Creating multiple connector instances
Creating multiple instances of a connector is in many
ways the same as creating a custom connector. You can set your system
up to create and run multiple instances of a connector by following
the steps below. You must:
- Create a new directory for the connector instance
- Make sure you have the requisite business object definitions
- Create a new connector definition file
- Create a new start-up script
Create a new directory
Use the menu path, ProductDir\connectors\connectorInstance.
If the connector has any connector-specific meta-objects, you
must create a meta-object for the connector instance. If you save
the meta-object as a file, create this directory and store the file
here:
ProductDir\repository\connectorInstance
where connectorInstance uniquely identifies
the connector instance.
You can specify the InterChange Server Express server name as
a parameter of startup.bat; an example is: start_XML.bat connName
serverName.
Create business object definitions
If the business object definitions for each connector
instance do not already exist within the project, you must create
them.
- If you need to modify business object definitions that are associated
with the initial connector, copy the appropriate files and use Business
Object Designer Express to import them. You can copy any of the
files for the initial connector. Just rename them if you make changes
to them.
- Files for the initial connector should reside in the following
directory:
ProductDir\repository\initialConnectorInstance
Any additional files you create should be in the appropriate connectorInstance subdirectory of ProductDir\repository.
Create a connector definition
Follow these steps to create a configuration file (connector
definition) for the connector instance in Connector Configurator
Express:
- Copy the initial connector's configuration file (connector
definition) and rename it.
- Make sure each connector instance correctly lists its supported
business objects (and any associated meta-objects).
- Customize any connector properties as appropriate.
Create a start-up script
To create a startup script:
- Copy the initial connector's startup script and name
it to include the name of the connector directory:
dirname
- Put this startup script in the connector directory you created
in Create business object definitions.
- Create a startup script shortcut.
- Copy the initial connector's shortcut text and change
the name of the initial connector (in the command line) to match
the name of the new connector instance.
