Select Fields or Paths for Block Properties with the Path Selector

Many block properties must identify a specific field, a structure or a set of repeating items within results from another block. For example, join conditions for the

Join block identify a field in each result that is being joined that should be compared to determine exactly what data to join.

Other block properties may accept values that you enter, but you can also supply values dynamically when the mashup is run from an input field for the mashup or from a field in the result of another block.

You can easily identify specific fields, structures, or repeating items with the Path Selector list. You can also select global attributes, user attributes or existing input fields or add a new input to provide the value for a property using the Path Selector list.

For properties that require a path to a field, structure or set of repeating items, simply click in the property.

For properties that allow you to enter values or a path, click

The list shows different choices depending on your current block:

Just the results from the blocks that are an input to your current block:

Existing input fields and attributes plus the results from any block in the mashup:

You can also add new input fields from the list in this case.

Results from blocks that are input to this block plus inputs or results from other blocks:

Within results, these icons indicate what kind of node you are selecting:

	Root node
	Non-repeating structure node, containing children
	Repeating node, either a structure with children or a field
	A field with boolean data
	A field with date or time data
	A field with an enumerated list of valid values
	A field with numeric data
	A field with text (string) data

Click on the field, existing input field, structure or repeating item you want to use for this property.

The property fills with a path, such as *:ResultSet/*:Result/*:Title.

Each slash indicates a new step down the path of the structure followed by the name of the node at that point in the path. The asterisks and colon (*:) before each node name indicate that the namespace, if any, is not used. See What is a namespace? for more information on namespaces.

Or click Add input field to add a new

Input block and connect it to this property.