How to: Define Applications on Application Diagrams

In Application Designer, you can define applications from application prototypes. You can select a prototype or drag one from the Toolbox to create application definitions on the application diagram. You can also copy application definitions and endpoint definitions on the same diagram or from an application diagram in another solution or instance of Visual Studio. For more information, see Overview of Applications on Application Diagrams and How to: Copy Between Solutions or Instances of Visual Studio.

Tip

If the solution does not contain an application diagram, add one to the solution. For more information, see How to: Add Application Diagrams to Solutions. To add a database, use the Toolbox instead of Server Explorer or add it from the Diagram menu. You can configure the database connection string when you connect the database to an application. For more information, see How to: Configure Connections to External Databases. When you add an external Web service or BizTalk Web service from the Toolbox, you must specify the location of a WSDL file. For more information, see How to: Locate WSDL Files for Web Services.

To define an application on the application diagram

  1. On the Diagram menu, point to Add, and choose an application prototype.

    Tip

    You can also right-click the diagram, point to Add, and choose an application prototype.

    -or-

    From the Toolbox, drag an application prototype to the diagram.

    Tip

    If the Toolbox is not visible, open it from the View menu by choosing Toolbox or click the Toolbox tab on the left side of Visual Studio.

    One or more application definitions appear and are selected on the diagram. Some prototypes create application definitions with one or more default endpoints or possibly even multiple configured and connected applications. For more information, see Application Types and Prototypes for Defining Applications and Overview of Endpoints on Applications.

  2. Repeat the previous step to define additional applications.

When you add an application that does not support implementation in the solution, for example, a generic application, a System Definition Model (SDM) document with an .sdm extension appears immediately in the solution. Definitions of applications that support implementation in the solution are stored in the application diagram (.ad) file until those applications are implemented and projects are generated for them. For more information, see Overview of the System Definition Model (SDM).

Once an application is defined on the diagram, you can rename it. For more information, see How to: Rename Applications on Application Diagrams. You can now also define services for endpoints, add endpoints to applications, configure communication pathways by connecting applications, or specify settings and constraints on applications and endpoints. For more information, see Overview of Application Designer.

See Also

Tasks

Walkthrough: Defining Applications on Application Diagrams

How to: Delete Applications from Application Diagrams

Other Resources

Defining Applications on Application Diagrams