Business Process Model Validation

The Sterling B2B Integrator Business Process Modeling Language validation feature checks for proper Business Process Modeling Language syntax in your process models and looks for faulty design, to help you avoid common pitfalls that lead to processing problems. Your business process models must pass validation before you can enable them for use in Sterling B2B Integrator.

The following list describes the checks performed when you validate a business process model in Sterling B2B Integrator:

BPML syntax
Verifies that the BPML comprising a business process model is valid XML.
ForEach/Invoke Loop
Verifies that a faulty document looping structure is not part of the business process model. The problem loop contains:
  • A For Each Document service
  • An Invoke Business Process service

This loop structure will fail validation unless the loop also contains:

  • An Assign activity to a message_to_child element that makes a specific reference to which document to use for the next cycle
  • A Release service targeting the value "message_to_child" (this keeps unneeded copies of documents from being created)

OR

  • One or more assign elements to message_to_child in the Message To Service of the Invoke Business Process service (in this case, the Release service is not needed)

An improper document loop structure unduly taxes the database and can lead to production down scenarios, particularly if you are processing large files.

If the validation check finds this structure, it returns one of the following errors, depending on the structure:

  • Node Validation Error:
    Activity Name: Invoke Business Process Service
    Validation Message: Document loop contains an InvokeBusinessProcess service without an assign to message_to_child.
  • Node Validation Error:
    Activity Name: foreachSplitDoc
    Validation Message: message_to_child not guaranteed to be released in document loop.

You can validate your business process models in both the GPM and Sterling B2B Integrator interface.

  • Validation in the GPM

    In the GPM, you can save a business process model at any time and then validate it later, or you can configure the GPM to validate every time you save the file. By default, the GPM prompts you to validate a model when you save it (to disable or enable this behavior, select Preferences from the Options menu).

    Because you may check in unvalidated process models or processes containing validation errors using the GPM, be sure to validate before check-in. Processes that are checked in but not valid are not executable. For more information, see Checking In a Single Business Process Model in the GPMChecking In a Single Business Process Model in the GPM.

  • Validation in Sterling B2B Integrator Interface

    In Sterling B2B Integrator interface, validation is part of the procedure for either checking in a process model created in the GPM or creating a business process model in the text editor.

For more information about the types of check-in procedures, see About Checking in Business Process ModelsAbout Checking in Business Process Models.