SAP CPI difference between Header and Property

[David_Oexner]

Dear All,

I'm beginner in CPI and was trying to understand from documentation about the difference between a header and property in a message. Please validate my understanding.

1. Header is like HTTP header where we can store small attributes and pass it align with message. It will be part of the message and hence the scope is global in the sense that any step can see the header along with the receiver. My doubt is if we have a multiple sub processes in an iFlow like local integration process then the header variables can be seen by all of them?
2. Property is like a container where it is internal to a process and it can't be sent to receiver. But what is the scope of property in an iflow?

Is it explained better anywhere?

[Ryan-Crosby]

Headers and properties can both be used in a multitude of ways - information necessary for an adapter connection (e.g. host for HTTPS adapter), information required at a router step for branching the execution path, or simply being inserted into the body of the message via script or content modifier. The difference being that headers can be passed to another flow but properties can only be used locally.

[shivaprasad1 · Accepted solution]

Hi Abraham,

Headers and Properties can be used in any local integration process in an iflow.

Let me give you an example :

Suppose I have two integration flows ( IF1,IF2), where IF2 is connected to IF1 via process direct .

Now properties in IF1 cannot be accessed in IF2 because the scope of property is with the iflow (IF1), but where as headers created in the IF1 can be accessed in IF2 because it as global scope.

[David_Oexner · Accepted solution]

Hi Shiva,

Thank you. That cleared my question. When do we use Header and when do we use property?

What about the Process Direct capabilities? Is it meant only for connecting two iFlows? How a iFlow can call local integration process?

[Ryan-Crosby · Accepted solution]

abraham2009 if you want to call a local integration process there is a step option to make a local call (which can then also call another iFlow with a send or request/reply step)

[David_Oexner · Accepted solution]

ryan.crosby Thank you. I understood how to get there. Do you know in what cases we use header and properties for storing additional information?