You can define input and output parameters for every Self Help project component, i.e. resources and procedures.

• Input parameters are used to modify the behavior of the object based on entry conditions.

  example  Redirection to the different branches of a procedure; pre-loading of information; authorized access to certain information

• Output parameters are used to retrieve the values calculated by the object and send them to the execution context.

  example  Error returned when calling a connector; incident number sent to a procedure

Notes

• Differences between input/output parameters and project variables:
  • The impact of input and output parameters is restricted to the objects using them and those calling them.
  • Project variables are common and visible to all objects.

• A parameter can contain raw values.
  • Enter the values, surrounded by double quotes.
  • The value will appear in blue.

    example  

• A parameter can contain both text and input variables.
  • Enter the character strings, surrounded by double quotes.
  • Use the + operator to concatenate the items.

    example  

Best Practice

• Give a different name to each parameter so you can identify it easily.

• Define the naming convention for all parameters in your Self Help project.* Naming rules: The parameter name usually starts with the letter p for parameter, followed by the type of parameter, e.g. in for an input parameter and out for an output parameter, and the value to which it applies.

  example  

  • pinDepartment: Input parameter related to the Department value
  • poutName: Output parameter related to the Name value

  • Writing rules: Case type used, e.g. lower or upper case, CamelCase or snake_case.

    example  pin_name; pOutMail

• Create your input parameters in sub-procedures.

Screens description

Access: Desktop Studio in the edit mode. Select the component in the tree structure of the Self Help project > Properties view > Info tab. Click the link called Edit parameters.  See the procedure.

Specify only input parameters

 will appear in the window for editing parameters if only input parameters can be specified. This is the case for Document, HTML content and Link resources.

Specify input and output parameters

 will appear in the window for editing parameters if both input and output parameters can be specified. This is the case for Form and Sub-procedure resources as well as for all procedures.

The left pane is for specifying input parameters while the right is for specifying output parameters.

Specify parameters for a connector

Each connector has specific input parameters. Its two output parameters, however, are always the same, result and error.

Output parameters

• error: Returns an error code when the call to the connector does not work correctly.

• result: Result returned by the connector.

  example  Excel file data, JSON file

Procedures

How to specify the parameters of a component

Step 1: Select the component.

1. Select the Self Help project in the tree structure of the Explorer pane.

2. Click  to display the tree structure.

3. Click the component.

Step 2: Specify the parameters of the component.

1. Display the Properties view by selecting View > Properties in the menu.
The component's properties will appear.

2. Click Edit parameters.
The window for editing parameters specific to the component will appear.

3. Specify the input and output parameters depending on the type of component.

• Click Add.
  A row will be added to the table of parameters.

• Click each field in this row and specify the required values.

• Repeat these actions for the other parameters.

• Click Finish.
   

Delete a parameter

• Select the row of the parameter you want to delete.

• Click Remove.
   

Arrange the order of parameters

• Select the row of the parameter you want to move.

• Click  or  to move the parameter to the top or bottom of the list respectively.
   

Cancel changes

• Click Reset.