# Adding a part to a message

All messages contain one or more parts. Parts are a flexible mechanism for describing the logical abstract content of a message. The message definition associates each part with a type using a message-typing attribute.

To add a part to a message, complete the following steps:

1. In Design view, right-click an input, output, or fault object and click Add Part. The part is added to the input, output, or fault's message reference. To select the part, click the part in the port type object.
2. In the Properties view, click the General pane.
3. In the Name field, type the name of the part.
4. Your part can refer to either a Type or an Element. Select the appropriate option as the Reference Kind .
5. If you selected Type, you now have the option of selecting an XML schema data type from the Type drop down list. The list of types comes from any available referenced XML schemas.
6. If you selected Element , you now have the option of selecting an XML schema element from the Element drop down list. The list of elements comes from any available referenced XML schemas.

Tip: You can also create a new part for your message using the Outline view. Under the Messages folder, right-click your element and click Add Part. Your part will automatically appear in the Outline view (under the Messages folder), but it will only appear in the Design view if the message you added it to currently does.
Related concepts
Editing WSDL files with the WSDL Editor
Related tasks
Creating a new WSDL file
Editing WSDL files