com.sap.netweaver.bc.uwl.connect

Interface IProviderConnector

All Known Subinterfaces:

IAlertConnector

public interface IProviderConnector

This interface defines item retrieval methods from Provider systems. The IProviderConnector interface should be implemented by all the Provider system connectors.

IProviderConnector implementations can use any communication mechanism to connect to the systems and reteive the Items. For example: EJB call, JCO, Web Service etc.

IProviderConnector implementations are expected to be stateless and hence thread safe.

IProviderConnector implementation should be registered to IUWLService and systems to which they can connect should be set up in the UWL configuration. Without these Items are not retreived from the connector.
If ProviderConnector implementation supports bundling of items for different users, it should implement IOptimizedPullSupport interface in addition.

See Also:

IUWLService.registerProviderConnector(com.sap.netweaver.bc.uwl.connect.IProviderConnector), IActionHandler, IOptimizedPullSupport, Item, ConnectorResult, ConnectorFilter

Field Summary

static String	ACTIONINBOX_CONNECTOR Knowledge Management:: Action inbox connector
static String	ACTIONINBOX_SYSTEM
static String	ADHOC_WORKFLOW_CONNECTOR_ID Java AdHow Workflow Connector identifier
static String	ADHOC_WORKFLOW_SYSTEM Java adhoc connector should use this system id
static String	ALERT_CONNECTOR_ID Alert framework connector id
static String	GENERIC_ABAP_CONNECTOR Connnector for any Abap application that wants to send items to UWL
static String	WEBFLOW_CONNECTOR_ID Business Workflow Connector identifier

Method Summary

IActionHandler	getActionHandler(String actionHandlerId) This method is called to get hold of connector specific implementation of action handler.
Map	getAllActionsForItem(UWLContext ctx, Map currentActions, Item item) Passes the current actions defined in the configuration to the provider connector and asks for the final Actions Map.
Attachment[]	getAttachmentHeaders(UWLContext context, Item item) This method is called to retreive the attachment headers for the item.
String	getDescription(Item item, UWLContext context) This method gets called when description for an item is needed.
String	getId() Every IProviderConnector should identify itself with a unique identifer.
Item	getItem(UWLContext ctx, String systemId, String externalId) This method gets called if one item needs to be refreshed.
ConnectorResult	getItems(UWLContext context, String itemType, ConnectorFilter connectorFilter, String system) Method getItems is called to retreive items from the connector.
WorkLog	getLogData(Locale lc, String processId) Return workflow log data of a (sub)process with respect to the locale given.
WorkLog	getLogData(UWLContext context, Item item) Return the workflow log data for the requested item, including both the executed steps and the pending step.
boolean	isActionValidForItem(UWLContext ctx, Item item, Action action) This method gives the connector an opportunity to say if an action is invalid for an Item.
boolean	isItemValid(UWLContext ctx, Item item) Depending upon the configuration settings, this method is called to check if item is still valid for the user before performing any actions on the item.
boolean	isLogRetrievalSupported(UWLContext context, Item item) Return true if the provider supports workflow log query from an item.
boolean	needsRemoteConnection(String systemId) This method is used to do certain performance optimizations.
boolean	populateHollowItem(UWLContext context, Item item) Method for populating the incompletely filled Item.
boolean	supportsCacheClearance(String system) By default items are stored in the back end as well as in the UWL cache.
boolean	supportsItemType(String itemType) Someof the connectors may support only specific ItemTypes from provider systems.

