2 Getting Started with Oracle BPEL Process Manager

2.3.1.1 Applications Navigator

The Application Navigator shown in the upper left part of Figure 2-2 displays the project files. Double-click a node (for example, the Integration Content node) to display its contents. Right-click a node to display a context-sensitive menu of commands. The menu commands that are available depend on the node selected. For example, if you right-click the FulfillOrder project in Figure 2-3, you can compile and deploy this BPEL process to Oracle BPEL Server.

Figure 2-3 shows the files that appear under the Integration Content folder when you first create a project in JDeveloper BPEL Designer (in this example, named FulfillOrder inside a workspace named OrderBookworkspace).

Figure 2-3 Applications Navigator

Description of "Figure 2-3 Applications Navigator"

Table 2-2 describes these initial project files.

As you design the project, additional files, folders, and elements can appear in the Applications Navigator. For example, Figure 2-4 shows the files that appear for a project in which you imported a schema (OrderBookingPO.xsd), configured the database adapter (under the Application Sources node), and created a transform activity (Transformation_1.xsl under the Miscellaneous Files folder of the Web Content node). The Application Sources node contains Java source files. The Java classes are used inside callouts from the BPEL process. Additional folders can appear, such as BPEL-INF (a special directory for Java JAR files).

Figure 2-4 Applications Navigator (Expanded)

Description of "Figure 2-4 Applications Navigator (Expanded)"

2.3.1.2 Diagram View Window

The Diagram View shown in the middle of Figure 2-2 provides a visual view of the BPEL process that you design. This view displays when you perform one of the following actions:

• Double-click the .bpel file name in the Applications Navigator

• Click the Diagram View tab at the bottom of the window with the .bpel file selected

Figure 2-5 shows the activities automatically created with an asynchronous project. In the tutorials described in Oracle BPEL Process Manager Quick Start Guide and Oracle BPEL Process Manager Order Booking Tutorial, you add to the BPEL process by dragging and dropping activities, creating variables, creating partner links, and so on.

Figure 2-5 Diagram View (After Creation of an Asynchronous Project)

Description of "Figure 2-5 Diagram View (After Creation of an Asynchronous Project)"

As you design the project by dragging and dropping activities, creating partner links, and so on, the Diagram View changes. Figure 2-6 shows the Diagram View later in the design phase after adding a partner link (in this example, named DBInsert) and the necessary activities (invoke, receive, assign, transform, and others).

Figure 2-6 Diagram View (After Design Phase)

Description of "Figure 2-6 Diagram View (After Design Phase)"

2.3.1.3 Source Window

Click Source at the bottom to view the syntax inside the BPEL process project files. As you drag and drop activities and partner links, and perform other tasks, the syntax in these source files is immediately updated to reflect these changes. For example, Figure 2-7 shows the CreditRatingService partner link icon and property sheet that have just been created.

Figure 2-7 CreditRatingService Partner Link Icon and Property Sheet

Description of "Figure 2-7 CreditRatingService Partner Link Icon and Property Sheet"

Click Source at the bottom of the window. Figure 2-8 shows part of the Source of a .bpel file. Details about the CreditRatingService partner link you created appear in the file.

Figure 2-8 Source View of a .bpel File

Description of "Figure 2-8 Source View of a .bpel File"

2.3.1.4 Component Palette

Activities are the building blocks of the BPEL process. The Process Activities selection of the Component Palette shown in the upper right part of Figure 2-2 displays a set of activities that you drag and drop into the Diagram View of the BPEL process. The Component Palette displays only those pages relevant to the state of the Diagram View. Process Activities is nearly always visible. However, if you are designing a transformation in a transform activity, the Component Palette only displays selections relevant to that activity, such as String Functions, Mathematical Functions, and Node-set Functions.

Figure 2-9 shows the Process Activities selection of the Component Palette.

Figure 2-9 Component Palette - Process Activities

Description of "Figure 2-9 Component Palette - Process Activities"

Figure 2-10 shows the String Functions category of the Component Palette that displays when you work in the transformation window of a transform activity.

Figure 2-10 Component Palette - Functions

Description of "Figure 2-10 Component Palette - Functions"

2.3.1.5 Property Inspector

The Property Inspector shown in the lower right part of Figure 2-2 enables you to view details about an activity. Single-click an activity in the Diagram View. For example, single-clicking the receiveInput receive activity shown in Figure 2-2 displays the information shown in Figure 2-11.

Figure 2-11 Property Inspector

Description of "Figure 2-11 Property Inspector"

2.3.1.6 Structure Window

The Structure Window shown in the lower left part of Figure 2-2 offers a structural view of the data in the project currently selected in the Diagram View. You can perform a variety of tasks from this section, including:

• Importing project schemas

• Defining message types

• Managing (creating, editing, and deleting) elements such as variables, aliases, correlation sets, partner links, and sensors

• Editing activities in the BPEL process flow sequence that displays in the Diagram View

Figure 2-12 shows the Structure Window. In this example, the window has been expanded to display the imported project schemas and the sequence of activities in the Diagram View for the FulfillOrder project shown in Figure 2-6.

