Connector modes

The mode of an AssemblyLine Connector defines what role that Connector plays in the data flow, and controls how the automated behavior of the AssemblyLine drives the Component. It determines whether to read from an input source, write to it or both.

Connectors can be set to one of these standard modes:

• Iterator

• Lookup

• AddOnly

• Update

• Delete

• CallReply

• Server

• Delta

These modes are discussed in the sections below. For a detailed description of Connector mode behavior, as well as that of the AssemblyLine in general, see "AssemblyLine and Connector mode flowcharts" in IBM Tivoli Directory Integrator V7.1 Reference Guide.

• Iterator mode
  Connectors in Iterator mode are used to scan a data source and extract its data. The Connector in Iterator mode actually iterates through the data source entries, reads their attribute values, and delivers each entry to the AssemblyLine Flow section components, one at a time. A Connector in Iterator mode is commonly referred to as an Iterator Connector, or just Iterator.

• Lookup mode
  Lookup mode enables you to join data from different data sources using the relationship between attributes in these systems. A Connector in Lookup mode is often referred to as a Lookup Connector.

• AddOnly mode
  Connectors in AddOnly mode, commonly referred to as AddOnly Connectors, are used for adding new data entries to a data source.

• Update mode
  Connectors in Update mode, usually referred to as Update Connectors, are used for adding and modifying data in a data source. For each entry passed from the AssemblyLine, the Update Connector tries to locate a matching entry from the data source to modify with the values of the entry attributes received. If no match is found, the Update mode Connector will add a new entry.

• Delete mode
  Connectors in Delete mode, often referred to as Delete Connectors are used for deleting data from a data source.

• CallReply mode
  CallReply mode is used to make requests to data source services, such as Web services, that require you to send input parameters and receive a reply with return values.

• Server mode
  The Server mode, available in a select number of Connectors, provides the functionality of waiting for an incoming event, dispatch a thread dealing with the event, and send a reply back to the originator.

• Delta mode
  The Delta mode is designed to simplify the application of changes to data by providing incremental modifications to the connected system, based on delta operation codes.

• Link Criteria
  The Link Criteria is used to tell a Connector in Update, Lookup and Delete modes how to define a match between data attributes in the AssemblyLine and those found in the connected system.

Parent topic: Connectors