Previewing the effects of profiles

In this topic ...

Opening the Applied Profiles View

Applying Profiles to a Model

Creating and Using Profile Combination Sets

Related Topics ...

Profiling Overview

Creating a Profile Set

Customizing Profiles

After you have profiled one or more builder call inputs, we can see how various profiles affect the model and the generated WebApp.. You do this by using the Applied Profiles view to specify a list of profiles to apply to the model.

You use the Profile Input dialog to profile a builder input. This dialog lets you assign a profile set and entry to an input.

Once you apply one or more profiles to the model, we can view their effects in the WebApp Page view, the various builder call editors, and by running the model to see the generated Web application.

 

Opening the Applied Profiles View

The Applied Profiles view is where we can apply profiles to a model.

To access the Applied Profile view:

  1. Make sure that a model is in the current model editor and that the model contains at least one profiled builder input that references profile entries within an existing (and accessible) profile set.

  2. Choose Window | Show View | Other... from the Window menu.

  3. In the Show View dialog, choose WebSphere Portlet Factory > Applied Profiles and click OK.

The Applied Profiles view has two parts:

  • Initial view - Lists all of the profile sets (under the Profile Sets column) that are associated with the current model. Next to each profile set is a select box, titled Profile, that contains the profiles in that profile set.

  • Manage Combinations Dialog - Available from the Manage Combinations button, this dialog allows you to create, modify and remove profile set combinations.

The Existing Combinations select control lists any profile set combinations you have created for use with the model. If no combinations exist, this control displays only "Default." .

 

Applying Profiles to a Model

For each profile set associated with the model, we can select one profile to use for the preview of the Web application.

To apply profiles to a model:

  1. Make sure that a model is in the current model editor and that the model contains at least one profiled builder that references profile entries within an existing profile set.

  2. Access the Applied Profiles view, as described above.

  3. For each profile set in the list select a profile that you want to use.

  4. Click the Apply button.

When you apply the profiles, the model is regenerated. We can then check the WebApp Page view to see the result of the selected profiles supplying profile entry values to the profiled builder call inputs in the model. Each profiled input will also show the profile values in the builder call editors. If you run the model, the running Web application will use the values of the applied profiles.

The Apply button is enabled only when you have some profile selections to apply to the model. If the profiles you select have been applied already, the Apply is button disabled.

To apply a profile set combination to a model

  1. Select a combination by name from the Existing Combinations list.

The combination is automatically applied to the model as you select it in list.

The 'Default' combination is always available and provides way of resetting all profiles to 'Default'. You cannot modify or remove the 'Default' combination.

 

Create and Using Profile Set Combinations

When applying more than a couple of profiles to the model, create a profile set combination so that we can apply profiles according to all the combinations allowed by the profile sets associated with the model.

To create a named list of profiles to use for previewing:

  1. Make sure that a model is in the current model editor and that the model contains at least one profiled builder that references profile entries within an existing profile set.

  2. Choose Window | Show View | Other... from the Window menu.

  3. In the Show View dialog, choose WebSphere Portlet Factory | Applied Profiles and click OK.

  4. In the Applied Profiles view click the Manage Combinations button to access the Manage Profile Combinations dialog.

  5. This dialog lists all profile sets associated with the current model. For two or more profile sets in the list, select a profile that you want to use.

  6. In the Name input box, enter a name that reflects the selected combination of profiles.

For example, if you select the "Northwest" profile from the Region profile set and the "Sales" profile from the Organization profile set you might name the combination "NW_Sales."

  1. Click the Add button. The profile set combination is saved and its name is listed in the Existing Combinations box in the Applied Profiles view.

To apply a previously-created profile set combination:

  1. Open the Applied Profiles view and choose a profile combination from the Existing Combinations box.

  2. Profiles are loaded and displayed in the Profile select boxes.

  3. Click Apply to apply the saved profile combination set to the model.

Examine the WebApp Page view for the model and the Builder Call List. The WebApp Page view changes according to the builder call input values supplied by the profiles. The Builder Call List greys-out any builder calls that have been Disabled by any profile entry values.

To see how the profiles affect the generated Web application:

  1. Apply a profile combination to the model, as described above.

  2. Run the model.

The web application that displays is the result of the selected profiles supplying profile entry values to the profiled builder call inputs in the model.

To remove an existing profile combination set:

  1. Open the Applied Profiles view and click the Manage Combinations button to access the Manage Profile Combinations dialog.

  2. Choose a profile combination name from the Name box.

  3. Click Remove.

The profile combination is removed and no longer available in the Existing Combinations list.