Role Associations (BPEL)

A role association is a relationship that describes an interaction between a top-process and an organization unit displayed as an actor.

You can create a role association in a BPEL4WS or WS-BPEL top-level diagram (see Top-Level Diagrams (BPEL)).

In the following example, the Buyer interacts with the top-level process via an initiating role, and the top-level process interacts with the Carrier and the Provider via responding roles:

Creating a Role Association

You can create a role association from the Toolbox, Browser, or Model menu.

Use the Role Association tool in the Toolbox.
Select Model > Role Associations to access the List of Role Associations, and click the Add a Row tool.
Right-click the model (or a package) in the Browser, and select New > Role Association.

Role Association Properties

To view or edit a role association's properties, double-click its diagram symbol or Browser or list entry. The property sheet tabs and fields listed here are those available The General tab contains the following properties:

Property	Description
Name/Code/Comment	Identify the object. The name should clearly convey the object's purpose to non-technical users, while the code, which is used for generating code or scripts, may be abbreviated, and should not normally include spaces. You can optionally add a comment to provide more detailed information about the object. By default the code is generated from the name by applying the naming conventions specified in the model options. To decouple name-code synchronization, click to release the = button to the right of the Code field.
Stereotype	Extends the semantics of the object. You can enter a stereotype directly in this field, or add stereotypes to the list by specifying them in an extension file.
Orientation	Specifies the direction of the role association. You can choose between: Initiating role – from the organization unit to the process Responding role – rom the process to the organization unit Note: If the orientation of the role association is not displayed, you can enable it by selecting Tools > Display Preferences > Role Association.
Source / Destination	Specify the organization unit or process at the extremities of the role association. Use the tools to the right of the list to create, browse for, or view the properties of the currently selected object.. You can also open the object property sheet by clicking the Source or Destination button at the top of the tab.
Keywords	Provide a way of loosely grouping objects through tagging. To enter multiple keywords, separate them with commas.

The following properties are available on the WE-BPEL or BPEL4WS tab:

Name	Description
Name	Specifies the link name. Scripting name: PartnerLinkTypeName
Process / Organization unit role	Specify the roles played by the top-level process and the partner in the collaboration, which are by default the name of the process and the organization unit. Scripting name: ProcessRole, OrganizationUnitRole
Partner / Process Port Type	[WSBPEL2.0] Specify the service interfaces of the partner and process services, which are by default calculated from the invoke activities and the interface activities (receive, reply). Scripting name: PartnerPortType, ProcessPortType

Name

Description

Name

Specifies the link name.

Scripting name: PartnerLinkTypeName

Process / Organization unit role

Specify the roles played by the top-level process and the partner in the collaboration, which are by default the name of the process and the organization unit.

Scripting name: ProcessRole, OrganizationUnitRole

Partner / Process Port Type

[WSBPEL2.0] Specify the service interfaces of the partner and process services, which are by default calculated from the invoke activities and the interface activities (receive, reply).

Scripting name: PartnerPortType, ProcessPortType