Using connector configuration property values

This section provides the following information about connector configuration properties:

What is a connector configuration property?

A connector configuration property (sometimes called just a connector property) allows you to create named place holders (similar to variables) that the connector can use to access information it needs. Connectors have two categories of configuration properties:

Standard connector configuration properties

Standard configuration properties provide information that is typically used by the connector framework. These properties are usually common to all connectors and usually represent well-defined behavior that is the WebSphere business integration system enforces.

Connector-specific configuration properties

Connector-specific configuration properties provide information needed by a particular connector at runtime. These configuration properties provide a way of changing static information or logic within the connector's application-specific component without having to recode and rebuild it. For example, configuration properties can be used to:

You can create any number of connector-specific configuration properties for your connector. When you have identified needed connector-specific properties, you define them as part of the connector configuration process. Use Connector Configurator to specify connector configuration properties as part of the information stored in the local repository.

You can also add configuration properties later on as needed. In general, your connector code needs only to query for the values of the connector-specific properties such as ApplicationUserID and ApplicationPassword.

Defining and setting connector configuration properties

The Connector Configurator tool provides you with the ability to perform the following tasks on connector configuration properties:

WebSphere InterChange Server

If WebSphere InterChange Server is your integration broker, refer to the Implementation Guide for WebSphere InterChange Server for information about the Connector Configurator tool.

Other integration brokers

If a WebSphere message broker (WebSphere MQ Integrator, WebSphere MQ Integrator Broker, or WebSphere Business Integration Message Broker) is your integration broker, refer the Implementation Guide for WebSphere Message Brokers for information about Connector Configurator. If WebSphere Application Server is your integration broker, refer to the Implementation Guide for WebSphere Application Server for information about Connector Configurator.

Retrieving connector configuration properties

Connector configuration properties are downloaded to the connector as part of the connector initialization (For more information, see Starting up a connector). Your connector application-specific component retrieves the values of any configuration properties that it needs for initialization based on the type of the connector property.

A connector can use a connector configuration property that has one of the following types:

Note:
For the IBMWebSphere Business Integration Adapters product, single-valued simple connector configuration properties are the only kind of connector properties that a C++ connector supports. C++ connectors do not support hierarchical properties.

Copyright IBM Corp. 1997, 2004