Field Detail

WEBFLOW_CONNECTOR_ID

static final String WEBFLOW_CONNECTOR_ID

Business Workflow Connector identifier

See Also:

Constant Field Values

ADHOC_WORKFLOW_CONNECTOR_ID

static final String ADHOC_WORKFLOW_CONNECTOR_ID

Java AdHow Workflow Connector identifier

See Also:

Constant Field Values

ADHOC_WORKFLOW_SYSTEM

static final String ADHOC_WORKFLOW_SYSTEM

Java adhoc connector should use this system id

See Also:

Constant Field Values

ACTIONINBOX_SYSTEM

static final String ACTIONINBOX_SYSTEM

See Also:

Constant Field Values

ALERT_CONNECTOR_ID

static final String ALERT_CONNECTOR_ID

Alert framework connector id

See Also:

Constant Field Values

GENERIC_ABAP_CONNECTOR

static final String GENERIC_ABAP_CONNECTOR

Connnector for any Abap application that wants to send items to UWL

See Also:

Constant Field Values

ACTIONINBOX_CONNECTOR

static final String ACTIONINBOX_CONNECTOR

Knowledge Management:: Action inbox connector

See Also:

Constant Field Values

Method Detail

getId

String getId()

Every IProviderConnector should identify itself with a unique identifer.

Returns:

not null identifier

supportsItemType

boolean supportsItemType(String itemType)

Someof the connectors may support only specific ItemTypes from provider systems. As an example Alert connector doesnt support uwl.task item types. In such cases this method acts as an optimization to make sure no getItems() is called. In case of unsurity return true and take care in the getItems() method.

Parameters:

itemType - String could be null

Returns:

true if implementation supports retrieving the item type specified.

See Also:

ItemType

supportsCacheClearance

boolean supportsCacheClearance(String system)

By default items are stored in the back end as well as in the UWL cache. However if Adhoc Workflow for example decide to store items in the UWL itself, then Connector can return false for this method. Default return should be true. If return value is true, then administrator can go to UWL cache admin iView and clear the cache and the items are refetched from the Provider Systems.

Returns:

true if clearing of cache is allowed for the items sent/recieved thro this Connector, false otherwise.

getItems

ConnectorResult getItems(UWLContext context,
                         String itemType,
                         ConnectorFilter connectorFilter,
                         String system)
                         throws ConnectorException

Method getItems is called to retreive items from the connector. This method should retreive items for the system value passed. Parameter connectorFilter is used for certain item types like completed tasks, to restrict the number of items.

Typically this method is called in a seperate thread. Timeout may occur if this method implementation consumes more time that time out specified in the UWL configuration. In case of timeout result are ignored.

Parameters:

context - contains information regarding user and application context and portal request object

itemType - specifies what types of items are needed, if null or '*' it means all items

connectorFilter - specifies additional information regarding time intervals for which items are needed, it could be null, if null no delta results are supported

system - specifies the only system from which items are to be retreived, it is non null

Returns:

result object containing the items and system status. If null it is ignored , but it is recommended to send the status of connection to system as ProviderStatus in the result object.

Throws:

ConnectorException - in case of problems from the provider source

populateHollowItem

boolean populateHollowItem(UWLContext context,
                           Item item)
                           throws ConnectorException

Method for populating the incompletely filled Item. When getItems is called, some of the items may be marked as hollow by using item.setHollow() method. Such hollow items could be filled in a second step when populateHollowItem is called. After calling this method, item is no longer hollow if no exceptions are thrown by the connector. Typically item should be marked as hollow in the first step if some of its non critical attributes can not be retreived in a performant way and could be retreived later lazily.

Parameters:

context - not null

item - not null

Returns:

true if item is successfully populated, false otherwise.

Throws:

ConnectorException - in case of problems from the provider source

getDescription

String getDescription(Item item,
                      UWLContext context)
                      throws ConnectorException

This method gets called when description for an item is needed. Description for an item has no size limit. This method doesnt get called if items Description is already filled out.

Parameters:

item - not null

context - not null

Returns:

description for the item, could be null

Throws:

ConnectorException - in case of problems from the provider source

getAttachmentHeaders

Attachment[] getAttachmentHeaders(UWLContext context,
                                  Item item)
                                  throws ConnectorException

This method is called to retreive the attachment headers for the item. Attachments are retrieved typically in two steps, in the first step only their header information is retreived, and next in second step their content is retreived.