Figure 2-12 Structure Window (Expanded)

Description of "Figure 2-12 Structure Window (Expanded)"

2.3.1.7 Log Window

You validate, compile, and deploy a process by right-clicking the project name in the Applications Navigator, selecting Deploy, and selecting a deployment method. The Log Window shown at the bottom of Figure 2-2 then displays messages about the status of the deployment.

To ensure that a process validates correctly, you must ensure that the following information is correct:

• The process must have an input variable.

• A partner link must be selected.

• A partner role must be selected.

• The operation must not be empty.

• The input variable type must match the partner link operation type.

Figure 2-13 shows a successful deployment message for a BPEL process. You can then run, monitor, and administer the process from Oracle BPEL Console.

Figure 2-13 Successful Deployment Message

Description of "Figure 2-13 Successful Deployment Message"

If deployment is unsuccessful, messages appear that describe the type and location of the error, as shown in Figure 2-14. Double-click the error to navigate directly to the offending line in the source file referenced.

Figure 2-14 Unsuccessful Deployment Message

Description of "Figure 2-14 Unsuccessful Deployment Message"

2.3.1.8 Editing Project Files in JDeveloper BPEL Designer

Note the following issues when editing the bpel.xml, WSDL, and BPEL files:

• The bpel.xml file content is only read into memory when the file is opened. Therefore, if you change the content of bpel.xml after the file is opened, the changes are not made in memory. After changing the content of the BPEL file, close and reopen the file for the changes to take effect.

• Do not edit the bpel.xml file through a combination of JDeveloper BPEL Designer and a text editor such as Notepad or Wordpad. Use only a single editing environment such as JDeveloper BPEL Designer.

• Do not edit the bpel.xml file, BPEL files, and WSDL files while changing the design of the process. If you want to edit a file:

  1. Ensure that the BPEL files are not being edited in JDeveloper BPEL Designer. If they are being edited (that is, a tab for that file is visible), close it and save changes as needed.

  2. Edit the required file and save the changes.

2.3.2.1 Navigator

The Navigator shown in the upper left part of Figure 2-15 displays the project files in Eclipse BPEL Designer. See Table 2-2 for descriptions of the files that initially appear when you first create a project. Eclipse BPEL Designer also includes an additional project file: build.xml. This is an Apache Ant file used for compiling and deploying processes in Eclipse BPEL Designer.

Figure 2-17 Navigator

Description of "Figure 2-17 Navigator"

2.3.2.2 Process Map and Overview Windows

The Process Map shown in the middle of Figure 2-15 provides a visual view of the BPEL process that you design. The Process Map is similar to the Diagram View window in JDeveloper BPEL Designer. This view displays when you perform one of the following actions:

• Double-click the .bpel file name in the Navigator

• Click the BPEL Designer tab; then click the Process Map tab

Figure 2-18 shows the activities automatically created with an asynchronous project. You add to the process by dragging and dropping activities, creating variables, creating partner links, and so on.

Figure 2-18 Process Map Window

Description of "Figure 2-18 Process Map Window"

Click Overview to display an overview on the BPEL process, as shown in Figure 2-19. You can perform tasks such as adding partner links and creating variables in the Overview window.

Figure 2-19 Overview Window

Description of "Figure 2-19 Overview Window"

2.3.2.3 BPEL Source Window

The BPEL Source window is similar to that in JDeveloper BPEL Designer. Click Source Window to view the syntax inside the project files, which is similar to that shown for JDeveloper BPEL Designer in Figure 2-8.

2.3.2.4 BPEL Inspector

The BPEL Inspector enables you to perform tasks such as editing existing activities, adding copy rules to an assign activity, creating global variables, creating partner links, and so on. Figure 2-20 shows the BPEL Inspector.

Figure 2-20 BPEL Inspector

Description of "Figure 2-20 BPEL Inspector"

2.3.2.5 Log Window

You validate, compile, and deploy a process by clicking the Build BPEL Project icon in the tool bar.

The Log Window at the bottom of Eclipse BPEL Designer then displays messages about the status of the deployment. Figure 2-21 shows a successful deployment message for a BPEL process. You can then run, monitor, and administer the process from Oracle BPEL Console.

Figure 2-21 Log Window

Description of "Figure 2-21 Log Window"

2.3.2.6 BPEL Palette

The BPEL Palette is similar to the Process Activities selection of the Component Palette in JDeveloper BPEL Designer. The BPEL Palette displays a set of activities that you drag and drop into the Process Map of the BPEL process. The set of activities available with Eclipse BPEL Designer differs slightly from those available with JDeveloper BPEL Designer. For example, unlike JDeveloper BPEL Designer, a partner link is not listed as a BPEL Palette activity in Eclipse BPEL Designer. JDeveloper BPEL Designer also includes additional activities for transformations, user tasks (workflows), and notifications.

Figure 2-22 BPEL Palette

Description of "Figure 2-22 BPEL Palette"