Data Transformation Engine What's New Reference Guide

Chapter 7 – Version 6.0 Mercator Programming Interfaces

What's New Reference Guide

supports ZLIB inflate/deflate compression method, commonly used as a content

type in XML/HTTP publish/subscribe scenarios (see RFC 1950 and RFC 1951).

Mercator COM Adapter

The COM adapter allows the user to access an automation-compatible component

from within a map and call one or more methods on that component. Both local

servers (DLLs) and remote servers (DCOM executables) are supported. The Type

Library Importer queries the type library of the automation-compatible component

and automatically creates the type tree for use with the COM Adapter.

New Socket Adapter

The Socket adapter provides a means of passing data to and from Mercator

applications through standard TCP/IP sockets. The adapter provides a listener

interface, enables maps to be triggered upon arrival of data on a socket. This

adapter therefore enables remote applications to pass data to Mercator

applications without the need for additional middleware software.

Mercator Programming Interfaces

Object API for Invoking Mercator Maps

In addition to the currently supported Platform API, Java API, and EJB API, Version

6.0 introduces a new, object-oriented programming interface for running and

controlling Mercator maps. It provides additional functionality, masks the need for

visible structures, and removes the need to construct command lines.

The new Mercator Programming Interface (MPI) is based on map, card, adapter,

and stream objects. Card, adapter, and stream objects are used for source and

target overrides. Adapter objects interface with the new adapter API, described

below. Stream objects eliminate the need for large contiguous memory buffers for

passing data directly to a map object.

Adapter Toolkit

Version 6.0 introduces an open-adapter architecture with an object-oriented

interface for adapter development. This makes it possible for third parties to

integrate their own adapters into Map Designer and Server environment. By

editing an XML descripter file, you can add the adapter seamlessly to the adapter

list in the Map Designer, and you can define the adapter’s own alias to use with

GET and PUT functions. This interface provides a number of benefits:

♦ Enhances ease of use.