Developing and Implementing (Integration)

Pricefx integration best practice recommendations during development and implementation.

IntegrationManager

Pricefx recommends the use of IntegrationManager and its instances for performing the data integration tasks. The main usage of IntegrationManager (IM) is to allow uploading data from the external systems, such as SAP, into Pricefx and exporting data from Pricefx, so that they can be further used in the external systems.

For more information on IntegrationManager:

• IM Overview

• Basic IM Operations

• Setup and Configuration

Integration Templates

Pricefx recommends the use of Integration Templates, when and where feasible, as the starting point for developing our integration pipelines. Through the use of these IM templates, and their generated code, some data integration processes can be generated automatically without the need for coding.

For more information on IM templates:

• Overview of IM templates

• Inbound templates

• Overview (Integration Templates) - Integration Engineer Knowledge Base - Pricefx Knowledge Base

Get Permissions + User Rights

To start implementing, everyone involved will first need to get access to PlatformManager, and the pertinent account within PlatformManager. This can be accomplished via the creation of a helpdesk ticket, all that is needed is a request in the following format: “The following people need permissions to monitor and manage integrations for customer XYZ that includes deployment of Integration Templates”.

For more information:

• Permissions and User Management

Partition Management

Before performing our data migration efforts, we will need to create one or more Pricefx partitions to use as the target of our migration efforts.

For more information:

• Create a partition

Create IM Instances

Before you can deploy templates, you’ll need to create one or more IM instances. We manage the deployment and use of our IM templates through these instances.

For more information:

• Create IM Instances

• Connect Existing IM Instances

Deploy Integration Templates

To get started, you’ll just need to login to PlatformManager and proceed to the “Marketplace” section. Once there, you can start the IM template deployment process. Check out the documentation for deploying each different Integration

For more information:

• Integration Templates Overview

• Deployment of Integration Templates

IM Template Customization (Post-Deployment)

Pricefx IM Templates can’t handle every integration requirement, therefore there is the option to customize the generated code created during their deployment. This customization can be categorized into these best practices:

Modify Properties

If you want to change setting that were provided during the template deployment process, then the properties for each interface can be found in the Route.

For more information:

• Route Overview

• Defining Routes

• Route Processors

• Route Customization

• Edit and Deploy Routes

Modify Mappers

If you’d like to change the mapping of CSV file columns to target table columns in Pricefx, it is incredibly easy. This should be totally feasible by customers/partners.

For more information:

• Integration Mapping

• Export Mapping

Modify Code

Modifying the code that is generated by the template deployment is possible, but it should be performed by an individual with a technical background to avoid breaking our integration. This use of customization is one of the topics that is discussed in the Integration Engineer Foundation training series.

Some simple customizations can be performed (with training) by a user, however it is recommended that most customizations be performed by an Integration Engineer.

For more information:

• Local Customization

• Data Archiving

• Message Routing

• POJO Beans