Correlation sets are used in runtime environments where there are
multiple instances of the same process running. The sets allow two partners
to initialize a business process transaction, temporarily suspend
activity, and then recognize each other again when that transaction resumes.
To define a correlation set, proceed as follows:
- In the tray, click the add (
) icon beside Correlation Sets.
- In the properties area, click Details.
- Create a correlation property as follows:
- Click Add to launch the Select a Property
wizard.
- Click New to create a property.
- Give an appropriate label to your new property.
- Click Browse to choose a type from the
Data Type Selection wizard.
- Create a property alias as follows:
- Beside the Alias heading, click New.
- Browse to the interface and operation that contains the messages.
- Specify if this variable is an input or an output.
- Select the correct part from the list, and click OK
- In the process editor, click the activity that you want to associate
with a correlation set, and click Correlation in the
properties area.
- Click Add and configure the set as follows:
- In the Direction field, chooseSend if
this set is to be used for outgoing messages, Receive for
those that are incoming, or Both when it can be used
for either.
Note: The options available here will depend upon what
kind of activity you are configuring. For some activities like receive, reply
or elements like receive, this field is set for you.
- In the Initiation field choose from one
of the following:
- Select Yes if this is the first time this correlation
set has been executed, and this is when the messages that will link this user
to this workflow are to be stored.
- Select No if the correlation set will be always
initialized by another activity.
- Select Join if multiple activities can initialize
the correlation set. This is especially useful if you are designing a process
with multiple parallel receives, and you are not sure which one will get executed
first. If you specify Join for both of them, then the
first one to execute will initiate the correlation set, and the second will
use the existing value.
- In the Correlation Set field, select
the appropriate correlation set from the drop-down menu.