Creating Data Objects

A data object is a type of artifact that allows you to provide additional information in the process you model. You create a data object and set a data type to make it work. You use data objects to define input and output data, which you map to an activity in the process you model. For more information about data mappings, see Working with Data Mappings .

The data mapping in the process composer does not support all data types. For more information about all limitations on data types, see the SAP Note 1468084 .

You have opened the Process Development perspective in the SAP NetWeaver Developer Studio and have expanded your project in Project Explorer view.

1. Expand Process Modeling , then expand Processes .

2. In the context menu of a process, choose Open .

3. Expand Artifacts from Palette .

4. Choose Data Object and click the modeling surface.

   The data object appears in the place you clicked.

5. Choose General in the Properties view and specify a name of the data object in the Name field.

6. Choose Data Type in the Properties view and select a data type from the dropdown menu.

   Caution

   • Data mappings are not updated automatically if you change the data type of a data object for which you have already defined data mappings. You have to edit also the mapping expression according to the new data type.

     For example, if a data object has a data type containing a specific field and you change the data type with a different one but containing the same specific field, you have to edit the mapping expression that defines the mapping for this data object. Otherwise, the mapping cannot be done and an exception is thrown at runtime.

   • You have to take care of initializing non-simple data objects. Otherwise it might lead to runtime null pointer exception.