Importing a resource adapter archive (RAR) file, or connector,
migrates the RAR file to an assembly tool.
Before you begin
This topic assumes you have assembled a RAR file and want to work
with it in an
an assembly
tool such as the Application Server Toolkit (AST), Rational Application
Developer (RAD) or Rational Web Developer.
This topic also assumes that
you have started the assembly tool and
have configured the assembly tool for
work on Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition (J2EE) modules.
About this task
Importing an existing RAR file into an assembly tool migrates the
RAR file to the assembly tool so you can further configure and assemble define
a connector module.
Procedure
- Click File > Import > RAR file > Next. Alternatively,
you can right-click Connector Projects in a view such as the Project
Explorer view and click Import > RAR file. Or, on Windows platforms,
you can drag the connector Java archive (JAR) file and drop it on a view.
- In the Import dialog, define a connector project:
- Specify the name of the RAR file to import. Use Browse to
locate the RAR file and specify its full path name.
- Specify a connector project name. For example, if
you are importing the HelloWorld.rar file, you might name the project HelloWorld.
Click New, specify HelloWorld for the project name, and click Next.
- Optional: Specify whether to overwrite and delete
existing resources without warning.
- Select a target server. To use an application assembly
service of WebSphere Application Server, select the WebSphere Application
Server v6.0 target server. Available assembly services include ActivitySession, Application profiling, Internationalization, and Last participant support.
- If you want to add connector components to an enterprise application
(EAR file), select Add module to an EAR project. If you
want the connector project to stand alone, do not add the module to an EAR
project.
- Specify a new or existing enterprise application (EAR) project
to be associated with your connector project for purposes of deployment.
Select an existing enterprise application project from the drop-down
list or type a new project name. Or, click New and create a new enterprise application. The name must be unique
among EAR files in the directory.
- Click Finish.
Results
A new connector project is created. Files for the connector project
are shown in the Project Explorer view under Enterprise Applications and Connector
Projects.
What to do next
After importing a RAR file, you can
edit connector deployment descriptors as needed and
deploy the module or its application
to an application server.
When deploying the RAR file onto a server, WebSphere
Application Server looks first for the connector module manifest (manifest.mf)
in the _connectorModule.jar file and loads the manifest from the _connectorModule.jar file.
If the class path entry is in the manifest from the _connectorModule.jar file,
then the RAR uses that class path. After deployment, to ensure that the connector
module finds the classes and resources that it needs, check the Classpath setting
for the RAR on the console Resource
adapter settings page.
For more information, see the online help
for the assembly tool. Similar information is in the Application Server
Toolkit information center available with this information center. Click Application
Server Toolkit > J2EE applications > Working with projects > Connector projects.