Configuring correlation sets

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:

  1. In the tray, click the add (The plus symbol) icon beside Correlation Sets.
  2. In the properties area, click Details.
  3. Create a correlation property as follows:
    1. Click Add to launch the Select a Property wizard.
    2. Click New to create a property.
    3. Give an appropriate label to your new property.
    4. Click Browse to choose a type from the Data Type Selection wizard.
  4. Create a property alias as follows:
    1. Beside the Alias heading, click New.
    2. Browse to the interface and operation that contains the messages.
    3. Specify if this variable is an input or an output.
    4. Select the correct part from the list, and click OK
  5. In the process editor, click the activity that you want to associate with a correlation set, and click Correlation in the properties area.
  6. Click Add and configure the set as follows:
    1. 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.
    2. 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.
    3. In the Correlation Set field, select the appropriate correlation set from the drop-down menu.
Related concepts
Property aliases
Related tasks
Configuring query properties

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