Issue - R48 - <toPart>s and Anonymous WSDL Variables Clarification

[ws-bpel issues list editor<peter.furniss@irisfinancialsolutions.com>]

This issue has been added to the wsbpel issue list with a status of "received". The status will be changed to "open" if a motion to open the issue is proposed and that motion is approved by the TC. A motion could also be proposed to close it without further consideration. Otherwise it will remain as "received".

The issues list is posted as a Technical Committee document to the OASIS WSBPEL TC pages on a regular basis. The current edition, as a TC document, is the most recent version of the document entitled in the "Issues" folder of the WSBPEL TC document list - the next posting as a TC document will include this issue. The list editor's working copy, which will normally include an issue when it is announced, is available at this constant URL.

Issue - R48 - <toPart>s and Anonymous WSDL Variables Clarification

Status: received
Date added: 23 Jan 2007
Date submitted: 22 Jan 2007
Submitter: Monica J. Martin
Document: WS-BPEL 2.0 second public review text
Description: In Section 10.3.1, the use of <toPart> and <fromPart> is described. However, conflicting information exists in <toPart> copy mechanics given the normative requirement included in SA00050. This may be a cut-paste error during construction of this section. In addition, it is inferred that only one <toPart> should exist for each part in the WSDL message definition and this should be explicit.  Both these should be addressed in the Public Review2 to ensure proper use of these capabilities.
Submitter's proposal:

Section 10.3.1, Change from:

> The <toPart> elements, as a group, act as the single virtual <assign>, with each <toPart> acting as a <copy>....[existing static analysis requirement SA00050] When <toParts> is present in an <invoke>, it is not required to have a <toPart> for every part in the WSDL message definition, nor is the order in which parts are specified relevant. Parts not explicitly represented by <toPart> elements would result in uninitialized parts in the target anonymous WSDL variable used by the <invoke> or <reply> activity.  Such processes with missing <toPart> elements MUST be rejected during static analysis.

Change to:

...The <toPart> elements, as a group, act as the single virtual <assign>, with each <toPart> acting as a <copy>. [add sentence] [add Static Analysis Requirement] At most one <toPart> exists for each part in the WSDL message definition. If a process includes more than one <toPart> for each part in the WSDL message definition, that process MUST be rejected by static analysis.[end sentence]...

[updated static analysis requirement SA00050] When <toParts> is present, it is required to have a <toPart> for every part in the WSDL message definition; the order in which parts are specified is irrelevant. Parts not explicitly represented by <toPart> elements would result in uninitialized parts in the target anonymous WSDL variable used by the <invoke> or <reply> activity. Such processes with missing <toPart> elements MUST be rejected during static analysis.

Appendix B

1. Effect changes above as stated - Add one new static analysis requirement and correct SA00050.
2. Renumber static analysis requirements or consider adding the new static analysis requirement at the end of the list to minimize changes required.

Notes:

• This issue doesn't specifically reference the known but rare case when there could be multiple toPart from the same BPEL variable. An example would be if the process always assumes the ship-to and billing addresses are the same, the same address variable could be copied to both the ship-to and billing address parts of the anonymous PO message.
• Renumbering of static analysis requirements may be laborious; perhaps another option could be used to enable their effective use in the specification and by users.

See topart-issue-pr2.zip (document details) for a redlined copy of changes proposed for Section 10.3.1.
Links: Monica J. Martin, 22 Jan 2007     monica.martin@sun.com, 22 Jan 2007     Monica J. Martin, 22 Jan 2007     Alex Yiu, 23 Jan 2007
Changes: 23 Jan 2007 - new issue

---

To comment on this issue (including whether it should be accepted), please follow-up to this announcement on the wsbpel@lists.oasis-open.org list (replying to this message should automatically send your message to that list), or ensure the subject line as you send it starts "Issue - R48 - [anything]" or is a reply to such a message. If you want to formally propose a resolution to an open issue, please start the subject line "Issue - R48 - Proposed resolution", without any Re: or similar.

To add a new issue, see the issues procedures document