E123 and B4UKI U can IM UR M8s! Translation: Easy as one, two, three and before you know it you can instant message your mates! The purpose of this tutorial is to create a project which logs into and sends a message using MSN Instant Messenger.
Prerequisites: MSN Messenger software must be loaded on the computer to test this project, but it is not necessary to build or run the project.
Objective: To understand and utilize Workflow Designer's MSN integration capabilities.
Estimated time to complete: 30 minutes
Step 1: Create a New Project and Import Proper Components
To begin, create a new Decision Only project. The Decision Only project can be selected from the main page when you first run Workflow Designer.
When you first create your project, you will be brought to the main project model. Click the Import Components button, located directly under your toolbox. In the Add New Library window, click the Create Integration Library button.
The New Library window will appear. This window allows you to import components for use in your project.
Select the library Messenger.MSN.xdll and click the Add button. Click the OK button to perform the import.
Step 2: Setup Your Project
Drag-and-drop a Login, Send Messages, and Logout cmponent to your project. Connect them as shown below:
In order for your project to work properly, it must have input variables specified. These input variables dictate how data is entered into the project initially.
TO set up your input data, select Input Data from the Project Info box on the left-hand side of the screen. Click the Add button twice to create two input variable:
Name one of the variables "UserName" and the other "Password." Set the variable "Password" to type "Text" and set the "UserName" variable to "MSNLoggedInUser."
Return to your main project model by selecting the Model: Primary tab at the top of the window.
Step 3: Edit Your Login Component
Right-click on your Login component and select Edit Component. Select the Active User tab and click the ... button to the right of the MSN User field:
In the Select Variable Name window, select the variable "UserName" and click the OK button.
Select the Login Info tab and click the ... button to the right of the Username field:
Select the Variable Data(0) tab and click the Add button. Make sure the Drill Into Arrays checkbox is checked, and click the + button to the left of the UserName entry in the Select Variable Name window. Select the UserID entry and click the OK button. Also click the OK button in the Specify Variable Names or Constant Data window.
Click the ... button to the right of the Password field. In the Specify Variable Names or Constant Data window, select the Variable Data(0) tab (as above) and click the Add button. In the Select Variable Name window, select the variable "Password" and click the OK button. Also click the OK button in the Specify Variable Names or Constant Data.
Click the OK button in the Edit Component window to accept changes.
Step 4: Edit the Send Component
Right-click on your Send component and select Edit Component. Select the Active User tab and click the ... button to the right of the MSN User field:
Select the variable "UserName" and click the OK button.
Click the Message Settings tab and click the ... button to the right of the Message To Send User Name field. The List Builder window will appear:
Click the Constant Data (0) tab and click the Add button. In the Add Value window, enter the username of your message recipient in the Value field and click the OK button. Also, click the OK button in the List Builder window to accept changes
.
Click the OK button in the Edit Component window to accept changes.
Enter the message you wish to send to your recipient in the Message To Send field:
Click the OK button in the Edit Component window to accept changes.
Step 5: Edit the Logout Component
Right-click on your Logout component and select Edit Component.
Click the ... button to the right of the MSN User field:
In the window which appears, select the variable "UserName" and click OK.
Click the OK button in the Edit Component window to accept changes.
Step 6: Run and Save Your Project
Run your project by clicking the Debug button on the toolbar. The Debug button appears as a bug with a green arrow over it.
In the window which appears, double-click the blue Execute link.
Your project will begin executing, and will first ask you for input values:
Enter your password in the Password field and click the ... button to the right of the User Name field.
In the Edit Value window, enter your user name in the User Id field and click the OK button. Click the OK button in the Set Input Values window to complete execution of your project.
When your project executes, it will end with the blue arrow pointing to the EndComponent:
The message you specified will be sent to the recipient.
Finished!