BPEL Editor: Message Flow
$Revision: 1.6 $
$Date: 2006/09/14 21:44:19 $
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Use Case: Create a Message Flow
Scenario
When the mouse pointer hovers above an element or operation an envelope
icon shows up
on its edge (left edge of activity, right edge of operation) to
advertising that message flow can be created. The envelope is centered
vertically and overlaps a bit (5 pixels for task, 3 pixel for event):
Figure: Envelope icon on task and
event
When the mouse pointer reaches the envelope it changes its
visual appearance to golden. As the user initiates DnD, the mouse
pointer changes to unavailable and envelope turns to red. When the
mouse pointer reaches a valid drop point, the line snaps to the target
and is drawn between proper connection points; the envelope turns back
to golden.
The scenario is shown on the following images;
click the image to go to next step.
Step 1
- Initial State
Step 2
- Mouse over
Step 3
- User initiates Drag'n'Drop
Step 4
- DnD in progress
Step 4
- DnD in progress (variant
with unavailable mouse pointer)
Step 4
- DnD in progress (variant with unavailable mouse pointer and red
message flow line)
Step 5
- Mouse pointer reached target, message flow line drawn properly (snaps)
Interaction Details
- Mouse over active area includes
the activity and the envelope icon: If the user goes directly above the
expected location of the
envelope (misses operation or activity), the envelope shows up anyway, if the
mouse pointer leaves the activity and goes to the envelope location,
the envelope does not disappear.
- When the element is selected
the icon remains on the diagram, even if the mouse pointer leaves the
mouse over active area.
The Drag'n'Drop source area is actually a bit larger (17 x 14 px) than
the envelope itself (a usability enhancement):
Figure - Drag'nDrop source areas
(highlighted in red)
Deliverables
Icon /
Visual Attribute
|
|
Description
|
Envelope - gray
|
 |
on activity or operation mouse
over
|
Envelope - golder
|
 |
on envelope mouse over or proper
drop target
|
Envelope - red
|
 |
during DnD
|
Envelope offsets
|
-
|
5 pixels overlap into a task
(from left or right), 3 pixels overlap into an event (from left or
right) |
Use Case: Discover
Message Exchange Peers
Scenario #1
- User selects a web service activity
- Message flow lines going from or into the selected activity are
highlighted (2 px line).
- Message flow lines going from or into message exchange peer of
the selected activity are also highlighted.
Scenario #2
- User brings up contextual menu of a web service activity and
invokes "Select Message Exchange Peer"
- Message Exchange peers is selected and the viewport is scrolled
to ensure its visibility
