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# Linkage and Iterations

You can configure a component or flow to run a certain number of times during a single run, using different data values for the component’s or flow’s parameters. Each time the component or flow runs is called an iteration. For details on iterations, see How to Set Data for Iterations.

Iterations of a source can result in multiple parameter output values. In these cases, the value provided by each iteration is passed as input to the corresponding iteration of the target.

Linking can occur successfully only when ALM can determine the target iteration for each source iteration. One of the following conditions must exist:

- Condition 1. The source has one iteration and the target has one or more iterations (a “1–to–n” relationship). For an example, see Iterations Example (“1–to–n” Relationship)—Graphical Representation.
- Condition 2. The source and the target have the same number of iterations (an “n–to–n” relationship). For an example, see Iterations Example (“n–to–n” Relationship)—Graphical Representation.

Note: When a source or target is a member of a group, the number of iterations is that of the group.

If the component iterations are not represented by a “1–to–n” or “n–to–n” relationship, a warning message is displayed.

Considerations

Take the following into account when working with parameter linkage and iterations:

- When you use the output of a previous component as the value for an input component parameter, the option applies to all component iterations for that input parameter.
- When iterations of a source component in a business process test result in multiple parameter output values, the value that is provided by a given iteration run is passed as input to the corresponding iteration of the target component.
- Moving a business component, group, or flow can cause a parameter reference conflict, for example, where a target component is moved to a position preceding the source component. If the resulting warning message is ignored, the conflicting link to the source parameter is deleted. This causes the iteration to fail, and the link must be reinstated in the target Iterations dialog box if necessary.
- In cases where there is an incompatible number of iterations between input and output component parameters, the parameter name in the column header is displayed in red text in the Iterations dialog box.
- Iteration errors cause a business process test or flow that contains the relevant components to fail. These errors are indicated in the Test Script tab in the Test Plan module, and reported when a flow or test is validated. For user interface details, see Test Validation Results Dialog Box.

Parent topic: Parameter Linkage Overview

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