### Insert Action Properties

In a message flow, use an insert action to insert the result of an XQuery expression at an identified place relative to nodes selected by an XPath expression.

In the Message Flow Editor, click an insert action to display its properties in the Properties view. Use these properties pages to configure the selected insert action. The pages are:

- Insert
- Comment
- Namespaces
- Variables

The Insert page has the following options:

Option | Description
--- | ---
Expression | The XQuery expression used to create the data that will be inserted at a specified location in a named variable. To create or edit an expression, click <Expression> (or the expression_fragment, if one is already defined) to display the XQuery/XSLT Expression Editor.
Location | The location where the insert is performed, relative to the result of the XPath expression: Options are: Before-as sibling before each element or attribute selected by the XPath expression After-as sibling after each element or attribute selected by the XPath expression As first child of-as first child of each element identified by the XPath expression. An error occurs if the result of the XPath returns attributes. As last child of-as last child of each element identified by the XPath expression. An error occurs if the XPath returns attributes.
XPath | Valid configurations include those in which: XQuery and XPath expressions both return elements. The XQuery and XPath expressions both return attributes-in which case, the XQuery expression must return attributes. To create or edit the XPath expression, click <XPath> (or the XPath_fragment, if one is already defined) to display the XPath Expression Editor.
Variable | The context variable whose contents are evaluated by the XPath variable defined above. Enter the name of the variable in the text field.

Use the Comment page to add a comment, if desired:

Use the Namespaces page to see a list of defined namespaces or to create a new one.

Use the Variables page to see a list of defined context variables or to create a new one. For more information about context variables, see Message Context in the AquaLogic Service Bus User Guide.