IBM BPM, V8.0.1, All platforms > Create processes in IBM Process Designer > Modeling processes > Building services > Building a Decision service > Adding and modifying Decision service variables

Default rule variables and parameters

Pre-defined variables and variable types are deployed from the System Data toolkit when IBM BPM is installed.

Default Decision service variables

The System Data toolkit is imported into the Process Center repository so that each process application and toolkit created has access to IBM BPM system data. The System Data toolkit includes assets that all IBM BPM projects require, including variable types. The Decision service can use most of the pre-defined variables and variable types, with a few exceptions.

For example, when you create a new variable in the Rule editor, and select a business object (variable type) to associate with the variable, the following list of default variable types is displayed:

The following variable types are not supported for Decision service variables:

• SQLResult
• XMLDocument
• XMLElement
• XMLNodeList

Decision service parameters

Decision service parameters, which are defined for each business object (variable type) provide a mechanism for exchanging data between a rule component and a process application. You can define Decision service parameters using the following elements:

• A business object name

• A variable type

• A direction, which indicates whether a parameter is used as input to a Decision service, or output from the Decision service, or both. The direction setting is determined automatically based on how the parameter or variable is used in the rule.

  For example, any parameter or variable that is referenced in a rule, but is not modified or updated when the service is running, is identified as an IN variable.

For information about setting up Decision service parameters, see the related topic "Adding variable types and business objects to a Decision service."

Adding and modifying Decision service variables

Related tasks:
Adding variable types and business objects to a Decision service