The Assertions tab displays in invoke, receive, reply, and the onMessage branches of pick and scope activities. A set of assertions are executed upon receipt of a callback message at a request-response operation in these activities. The assertions specify an XPath expression that, when evaluated to false, causes a BPEL fault to be thrown from the activity. This provides an alternative to using a potentially large number of switch, assign, and throw activities after a partner callback.

You can select when to execute a condition:

• Preassert: This condition is executed before the invoke or reply activity send out the outbound message.

• Postassert: This condition is executed after an invoke activity, receive activity, or onMessage branch receives the inbound message.

For more information, see the online help for this tab and Throwing Faults with Assertion Conditions.