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 HATS Web applications.
Note:
Global variables and templates are not supported for Integration Objects used in HATS portlets.

If you have used IBM® WebSphere® Host Publisher, you are already familiar with most aspects of Integration Objects, but you will need to learn about how Integration Objects are used in HATS. You do not need to be an experienced Host Publisher developer to create and use Integration Objects in HATS.

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 HATS 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 HATS Enterprise JavaBeans™ (EJB) application by creating Integration Objects in a HATS EJB project.
  • Modifying the Java™ code of the Integration Object.
  • Running Integration Objects in standard portlets.