Using Integration Objects

This chapter introduces Integration Objects, which are Java™ beans that encapsulate interactions with a host application. Integration Objects are supported only by ZIETrans Web applications

You may need to use Integration Objects if any of these statements are true:
  • Your application connects to more than one host application.
  • You want to encapsulate your host interactions into Enterprise JavaBeans (EJB) applications or Web services. These processes are described in the Introduction.
  • You want to build Web pages based on the inputs and outputs of a macro.
When you have created an Integration Object, you can use it in many ways:
  • Run the Integration Object from business logic.
  • Build Model 1, Struts or JSF Web pages based on the inputs and outputs of the Integration Object.
  • Chain Integration Objects allowing them to be run in sequence.
  • Run the Forward to URL action to pass control from a transformation-oriented ZIETrans project to a JSP that invokes one or more chained Integration Objects.
Refer to the Introduction for information about other advanced tasks that can be performed with Integration Objects. Some of the tasks discussed are:
  • Using Integration Objects to create either traditional (WSDL-based) or RESTful Web services that can be used to create service-oriented architecture (SOA) assets that provide standard programming interfaces to business logic and transactions contained within host applications.
  • Creating a ZIETrans Enterprise JavaBeans (EJB) application by creating Integration Objects in a ZIETrans EJB project.
  • Modifying the Java code of the Integration Object.