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Version: 4.15.0

OutboundFlowLink Component

The OutboundFlowLink component can be used together with the InboundFlowLink component to connect flows with each other. This enables you to split up bigger integrations in several reusable flows.

This component can be used multiple times in a flow to sent messages to other flows that have an InboundFlowLink component.

Configuration

This component has the following configuration options:

Target flow

Here you select the flow that you want to connect to. Only flows that start with an InboundFlowLink component that have the same Transport setting are fetched.

You can select a Group to filter the Flow list on flows in that flow group. Select -- to see the full list of flows that can be connected or groupless to filter on flows that are not in a group.

Transport

The transport mechanism used between the flowlink components. If you are not familiar with how the different transport types work, we recommend you leave it at Default.

Options

  • Default
  • Synchronous
  • Asynchronous
  • Queues

You can't sent messages to an InboundFlowLink component that has a different Transport setting. For example: a asynchronous OutboundFlowLink component can't send messages to a synchronous InboundFlowLink component.

TransportQueueExplanationUsage
DefaultYesUses queues between flowsMost cases
SynchronousNoWhen you configure your flow to be synchronous, the output of the next flow will be used as a response to the first flow.For synchronous (request/response) interactions. Especially to keep the message order. Note the calling flow must be running.
AsynchronousYesWhen you configure your flow to be asynchronous, messages are stored an in-memory blocking queue between flows.For asynchronous (fire-and-forget) interactions. Especially to increase performance. Note the calling flow must be running.
QueuesYesSame as default. All messages will pass through a queuing mechanism. This means that the messages are stored on a broker outside of the flow until the next flow has received and acknowledged it.For synchronous (request/response) or asynchronous (fire-and-forget) interactions with large messages and guaranteed delivery.
using queues

When using queues as the transport type between FlowLinks the messages on the broker have no expiration date:time.

Exchange pattern

This option determines if the connected flow sends back a response or not.

Options

  • One way (default)
  • Request reply

One way

There will be no response from the connected flow when this option is set to One way. This is recommended when you don't need a response from the connected flow in your current flow. For example when you just want to sent messages to your own logging solution.

Request reply

When this option is set to Request reply the connected flow will send a response message. This option is recommended when you need the processed message from the connected flow in your current flow.

The response that is sent back from the connected flow is either the message after the last component or, if there are components in the connected flow with an exchange pattern set to One way, the message right before reaching the first One way component.

timeout setting

For Request reply the timeout option of a flow may need to be increased to give the connected flow time to process the message and sent it back as a response.

Remarks

tracing and flowlinks

To see the full origin/target flow chain in the tracing, all connected flows should have tracing enabled.

queues and request reply

An OutboundFlowLink can not select its own InboundFlowLink when Transport is set to queues and the Exchange pattern is set to request-reply. It will dissappear as an option from the list.