Sharing assets
To reuse the BPM artifacts created, store them in a central asset repository that you and others can browse.
For example, you can use an asset repository to find and reuse the approved version of a process model even if someone else created it.
You must have IBM Rational Asset Manager installed to share assets in the manner described below. Rational Asset Manager is an optional feature that can be installed when install IBM Integration Designer. For more information on how to install it with IBM Integration Designer, see "Modifying installations."
Assets are a collection of artifacts, or files, that provide a reusable solution to a specific business problem. In the asset repository, which runs on IBM Rational Asset Manager, you can store or link to assets that might have been developed in different content management systems and browse the assets using categories as filters. The asset repository tracks how assets are related and who owns them.
In contrast with versioning systems for content under development, such as Concurrent Versions System (CVS) or Rational ClearCase , where you back up your work every day when you are actively making changes, you add assets to the asset repository only when work on them is complete and they have gone through the approval process that your organization uses.
In addition, you can use the asset repository to link to and browse files that are stored in specialized repositories, such as WebSphere Service Registry and Repository (for SOA services), along with all of your other BPM assets.
- Asset repository
The asset repository is a central location for sharing BPM assets such as process models. If you have an IBM Rational Asset Manager server installed, you can browse the asset repository for assets that have already been developed and approved by others.- Configure Rational Asset Manager
Before you use Rational Asset Manager 7.1, Rational Asset Manager 7.1.1.1, and Rational Asset Manager 7.2 to store business process management assets, first configure it to function as an asset repository for IBM Integration Designer.- Connecting to the asset repository
You can connect to the asset repository to search for assets that have already been developed and approved by others.
- Browsing assets in the repository
To look for assets that you might be able to reuse in your projects, you can browse the asset repository.- Importing assets from the repository
You can import an asset (such as a project, process, resource, or business object) from the asset repository to use in IBM Integration Designer. When you reuse an asset that already exists, you can save time and effort in your modeling project.
- Adding assets to the repository
To make an asset available for your colleagues to use and to make sure that the most recent version is being distributed, you can put the asset into the asset repository.- Set up notification when assets change
If your project depends on an asset that you acquired from the asset repository, you can subscribe to that asset and be notified of changes.
For example, if you have a project that uses a Customer Order process from the asset repository, you receive an email and you can choose whether to keep your current process or import the newer one.