SOA suite, BPEL variables: message type, simple type, element

In a BPEL file you have a variables section, and each entry can be declared as messageType, type or element.


A variable of type "messageType" has its type declared in the "message" clause of a WSDL.

A variable of type "type" is a simple xsd type:

variable name="Counter" type="xsd:integer"

A variable of type "element" is a complex xsd type defined as element:

variable name="Books" element="ns2:BookCollection"

where BookColletion is

When interacting with Partner Links, you can only use variables of type messageType; if your data is stored in a variable of type element, you should copy it using a Assign block.