Mapping input and output data for an activity in processes

To pass variables to an activity, you must set the input and output data mapping.

Before you begin

You must have a process that contains a set of declared variables and an activity. If you have existing mappings, they are automatically mapped in the new data mapping feature.
Note: Existing mappings are not overwritten by auto-mapping. No variables are generated for existing variables with the same name but different types. By default, the variables are created as private variables. You can choose to make them input, output, or input and output variables.

About this task

When you develop a process, you must set the input and output mapping for each activity in a process so that the variable values received and generated by the activities map to the variables from the main process. You can use the fields to map complex types instead of using a script.
Note: For inline user tasks, the Data Mapping tab does not contain any auto-mapping capability. The interface of user inline tasks is defined entirely by what you choose to map. Additional information about inline user tasks is found in the topic Working with inline user tasks.

The following procedure describes how to map both input and output data for an activity. Depending on the logic of your process, an activity may require only input or output data and not both.

Procedure

  1. Open the process.
  2. Click the activity in the diagram, and go to the General tab in the properties. Click Open. Alternatively, you can open the Data Mapping dialog from the Data Mapping tab.
    The Data Mapping dialog displays the input and output variables that are available in the activity in two different tabs.
  3. In the Input Mapping and Output Mapping tabs, complete the fields with the variables you want to map.
  4. Click OK.

Example

You can map the variables in multiple ways:
  • To use the parent object to map every field it contains, complete the parent field.
    Animated GIF showing cursor entering a value into the parent field
  • To map some or every subfield in a parent object individually, complete their fields.
    Animated GIF showing cursor entering a value into a subfield
  • To switch from mapping the parent object to map each subfield in a parent object individually, click the question mark icon in the subfield, and then click Yes.
    Animated GIF showing the cursor clicking the question mark icon in the field to switch from the parent field to the subfield
  • To map objects with JavaScript, click the JS button next to the field you want to complete.
    Animated GIF showing cursor enter a variable using JavaScript
  • To autofill the fields, click Insert suggestions in the dialog box. Automapping fills the fields with intelligent guesses based on previously used values.
    Animated GIF showing cursor clicking on "Insert input suggestions"