Creating a business variable

This procedure describes how to create a new business variable.

Before you begin
Before you create a business variable, you must to ensure that WebSphere Integration Developer is started.
About this task
Once it is set up, you can view a business variable in Business Space and can also use it when developing policies.

To create a business variable, complete the following steps:

  1. Open the Business Service perspective.
  2. In the Business Service Explorer, right-click your Fabric project, and expand it. The Business Variable element appears in the Fabric project tree.
  3. Right-click the Business Variable element.
  4. Select the New context menu item.
  5. Selecting the Business Variable menu item prompts the wizard to display the first page of Business Variable Creation wizard.
    This is the first screen of the Business Variable creation wizard
  6. Enter the following data in the first page of the Business Variable Creation wizard.
    • The Project field enables you to select the project the new business variable will be associated with.
    • The Name field enables you to enter a name for the new business variable.
    • The Namespace field enables you to select the Fabric namespace the new variable will be associated with.
    • The Category field enables you to group business variables by their own categories. The categories, described in step 7, are:
      Boolean
      Float
      Integer
      String
      Single Select Enumeration
      Multi Select Enumeration
    • The Field Name field enables you to enter a name for this business variable.
    • The Type field enables you to select a type for the business variable.
  7. Click Next. The second page of the Business Variable Creation wizard is displayed.
    This is the second screen of the Business Variable creation wizard

    Different controls are displayed depending on the Type field you selected on the previous page. The following options are available:

    • Boolean - Selecting Boolean prompts the wizard to display the Business Variable Definition page of the wizard (see the figure in step 7). The following values are available:
      • Current Value Contains True or False and is initially set, by default, to False. The
      • Permissions - Determines how you use the business variable through the REST API. Set permissions as defined in step 8 below.
    • Float - Selecting Float prompts the wizard to display the Float Business Variable Definition page of the wizard.
      this is the Float Business Variable Definition page of the wizard

      The following values are available:

      • Minimum Value - Sets the lowest possible value of the business variable.
      • Maximum Value - Sets the highest possible value of the business variable.
      • Precision - Sets the maximum number of decimals accepted for this business variable.
      • Current Value - Sets the value of the business variable.
    • Integer - Selecting Integer prompts the wizard to display the Integer Business Variable Definition page of the wizard.
      this is the Integer Business Variable Definition page of the wizard

      The following values are available:

      • Minimum Value - Sets the lowest possible value of the business variable.
      • Maximum Value - Sets the highest possible value of the business variable.
      • Precision - Sets the maximum number of decimals accepted for this business variable.
      • Current Value - Sets the value of the business variable.
    • String - Selecting String prompts the wizard to display the String Business Variable Definition page of the wizard.
      this is the String Business Variable Definition page of the wizard

      The following values are available:

    • Single Select Enumeration - Selecting Single Select Enumeration prompts the wizard to display the Single Select Enumeration Variable Creation page of the wizard.
      this is the Single Select Enumeration Variable Creation page of the wizard

      The following options are available:

      • Enumeration - Selects an existing Fabric enumeration type.
      • Current Value - Selects a value from the list of available values for the currently selected Enumeration. The first item in the list is selected by default.
      • Permissions - Set permissions as defined in step 8 below.
    • Multi Select Enumeration - Selecting Multi Select Enumeration prompts the wizard to display the Multi Select Enumeration Variable Creation page of the wizard.
      this is the Multi Select Enumeration Variable Creation page of the wizard

      The following values are available:

      • Enumeration - Selects an existing Fabric enumeration type.
      • Current Value - Selects a value from the list of available values for the currently selected Enumeration. The first item in the list is selected by default.
      • Permissions - Set permissions as defined in step 8 below.
  8. Enter the data listed below in the second page (see step 7) of the Business Space Creation Wizard.
    • Current Value - Contains True or False and is initially set, by default, to False.
    • Permissions - Determines how you use the business variable through the REST API. The following options are available:
      • User can edit this variable: Indicates the business variable is available and it's value can be changed using the REST API.
      • User can only view this variable: Indicates the business variable is available and it's value can only be read using the REST API.
      • User cannot see this variable: Indicates the business variable not is available using the REST API.
  9. Click Finish.
What to do next
The new Business Variable (and Business Setting) is created and is now visible in the Fabric project tree.
Related concepts
Assigning a business variable
Understanding the business variable editors
Assigning a business variable to a policy
Assigning a business variable to an assertion