# 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, follow these steps:

1. In Graph view, select the message you want to add a part to.
2. Right-click the message and click Add Child > Part.
3. Type the name of the part in the dialog. Click OK.
4. Your part can refer to either a type or an element. Select the appropriate option from the Reference Kind list.
5. If you selected type in the Reference Kind list, 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 in the Reference Kind list, you now have the option of selecting an 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 Child > Part. Your part will automatically appear in the Outline view (under the Messages folder), but it will only appear in the Graph 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

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