1. Developing SOA Applications with Oracle SOA Suite
  2. Using the BPEL Process Service Component
  3. Using Conditional Branching in a BPEL Process
  4. Defining Conditional Branching with the If or Switch Activity
  5. Defining Conditional Branching with the Switch Activity in BPEL 1.1
  6. How to Create a Switch Activity

How to Create a Switch Activity

To create a switch activity:

  1. In the Components window, expand BPEL Constructs.
  2. Drag a Switch activity into the designer, as shown in Figure 11-6.

    The Switch activity has two switch case branches by default, each with a box for functional elements. If you want to add more branches, select the entire switch activity, right-click, and select Add Switch Case from the menu.

    Figure 11-6 Switch Activity

    Description of Figure 11-6 follows
    Description of "Figure 11-6 Switch Activity"
  3. In the first branch, double-click the condition box.

    A dialog for entering a condition is displayed, as shown in Figure 11-7.

    Figure 11-7 Condition Dialog

    Description of Figure 11-7 follows
    Description of "Figure 11-7 Condition Dialog"
  4. In the Label field, enter a name for the condition branch. When complete, this name is displayed in Oracle BPEL Designer.
  5. In the Condition field, click the Expression Builder icon to access the Expression Builder dialog.
  6. Create your expression.
    bpws:getVariableDate('loanOffer1','payload','/loanOffer/APR') >
bpws:getVariableData('loanOffer2','payload','/loanOffer/APR')

    In this example, two loan offers from completing loan companies are stored in the global variables loanOffer1 and loanOffer2. Each loan offer variable contains the loan offer's APR. The BPEL flow must choose the loan with the lower APR. One of the following switch activities takes place:

    • If loanOffer1 has the higher APR, then the first branch selects loanOffer2 by assigning the loanOffer2 payload to the selectedLoanOffer payload.

    • If loanOffer1 does not have the lower APR than loanOffer2, the otherwise case assigns the loanOffer1 payload to the selectedLoanOffer payload.

  7. Click OK.

    The expression is displayed. The value you entered in the Label field of the dialog becomes the name of the condition branch.

  8. Click OK.
  9. Add and configure additional activities as needed. Figure 11-8 provides details.

    Figure 11-8 Switch Activity Design

    Description of Figure 11-8 follows
    Description of "Figure 11-8 Switch Activity Design"