Extend and tune your flow configuration > Message handler > Define message attributes

Define message attributes

Use this procedure to define message attributes. Attributes are used for setting up conditions for message actions. For information about message actions, see Define message actions.

There are a number of default attributes. For descriptions of the default attributes see the list under Define message attributes.

Note on multiple attribute definitions for a single attribute: If you add multiple message attribute definitions that have criteria for the same attribute, the definitions are all applied in the order in which they are listed in the user interface. This means that the last listed definition is the last one applied, and is the one that provides the value for the attribute.

  1. Click the Processing icon on the navigation graphic at the top of the community summary page to open the Processing Configuration page.
  2. Click the Message Handler icon at the top of the page to open the Message Handler page.
  3. Click Add a new message attribute definition with criteria.
  4. Select an attribute from the drop-down list and click Next.
  5. If the attribute you want to add is not listed, click Add attribute, select an attribute and click Next or Add followed by Next.
  6. Alternately, you can type the name of your own custom attribute. Click Add attribute, select the name field, type the name and click Add and Next.
  7. If adding a custom attribute, follow these guidelines: Make attribute names a single text string. For names that use multiple words, do not use spaces between the words. Use camel case for names that include two or more words (for example, AttributeName). Avoid using non-alphanumeric characters in attribute names (for example, commas, periods, asterisks, ampersands and so on).
  8. Another suggestion is to include a prefix for the custom attribute name to make it easy to identify as a user-defined attribute. For example, you could use a company name as the prefix (CompanyAttributeName).
  9. On the Source tab, the presumption is the attribute value is attached to the message (for example contained in a message header or added via an in-line processing action). That is the meaning of The value comes from an external source radio button.
  10. Alternately, you can define a value for the attribute, whether by parsing an XML document or setting a constant (fixed) value.
  11. Note: If you select The value comes from an external source, you must add at least one condition. Otherwise, Activator does not add the definition. It does, however, add the attribute to the list at System management > Manage message attributes.
  12. The Change attribute name option lets you make an on-the-fly decision to define a different attribute. For example, on the first wizard page you select the SenderRoutingId attribute and click Next. However, then you decide you want to instead define the ReceiverRoutingId attribute. Rather than click Cancel and start over, select Change attribute name and select the ReceiverRoutingId attribute. Click Save changes to see Activator has saved a definition for ReceiverRoutingId and not SenderRoutingId.
  13. You also can use Change attribute name to change the attribute in a previously added definition:
    1. Under Message attribute definitions on the main message handler page, find the attribute to change.
    2. Click the link below Conditions for using this definition.
    3. Select Change attribute name, select another attribute, change settings on the Source and Conditions tabs as applicable.
    4. Click Save changes.
  14. On the Conditions tab, set up one or more conditions for the attribute. Although optional, without at least one condition Activator tries to parse all messages or apply the fixed value. See Define conditions.
  15. Click Save changes to keep your change.

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