Implementation of this method need not set the attachments to item using item.setAttachmentInfo. Caller of this method takes care of it.

Parameters:

context - not null

item - not null

Returns:

attachment headers, if no attachments return null or array of size zero.

Throws:

ConnectorException - in case of problems from the provider source

See Also:

IAttachmentConnector

getActionHandler

IActionHandler getActionHandler(String actionHandlerId)

This method is called to get hold of connector specific implementation of action handler. If actionHandlerId is unknown to the connector it should simply return null. If Connector returns null, then action handlers are searched in the UWL shipped action handlers. UWL ships with certain action handlers which are documented in the help portal. This method gives Connector a chance to override any action handler.

Parameters:

actionHandlerId - not null, identifier for the action handler

Returns:

action handler instance if it is a connector specific Action handler

See Also:

Action

getAllActionsForItem

Map getAllActionsForItem(UWLContext ctx,
                         Map currentActions,
                         Item item)
                         throws ConnectorException

Passes the current actions defined in the configuration to the provider connector and asks for the final Actions Map. If any dynamic actions are to be retreived, it is possible to do it in this method. Connector could add or remove actions from this map. If Connector doesnt care, it should just return the currentActions.

Parameters:

ctx - not null

currentActions - as defined in the configuration XML, not null

item - not null

Returns:

Map containing the final actions allowed for the item, should not be null

Throws:

ConnectorException - in case of problems from the provider source

isActionValidForItem

boolean isActionValidForItem(UWLContext ctx,
                             Item item,
                             Action action)

This method gives the connector an opportunity to say if an action is invalid for an Item. By default return value should be true. This method shouldnt make any remote connection for performance usage.

Parameters:

ctx - not null contains user info.

item - not null item under usage

action - not null, typically taken from the XML

Returns:

true if action is valid or unknown. false if it is definite that action is not valid for the item because of backend versions, or item status etc..

isItemValid

boolean isItemValid(UWLContext ctx,
                    Item item)
                    throws ConnectorException

Depending upon the configuration settings, this method is called to check if item is still valid for the user before performing any actions on the item.

Parameters:

ctx - contains user information

item - not null

Returns:

true if item is valid for the user, false otherwise.

Throws:

ConnectorException - in case of problems from the provider source

See Also:

IActionHandler.needsItemValidation()

getItem

Item getItem(UWLContext ctx,
             String systemId,
             String externalId)
             throws ConnectorException

This method gets called if one item needs to be refreshed. Connector may optionally fill the attachment headers.

Parameters:

ctx - not null

systemId - system from which to retreive the item

externalId - externalId of the item in the system

Returns:

could be null, if item is not found. If null is returned, then old item is deleted from UWL.

Throws:

ConnectorException - in case of problems from the provider source. In this case old item in the cache is used.

needsRemoteConnection

boolean needsRemoteConnection(String systemId)

This method is used to do certain performance optimizations. Connection Implementation should return true if a JCO/RFC/WebService/RMI connection needs to be made to retrieve Item or Item related information.

Parameters:

systemId - system which UWL is dealing with.

Returns:

true or false depending upon if a remote network connection is made

isLogRetrievalSupported

boolean isLogRetrievalSupported(UWLContext context,
                                Item item)

Return true if the provider supports workflow log query from an item.

getLogData

WorkLog getLogData(UWLContext context,
                   Item item)
                   throws ConnectorException

Return the workflow log data for the requested item, including both the executed steps and the pending step.

Parameters:

context - UWL context

item - Item to be queried

Throws:

ConnectorException - in case of problems from the provider source.

getLogData

WorkLog getLogData(Locale lc,
                   String processId)
                   throws ConnectorException

Return workflow log data of a (sub)process with respect to the locale given. Owner of the item is not taken into account.

Parameters:

lc - Locale to retrieve the log data

processId - Process id recognized by the provider

Throws:

ConnectorException - Not supported by the provider or in case of problems from the provider