Object References in Process Integration Scenarios

In this section you find detailed information on possible object references and how these are treated by the process integration adaptation wizard.

A process integration scenario can contain the following types of application components:

Application component based on product version from the SLD (SLD-based)
Application component based on product instance from the SLD (SLD-based)
A product instance represents the smallest to install entity of a product. One the other hand, a product version can be composed of multiple parts that are installed separately.
Template application component
Represents a “black box” application component and can be used in case a corresponding product version or product instance has not been modelled yet in the SLD.

In general, objects referred to in SLD-based application components have to be assigned to a software component version that fits the corresponding product version. Secondly, these software component versions need to be imported into the Enterprise Services Repository.

Note Note

All related software component versions that belong to a product version or product instance are defined in the SLD. In general, only a subset of software component versions has been imported into the Enterprise Services Repository. Within an application component object references are allowed only for target objects that are assigned to a related software component version (with regard to the product version of the application component). Furthermore, the software component version needs to be imported into the Enterprise Services Repository.

End of the note.

There are the following types of object references in process integration scenarios:

Relative object reference – target object is assigned to the same software component version as source object.
Absolute object reference – target object is assigned to another same software component version than source object.

The following types of object references can occur between the different entities within a process integration scenario:

Source Object	Target Object	Object Reference Type
Process integration scenario (SLD-based application component)	Internal action	absolute
Process integration scenario (template application component)	External action	relative
Internal action	Service interface	relative
External action	Service interface	absolute
Process integration scenario (connection)	Operation mapping	absolute
Process integration scenario (connection)	Channel template	absolute
Process integration scenario (SLD-based application component)	Integration process	absolute
Process integration scenario (template application component)	Integration process	relative

The following figure illustrates absolute and relative object references between process integration scenario (application component) and action on the one hand and between action and service interface on the other hand.

This graphic is explained in the accompanying text.

Absolute and Relative Object References

During a release transfer, the product versions of SLD-based application components and absolute object references are not adapted automatically.

To overcome this issue, use the process integration scenario adaptation wizard.