How to Add a Component to a Pipeline

By using the Pipeline Editor, you can add a component to any stage in a pipeline. However, the input values that a particular component requires must exist in the order form before the component can successfully complete its function. Often, the input values to one pipeline component are the output values of one or more pipeline components that executed earlier in the pipeline.

To add a component to a pipeline by using the Pipeline Editor

1. In the Pipeline Editor, on the File menu, click Open, browse to find the pipeline you want to modify, select it, and then click Open.

2. Use one of the following methods:

   • Right-click the name of the stage in which you want to insert the component, and then click Insert Component. The Choose a component dialog box opens.

     Note

     This method inserts a component at the beginning of the stage.

     Or

   • Right-click the name of an existing component within the stage in which you want to insert the component, click Insert Component, and then click either Before or After. The Choose a component dialog box opens.

3. In the Choose a component dialog box, do the following:

   Use this	To do this
   Stages	To expand the choice of components shown in the Components list, select All.
   Components	Select a component. Note: The stage option you select determines which components are displayed in the Components list. The default value is the name of the stage where you are inserting the component. Selecting this option displays only those components configured to have an affinity for that stage. If you select All, all pipeline components are displayed, regardless of their stage affinity.

   After selecting the component you want to add, click OK to add the component and dismiss the Choose a component dialog box.

4. To configure the new component, right-click the component, and then click Properties. The Component Properties dialog box opens.

5. In the Component Properties dialog box, modify the component properties to suite your needs:

   Use this	To do this
   Label	Type an alternative name for the component.
   Class ID	Observe the GUID for the component.
   Program ID	Observe the programmatic identifier for the component.
   Required	Specify that the component is required.
   Description	Type a description for the component.

6. After making your changes, click OK to accept your changes and dismiss the Component Properties dialog box.

7. On the File menu, click Save.

The new component is now part of your pipeline and will be executed at the position within the pipeline at which you added it.

See Also

Other Resources

Extending Commerce Foundation

How to Open an Existing Pipeline for Editing

How to Change the Order of Components in a Pipeline Stage

How to Create a List of Values Read and Written by a Pipeline

Pipeline Editor Property Pages

Using the Pipeline Editor