Creating input messages by using the Flow Exerciser to check that your message flow processes messages as expected

You can create a new input message, or duplicate or edit a previously saved input message by using the Flow Exerciser. You can then send the message to the flow.

Before you begin

You must have a message flow that is in recording mode and that contains MQInput, HTTPInput, or SOAPInput nodes.
You cannot use the Flow Exerciser to send messages to an MQInput node in a flow in the following situations:
  • The MQInput node is configured with a policy.
  • The MQInput node has the MQ connection property set to Client channel definition table (CCDT) file.
  • The message flow is deployed to a remote integration node, and the message flow receives messages on an MQInput node that is configured to use a local queue manager.
Instead, you can use an external tool or client to send messages to the message flow.

If the message flow is part of a REST API, you cannot use recorded messages or input messages created by the Flow Exerciser; however, you can use an external tool or client to form and send input messages to the flow.

Procedure

  1. Click the Send message to the flow icon (icon) in the Flow Exerciser toolbar.
    The Send Message dialog opens.
  2. Click the New message icon (icon)
    A default message is displayed. If the input node in the message flow expects an XML message from an associated message model, the message structure is provided. If the input node does not have an associated message model, the message content is blank.
    The image is described in the surrounding text.
  3. Enter a name for your message or accept the default value.
  4. Optional: If you are using an integration service that contains more than one operation, click the Soap operation field and select the operation name.
  5. Finalize the message by completing one of the following steps:
    • If the message structure is provided, you can replace the default values with appropriate values of your own, or you can leave the message as it is.
    • You can manually create the message structure and values from scratch.
    • You can click Import and import an XML message from a file.
  6. Optional: Click Apply to save any changes.
  7. Click Send to send the message to the message flow.
    The message is sent to the flow, and the connections through which the message passed are highlighted.

What to do next

In the Flow Exerciser, you can create additional input messages by duplicating and editing existing input messages, and you can export the structure and content of an input message to a file.