introduction - ibm · integration framework – configuring integration controls to customize your...

Integration Framework – Configuring Integration Controls to customize

your integration processing.

7/29/2013

Introduction

The Integration Framework supports the use of Integration Controls and Processing Rules

to allow customers to control and customize their integration transaction processing

through Configuration. This document explains the configuration of Integration Controls.

Table of Contents

Overview............................................................................................................................. 2

Outbound processing ...................................................................................................... 3

Inbound processing ......................................................................................................... 4

Integration Control Definition ............................................................................................ 5

Defining Integration Controls ......................................................................................... 6

Defining a Value Control............................................................................................ 8

Defining a List Control ............................................................................................... 9

Defining a Boolean Control ...................................................................................... 10

Defining a Cross Reference (XRef) Control............................................................. 11

Enabling the Use of Controls............................................................................................ 12

Associate the control to a Publish Channel or Enterprise Service................................ 12



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Overview

The Maximo* Integration Framework (MIF) provides the capability to configure

integration controls and processing rules to allow customers to customize their

integration processing without (or in addition to) using custom Java User Exit code.

Some the common uses of these features is to Set an XML tag value in an integration

message or to filter integration messages such that only certain integration messages are

sent to an external application.

The example screen shots included in this document are from a Maximo 7.5.x

environment, however, the majority of the functionality is also available in the Maximo

7.1.x versions as well.

*NOTE: All capabilities provided in the Maximo application also apply the Smart Cloud

Control Desk (SCCD) application



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Where are integration controls and processing rules leveraged within the flow of an

integration message?

Outbound processing

For outbound processing, the processing rules are executed after the integration message

(XML) is formed by the MIF based on the Object Structure definition. After the

processing rules are executed, the integration message flows through the Java and XSL

customization layers (if implemented). Integration controls can be implemented as part

of processing rules or referenced by the java customization code.

External Application / Service

MXWO Object Structure

MAXIMO

XSL Map

Processing Rules

JMS Queue

Work Order Approval

User Exit

User Exit

Processing Class

Java

User Exit

User Exit

Processing Class

User Exit

User Exit

Processing Class

Java

Customization - Optional

End Point

Processing Rules applied

Processing Rules appliedIntegration Controls implemented



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Inbound processing

For inbound processing, the processing rules are executed after the integration message

flows through the Java and XSL customization layers (if implemented). The integration

message (XML) must be in the format defined by the Object Structure when the message

reaches the Processing Rules layer. Integration controls can be implemented as part of

processing rules or referenced by the java customization code.

External Application / Service

MXWO Object Structure

MAXIMO

XSL Map

Processing Rules

Integration

Servlet

Work Order Status

Update

User Exit

User Exit

Processing Class

JavaUser Exit

User Exit

Processing Class

User Exit

User Exit

Processing Class

Java

Customization - Optional

Processing Rules applied

Processing Rules appliedIntegration Controls implemented



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Integration Control Definition

Integration controls are defined to support processing logic of an integration message.

By using an integration control, this offers configurability so that customers can

implement values that are specific to their Maximo implementation.

A common use of an integration control is to define a list of values that are used to filter

(configured in a processing rule) the sending of a transaction such as a work order or

purchase order. So one implementation could set their list of Status values to filter on

'Approve' and 'Close' while another implementation could set their value to just

'Approve'. Another common use of an Integration Control is to set a field value in an

integration message.

There are four types of integration controls that you can define:

1. Value – defines a single value for the control 2. List – defines a list of values (1 or more) for the control

3. Boolean – defines the control value as True or False 4. Cross Reference – defines a pair of values (internal and external) that are used to

map one value to the other.

To use integration controls as part of a processing rule, you need to:

1. Define the control 2. Associate the control to a Publish Channel or Enterprise Service 3. Implement the Control as part of a Processing Rule

4. Assign values to the control for the External System using the Publish

Channel/Enterprise Service.



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Defining Integration Controls

The dialog to create integration controls is available from the Publish Channels and

Enterprise Services applications.



