This user guide explains how to use the Data Mapper in Intalio|Designer.

In this guide:

• Overview
• Defining mapping for outgoing messages
• Using operators
• Creating links
• Using XSLT

Mapper Views

The Data Mapper is composed of two views (sometimes also called "panels"):

• The Mapper Palette
• The Mapper View

Only Mapper View is visible by default at the bottom of Intalio|Designer. To make Mapper Palette available you need to go to Window > Show View and select Mapper Palette. They are different views, so they can be moved at different positions independently. For instance, it may be convenient to have the Mapper Palette as a hanging window. If one or both of these views are not visible, you may access them by going to Window > Show View and select the corresponding view.

Mapper Palette View

The Mapper Palette gives access to all "operators" that may be used in the mapper. There are about a couple of hundreds operators available in this palette. They are available in a hierarchical tree and grouped by types.

Here is a screenshot of the Mapper Palette showing the 'equal' operator that compares if two numeric values are equal:

Mapper View

The Mapper view is the area where you actually define your mappings. It has three sections that divides the view in three columns.

The first column on the left defines the source data for the mapping and list all the process data variables.

The third column on the right defines the destination data for the mapping and also list all process data variables.

The second column in between is a work area where operators can be dropped and used to transform the source data before mapping it to the destination data.

The following screenshot shows the Mapper view with a mapping where a firstname and a lastname are concatenated before being mapped to a name element.

Defining Mappings for Outgoing Messages

The Data Mapper is primarily used for defining what data should be sent to another participant in the business process, i.e. how process data should be mapped to outgoing messages.

To access the data mapping for sending a message, simply click on the shape in your process model that sends the message. The Data Mapper view automatically refreshes.
Note: By default the target element or the outgoing message data is initialized by default. So you do not nee to reinitialize it

You may then use operators from the palette or using the "Operators" tool to transform the input data and pass it to your target elements. See Using Operators for more information. Also See Creating Links to directly map process data elements to target elements.

Using Operators

There are two ways you can add an operator in the middle section of the Mapper view.

First, you may drag-and-drop any operator from the Mapper Palette into the Mapper view.

You may alternatively use the "Operator" tool in the Mapper toolbar. To use the "Operator" tool:

1. Click on the "Operator" tool [create a new operator button] (assuming it is not already selected).
2. Click in the middle section of the mapper. This creates an empty operator node which appears in editable mode.
3. You may then type any XPath expression. Note that a drop-down menu appears as you type to propose the list of valid expressions that match the text you are typing.
4. Once you have finished typing your expression, click outside of the operator to exit the editing mode.

You may resize the operator box at your convenience in order to improve visibility or editing.

To edit an operator or a literal, simply press F2 or click twice on the operator. You can also right-click on it and select the Edit menu.

To provide input parameters to an operator, create links from the source - either another operator or an element in the input data - to the operator. The elements that you link to the operator will be passed in the same order.

To pass the output of an operator to a target element or another operator, create a link from the operator to the target element or operator.

Creating Links

To create a link:

1. Click on the Connector Tool [Connects operator and nodes button]in the Mapper Toolbar.
2. Click on the end of the source node or operator (release the button).
3. Move to the taget node or operator and click on it.

Alternatively, the Data Mapper allows you to create links without selecting the Connector Tool. When moving your mouse over the end of an operator or tree node, the pointer changes to show you that you can click here to start a link. Click here, release the button, move to your target node or operator and click again to create your link.

Using XSLT (Version 5.x)

With version 5.x, it is possible to use XSLT in the Data Mapper. To do so:

1. In the Mapper Palette, expand 03. Constructor Functions > 1. Constructor Functions for XML Schema Built-in Types
2. Drag-and-drop the node 45.bpel:doXslTransform into the middle section in the Data Mapper.
3. Create links to pass input parameters to this funtion (see below).
4. Create a link from the end of this operator to the target node or operator.

This function takes the following parameters:

1. The path to the XSLT stylesheet, as a string. The XSLT stylesheet should be in your project and the syntax should be the path to your stylesheet in your project.
2. The input node to be processed by the XSLT stylesheet. It may also be the output of another operator.
3. Optionally, you may also pass XSLT parameters to this function. For each parameter, you must first provide the parameter name (as a string) and then the parameter value (might be any node or output of an operator).

The following shows a screenshot how this function may be used in the Data Mapper (you may click on it to see it in full resolution):