Overview of access-client development procedure

To develop an access client, you code the access-client source file and complete other tasks. The task of creating an access client includes the following general steps:

  1. Set up the development environment. Install the IBM WebSphere Business Integration Server Express software including the AccessInterfaces.idl file and then use a utility to generate either Java or C++ stubs from the AccessInterfaces.idl file.
  2. Configure a port of a collaboration for access and execution by a call-triggered flow. This step involves configuring external collaboration ports, which can handle access clients.
  3. Implement and debug the access client (such as a web servlet) that executes the Server Access Interface API calls. Import the IdlAccessInterfaces.* classes, and implement Java code to do the following:
  4. Configure the top-level data handler meta-object MO_Server_DataHandler to point to the data handler instances needed to convert data from the external format (sent from the access client) to the IBM WebSphere business-object format. For more information, see the Data Handler Guide.

Figure 3 provides an overview of the access-client development process and provides a quick reference to chapters where you can find information on specific topics. Note that if a team of people is available for access-client development, the major tasks of developing an access client can be done in parallel by different members of the development team.

Figure 3. Overview of the access-client development task
 The figure shows an overview of the development of access clients. On the left is a vertical flow of tasks. Each of these tasks is connected to a node under the heading "steps" and each of these steps has a chapter indicated on the right-hand side where the step is discussed. The first row has the following: Task = Setup development environment. Steps = Install server access interface, Install development software. Chapter = 2. The second row has the following elements: Task = Configure IBM WebSphere Collaborations. Steps = Configure collaboration object properties, designate ports for the call-triggered flow. Chapter = 3. The third row comprises: Task = Code the access client. Steps = Open a session to InterChange Server, Create a triggering access data, either as a business object or as serialized data in some supported format. Execute a collaboration. Chapter =4. The penultimate row has: Task = Configure the top-level meta-object. Steps = Set name of top-level meta-object, add meta-object to list. Chapter = Data Handler Guide. The final row has the following element: Task = test and debug. Steps = Invoke the access client, call a data handler from the access client, verify that data is converted. No chapter is indicated.

Copyright IBM Corp. 2004, 2005