Reusing a user-defined element in a message map

You can reuse multiple times a user-defined element that you have modeled in the input message assembly or in the output message assembly. All instances of the reused user-defined element must be of the same type.

About this task

You can reuse user-defined elements in the same message map or in a different message map.

To reuse a user-defined element in multiple maps, you can define the user-defined element in a submap. Alternatively, you can copy and paste the user-defined element between maps. When you copy a user-defined element, you must maintain in multiple places any changes you make to the user-defined element.

Procedure

Complete the following steps to copy into the output message assembly a user-defined element that is defined in the input message assembly:

  1. Add a user-defined element to your input message assembly. For more information, see Adding and renaming a user-defined element.

    You can select the Add User-Defined function to add an element.

    The figure shows the menu where you select the function to add a user-defined element

    A user-defined element is added. In this example, the user-defined element name is field1.

    Element field1 added as a user-defined element on input message assembly

  2. Add another user-defined element. In this example, you add a user-defined element on the output message assembly. The element name is field2, which is the next available generic name for user-defined elements.

    Element field2 added as a user-defined element on output message assembly

  3. Rename field2 to field1.
    If the user-defined element name exists, you are prompted to select an action that determines whether to reuse or rename an existing user-defined element in multiple places in the map. You can choose any of the following actions:
    • Select Change the name of all element1 user defined elements. to change the name of all user-defined elements with that name in the map. The element element1 is the name of the existing user-defined element.
    • Select Change the name of only this element1 user defined element. to change the name of only this user-defined element. The element element1 is the name of the existing user-defined element.
    • Select Do not change the name of this element1 user defined element. to leave the name unchanged.
  4. Optional: When you change the type of an element that is reused multiple times, you must specify whether all elements with the same name are updated to the new type. You can choose from any of the following options:
    • Change the data type of all the user-defined elements with the same name to a new type.
    • Do not change the data type for all the user-defined elements with the same name.
      Note: If you want to change the type of only one instance, you must change the name of the user-defined element and define it with the new type. You cannot have a user-defined element with two distinct types.

    Changing the data types menu

What to do next

Edit the message map, and define transformations between the input message assembly and the output message assembly. For more information, see Mapping input to output elements manually.