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Microsoft Dynamics AX Functions Activity

Introduction

A Microsoft Dynamics AX Functions activity, using its Microsoft Dynamics AX connection, invokes a function in Microsoft Dynamics AX and is intended to be used as a source or target in an operation. Whether the activity can be used as a source or a target in an operation depends on the selected function. For more information, see Next Steps at the end of this page.

Create a Microsoft Dynamics AX Functions Activity

An instance of a Microsoft Dynamics AX Functions activity is created from a Microsoft Dynamics AX connection using its Functions activity type.

To create an instance of an activity, drag the activity type to the design canvas or copy the activity type and paste it on the design canvas. For details, see Creating an Activity Instance in Component Reuse.

An existing Microsoft Dynamics AX Functions activity can be edited from these locations:

Configure a Microsoft Dynamics AX Functions Activity

Follow these steps to configure a Microsoft Dynamics AX Functions activity:

Step 1: Enter a Name and Select a Function

In this step, provide a name for the activity and select a function. Each user interface element of this step is described below.

Microsoft Dynamics AX Functions Activity Configuration Step 1

  • Name: Enter a name to identify the activity. The name must be unique for each Microsoft Dynamics AX Functions activity and must not contain forward slashes / or colons :.

  • Select a Function: This section displays functions available in the Microsoft Dynamics AX endpoint.

    • Selected Function: After a function is selected, it is listed here.

    • Search: Enter any part of the function name into the search box to filter the list of functions. The search is not case-sensitive. If functions are already displayed within the table, the table results are filtered in real time with each keystroke. To reload functions from the endpoint when searching, enter search criteria and then refresh, as described below.

    • Refresh: Click the refresh icon Refresh icon or the word Refresh to reload functions from the Microsoft Dynamics AX endpoint. This may be useful if functions have been added to Microsoft Dynamics AX. This action refreshes all metadata used to build the table of functions displayed in the configuration.

    • Selecting a Function: Within the table, click anywhere on a row to select a function. Only one function can be selected. The information available for each function is fetched from the Microsoft Dynamics AX endpoint:

      • Name: The name of the function from Microsoft Dynamics AX.

      • Description: The description of the function from Microsoft Dynamics AX.

    Tip

    If the table does not populate with available functions, the Microsoft Dynamics AX connection may not be successful. Ensure you are connected by reopening the connection and retesting the credentials.

  • Save & Exit: If enabled, click to save the configuration for this step and close the activity configuration.

  • Next: Click to temporarily store the configuration for this step and continue to the next step. The configuration will not be saved until you click the Finished button on the last step.

  • Discard Changes: After making changes, click to close the configuration without saving changes made to any step. A message asks you to confirm that you want to discard changes.

Step 2: Review the Data Schemas

Any request or response schemas generated from the endpoint are displayed. Each user interface element of this step is described below.

Microsoft Dynamics AX Functions Activity Configuration Step 2

  • Data Schemas: These data schemas are inherited by adjacent transformations and are displayed again during transformation mapping.

    The Microsoft Dynamics AX connector interacts with the WSDL for Microsoft Dynamics AX SOAP web services. For more information, see the Microsoft documentation Locating the WSDL for Services and Developing with Services and AIF.

  • Refresh: Click the refresh icon Refresh icon or the word Refresh to regenerate schemas from the Microsoft Dynamics AX endpoint. This action also regenerates a schema in other locations throughout the project where the same schema is referenced, such as in an adjacent transformation.

  • Back: Click to temporarily store the configuration for this step and return to the previous step.

  • Finished: Click to save the configuration for all steps and close the activity configuration.

  • Discard Changes: After making changes, click to close the configuration without saving changes made to any step. A message asks you to confirm that you want to discard changes.

Next Steps

After configuring a Microsoft Dynamics AX Functions activity, complete the configuration of the operation by adding and configuring other activities, transformations, or scripts as operation steps. You can also configure the operation settings, which include the ability to chain operations together that are in the same or different workflows.

Menu actions for an activity are accessible from the project pane and the design canvas. For details, see Activity Actions Menu in Connector Basics.

The Microsoft Dynamics AX Functions activity can be used as a source or target. Whether the activity can be used as a source or a target in an operation depends on the selected function in Step 1: Enter a Name and Select a Function:

Function Source/Target
create Target
delete Target
find Source
findKeys Source
getChangedKeys Source
getKeys Source
read Source
update Target

Used as a Source

The Microsoft Dynamics AX Functions activity can be used as a source with these operation patterns:

Used as a Target

The Microsoft Dynamics AX Functions activity can be used as a target with these operation patterns:

To use the activity with scripting functions, write the data to a temporary location and then use that temporary location in the scripting function.

When ready, deploy and run the operation and validate behavior by checking the operation logs.