonterminal nodes) invokes a terminal flow (a flow containing
Invoke screen operation nodes.)
- The service flow project tools does not allow you to create a recursive
invocation of a flow, that is, a flow invoking itself, either directly or
through intermediate calls. If you attempt to add an Invoke flow node that
would create a recursive call, then the flow editor does not allow the attempt
to succeed. When you click OK or complete the drag
function, the flow editor does not add the new Invoke node, but does not display
an error message (see A service flow cannot call itself (recursive call)).
- Invoked flows are supported only in the CICS® Service Flow Runtime environment (see Which nodes are valid in the supported runtime environments).
The
Select Subflow menu selection or,
alternatively, the corresponding drag feature, allows you to associate a flow
with a plain Invoke node, thereby creating an Invoke flow node. A plain Invoke
node looks like this:
When you associate a flow with an Invoke node,
the flow editor:
- Configures the Invoke node so that it will invoke the flow.
- Associates the Receive node of the flow with the input terminal of the
node.
- Creates an output terminal on the node for each Reply and Throw node in
the flow.
- Renames the node to the flow name.
- Adds to the lower right corner of the node icon a flow symbol to indicate
that the node is now an Invoke flow node:
To associate an Invoke node with a flow, you can either:
- Use the Select Subflow menu selection; or
- Drag an operation from the EST Project Explorer to the plain Invoke node
on the flow editor canvas.
Using the Select Subflow menu selection
To use the
Select
Subflow menu selection:
- In the flow editor, right-click the Invoke node, then click Select
Subflow.
Note: Alternatively, you can select from the main menu of
the workbench.
- The Select Flow window opens. This window displays
a filtered version of the EST Project Explorer that includes the following
artifacts:
| Type of artifact: |
From which types of folder and subfolder: |
From which service flow projects: |
|
|
Flows folders |
- The service flow project to which the flow belongs.
|
- In the Select Flow window:
- Expand the service flow project to which the opened flow belongs.
- Expand the Flows folder.
- Select the flow that you want to associate with the plain Invoke node.
- Click OK to close the Select Flow window.
- The flow editor converts the plain Invoke node to an Invoke flow node
invoking the flow that you selected.
Using the drag feature
To drag a flow:
- In the EST Project Explorer:
- Expand the service flow project containing the flow that you have opened
in the flow editor.
- Expand the Flows folder.
- Select a flow.
- Drag the flow to the plain Invoke node on the flow editor canvas.
- The flow editor converts the plain Invoke node to an Invoke flow node
invoking the flow that you selected.