Configuring Business Process Attributes

Business Process attributes, also known as containers, are data values used by a Business Process. They allow you to share data between activities in a Business Process and to move data to and from the components that implement those activities. For example, a Business Process attribute could store information such as customer names, addresses, order quantities, or item descriptions. Complex structures such as OTDs and Collaborations are represented automatically in the Project Explorer and are available for use in your Business Process.

Business Process attributes are used to pass values between the Business Process and external sources. Business Process attributes can also be assigned to specific activities. For example, the customer name is passed to an order process from the originating source. The customer name may be used by several of the activities in the Business Process and is included in the Business Process output.

BPM can pass all or part of a complex structure or it can even assemble a composite input to a component or web service from multiple Business Process attributes.

Creating a New Business Process Attribute

Attributes are automatically created for a Business Process as you add components to the process. You can create additional attributes to use in the Business Process.

To create a new Business Process attribute

1. In the Project Explorer, right-click the Business Process and then click Properties.

2. Click the Business Process Attributes tab.

3. Click Create.

   The New Business Process Attribute dialog box appears.

4. Enter information into the fields.

5. Click Add.

6. Click Close to return to the Business Process Properties dialog box.

   Field	Description
   Name	A name for the attribute.
   Namespace	The namespace of the attribute (select a value from the list of available namespaces).
   Type	The type of attribute you are adding (select a value from the list of available types).

Editing a Business Process Attribute

Once you add a Business Process attribute, or one is added automatically, you can modify the attribute. If you only change the name of the attribute, you can specify that the rest of the Business Process be updated to reflect the change.

To edit a Business Process attribute

1. In the Project Explorer, right-click the Business Process, and then click Properties.

2. Click the Business Process Attributes tab.

3. Select an existing attribute, and then click Edit.

4. Modify the information in the fields.

5. When you are done changing field values, click OK.

6. If you changed the attribute name, the Confirm Refactoring dialog appears. Do one of the following:

7. To update the name change across the Business Process, click Yes, Do Refactoring.

8. To only change the name of the attribute, click No, Only Do Name Change.

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   Note –

   To avoid this message in the future, select Don’t ask me again. The option you selected above will always be the default option.

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9. On the Properties window, click OK.

Deleting a Business Process Attribute

Once you add a Business Process attribute, or one is added for you, you can delete the attribute. Business Process attributes that are in use cannot be deleted. Attributes that are not in use can cause validation warnings, but typically will not stop the Business Process from running.

To delete a Business Process attribute

1. In the Project Explorer, right-click the Business Process, and then click Properties.

2. Click the Business Process Attributes tab.

3. Click an existing attribute and then click Delete.

4. Do one of the following:

   • Click OK to save your changes and exit the Business Process Properties dialog box.

   • Click Cancel if you deleted the attribute in error.