IBM BPM, V8.0.1, All platforms > Authoring services in Integration Designer > Services and service-related functions > Access external services with adapters > Configure and using adapters > IBM WebSphere Adapters > Flat Files > Overview of WebSphere Adapter for Flat Files > Technical overview > Outbound processing > Outbound operations
Retrieve operation
The Retrieve operation retrieves the content of the specified file and returns it in the form of a business object. During outbound processing, you can also delete and archive the file returned during the retrieve operation.
During a retrieve operation, the adapter retrieves the content of the file specified in the Retrieve request and returns it in the form of a generic or a content-specific business object. The adapter uses the file splitting feature to divide a large file into smaller chunks, which are then retrieved separately. The file content is split according to the SplittingFunctionClassName and SplitCriteria properties defined in the interaction specification. These properties contain the outbound connection properties the adapter uses to interface with the file system. If you configure a data handler, the adapter returns a content-specific business object; otherwise, it returns a generic business object.
To delete the original file after it is retrieved, set the DeleteOnRetrieve property in the interaction specification. To archive the file before it is deleted, set the ArchiveDirectoryForDeleteOnRetrieve property.
During the retrieve operation, if the file that is specified in the Retrieve request does not exist, the adapter generates a RecordNotFoundException error.
For a wrapper business object, if the value is not specified for the DeleteOnRetrieve property on the wrapper, the adapter uses the value specified in its interaction specification property.
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