About Connect Java rules

About Connect Java rules
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Purpose

Use a Connect Java rule to define a connector interface between your PRPC application and an external Java application or Java class.

Tip Although PRPC offers various ways to interact with existing Java code, using a Java connector is a best practice in most situations. See Using existing Java code — A comparison of design alternatives for information about design options.

Access

Use the Application Explorer or > Integration > Definitions > Implementations to list the Connect Java rules in your application.

Select > Integration > Connectors > Connector and Metadata Wizard to start the Connector Accelerator to create a Connect Java rule.

Use the Records Explorer to list all Connect Java rules that are available to you.

Development

Typically, use the Connector and Metadata accelerator when building a Java connector. The accelerator uses the Java Reflection API to introspect the class or JavaBean's public constructors and public methods. It then generates the appropriate PRPC connectors, connector activities, classes, and properties. See About the Connector and Metadata accelerator.

If you create a Java connector rule manually, complete the Service tab first. Then, because PRPC also uses introspection from the connector rule form, you can select the Java methods you want to call with this connector using SmartPrompt.

In both cases — whether you use the Connector and Metadata accelerator or create the rule using the form — the external Java class or .jar file must be on the PRPC class paths. For instructions, see PDN article About the Process Commander Class Paths.

Simulation

To debug your application, you can simulate a Java connector when the external class is unavailable or lacks a test environment. See Creating Connector Simulations.

Where referenced

Connect Java rules can be referenced in an Integrator shape () of a flow rule, or on the Definition tab of a Data Page rule, as the source of data for the contents of the data page.