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The dialog shows existing integration controls that can be maintained by selecting the

Edit Details icon on the left side of each row. To create a new control, use the ‘drop-

down’ button and select the desired control type:

When you create control and assign one or more values, the values are considered the

‘default’ values for that control. As you will see further down in this document, those

default values will be copied to the external system level where they can be used and/or

changed to values specific for an external system.



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Defining a Value Control

A Value Control will hold a single value. When defining the control, you need to assign a

name, description and the value. You can also assign a domain to the control which

limits the entry of values to be a value that exists in that domain. For instance, you are

using an integration control to filter Asset transactions based on an asset type. Asset

Types on the asset record are assigned using the ASSETTYPE domain, therefore you

would want the integration control to only hold values that are valid asset types as

defined in the domain. By assigning the domain to the integration control, this will limit

the value entered in the control to be valid asset type.

Note: there is no selection capability for the Default Value field based on the domain list.

However a validation is executed when you tab out of the field to ensure the value exists

in the Domain.



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Defining a List Control

A List Control is similar to a value control except that it will hold multiple values. When

defining the control, you need to assign a name, description and one or more values. As

with the Value Control, you can also assign a domain to the control which limits the entry

of values to be a value that exists in that domain. The example below shows the

POSEND control which holds multiple values tied to the POSTATUS domain. This

control is used in filtering outbound Purchase Order messages.



in the Domain.



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Defining a Boolean Control

A Boolean Control holds a True or False value that can be used as part of an integration

processing rule. This control could be used to compare against an object attribute that is

a Boolean type and when there is a match the integration message would be processed (or

skipped) When defining the control, you need to assign a name, description and select

whether the default value will be true (checked) or false (unchecked).



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Defining a Cross Reference (XRef) Control

A Cross Reference Control allows you to map values from your Maximo data to a

corresponding external value. For example, you may always map a Site value to a

specific value recognized by the application you are integrating with. This control allows

you to configure that mapping once and then use the same control across multiple

integration points that results in a consistent mapping. When defining the control, you

need to assign a name, description and one or more Default and External values. The

Default value is the Maximo-known value. As with the Value and List Controls, you can

also assign a domain to the control which limits the entry of default values to be a value

that exists in that domain.



in the Domain.



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Enabling the Use of Controls

Associate the control to a Publish Channel or Enterprise Service

An Integration Control may be used in Processing Rules on one or more Publish

Channels and/or Enterprise Services. To associate an integration control to a Publish

Channel, you need to select that channel in the Publish Channels application and then

select Associate Integration Controls under the Select Action menu.

NOTE: The description here uses a Publish Channel as an example. The same process

applies to Enterprise Services.



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In the dialog above, you can select one or more controls to associate to the selected

Publish Channel.

Controls/Default values copied to External System

When you associate a control to a Publish Channel, this will copy the control with its

default values to any External System that has that Publish Channel configured (the

publish channel does not need to be marked as enabled at the external system level). At

the external system level is where the default values can be overridden, if needed, with

values specific to that external system.

If a control is used for multiple channels (or enterprise services), it is copied down to the

external system only once. Values of the control at the external system level apply to all

channels/services that are configured to use that control (values are not channel/service-

specific).

Controls/Default values copied to External System (2)

Another way controls can be copied to an external system is when the publish channel

(with associated controls) is added to an external system (where that control was not

already associated to the external system via another channel or service).

Changing default values of Controls

For a control that is already copied (with its default values) to an external system, if the

default values are changed (adds/deletes) in the Publish Channels and/or Enterprise

Services applications, those changes are not copied down to the external system.



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Assign values to the control for an External System

Once a control is pushed down to the External system level, the default values can be

updated using the Setup Integration Controls option under the Select Action menu within

the External Systems application:

The values assigned to the control apply to any use of the control on all channels/services

configured for the external system.



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In addition, there is an option to provide an override value based on the Site and/or

Organization that the transaction is tied to. In the screen shot below, a value of WAPPR

was selected for Site BEDFORD for the POSEND control. This allows you to have

different values for the control based on the transaction’s Org or Site.

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