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Last modified by Erik Bakker on 2024/08/26 12:37
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edited by Erik Bakker
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edited by Erik Bakker
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Summary

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1 -Annotations
1 +Archiving
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1 1  {{container}}{{container layoutStyle="columns"}}(((
2 -In this microlearning, we will focus on using annotations to clarify your thought process. In the annotation, you either describe a best practice everyone should follow when they change that flow (i.e. within the asynchronous routing), describe how the (more complex) parts of the flow work or describe (parts of) of your message definitions (i.e. CDM, API Gateway Data model, system message, etc.). This will help yourself and others every time changes are needed.
2 +In most cases, the customer wants some kind of insurance policy to determine whether a file has entered or left eMagiz. One way of supplying such functionality for file-based data exchange is through the use of archiving functionality. With the help of this functionality can you easily write the file as received (or about to be sent) to a separate location. By ensuring that the data stays in that location for a certain amount of time and by giving the customer and yourself access you have a sort of audit trail that details the messages that have been exchanged. This archive could also be used to analyze problems in case things go wrong. In this microlearning, we will learn how you can set up that archiving and learn how to clean up the archiving to ensure that data is only kept for a limited period.
3 3  
4 4  Should you have any questions, please contact [[academy@emagiz.com>>mailto:academy@emagiz.com]].
5 5  
6 -* Last update: May 9th, 2021
7 -* Required reading time: 5 minutes
6 +* Last update: May 31th, 2021
7 +* Required reading time: 6 minutes
8 8  
9 9  == 1. Prerequisites ==
10 10  
... ... @@ -12,66 +12,81 @@
12 12  
13 13  == 2. Key concepts ==
14 14  
15 -This microlearning centers around using annotations.
16 -With annotations, we mean: A piece of text to explain something to yourself and others
15 +This microlearning centers around learning how to archive correctly.
17 17  
18 -Annotations can be used for:
17 +By archiving, we mean: Temporarily storing data for audit purposes and possible retry scenarios.
19 19  
20 -* Describing a best practice everyone should follow
21 -* Describing (more complex) parts of the flow
22 -* Describe (parts of) your message definitions
19 +* Archiving is used for audit purposes
20 +* Archiving is used for retry scenarios
21 +* Ensure that data is cleaned after a retention period to keep in control of the data
23 23  
24 -== 3. Annotations ==
23 +== 3. Archiving ==
25 25  
26 -In this microlearning, we will focus on using annotations on the flow level to clarify our thought process. In the annotation, you either describe a best practice everyone should follow when they change that flow (i.e. within the asynchronous routing) or describe how the (more complex) parts of the flow work. This will help yourself and others every time changes are needed within the flow.
25 +In most cases, the customer wants some kind of insurance policy to determine whether a file has entered or left eMagiz. One way of supplying such functionality for file-based data exchange is through the use of archiving functionality. With the help of this functionality can you easily write the file as received (or about to be sent) to a separate location. By ensuring that the data stays in that location for a certain amount of time and by giving the customer and yourself access you have a sort of audit trail that details the messages that have been exchanged. This archive could also be used to analyze problems in case things go wrong. In this microlearning, we will learn how you can set up that archiving and learn how to clean up the archiving to ensure that data is only kept for a limited period.
27 27  
28 -Annotations can be used for:
27 +=== 3.1 Archiving itself ===
29 29  
30 -* Describing a best practice everyone should follow
31 -* Describing (more complex) parts of the flow
32 -* Describe (parts of) your message definitions
29 +To make this work in eMagiz you need to navigate to the Create phase of eMagiz and open the entry flow in which you want to archive the files. Within the context of this flow, we need to add functionality that will ensure that each input file is archived and cleaned up when older than three days. To do so first enter "Start Editing" mode on flow level. The first decision we have to take is how we are going to name the files within the archiving. The best practice, in this case, is the original filename + the current time as a suffix. You can define this by dragging a format file name generator (support object) to the canvas.
33 33  
34 -To clarify the use cases let us take a look at how annotations can be added within the eMagiz platform. In our first example, we will take a look at asynchronous routing. In many eMagiz projects, a best practice is followed on how to add something to the asynchronous routing (or change something within the asynchronous routing). Because the best practice contains multiple steps it makes sense to use the annotation functionality of eMagiz to define all these steps and register them at the place you need them (i.e. the asynchronous routing). Having done so will result in something like this:
31 +[[image:Main.Images.Microlearning.WebHome@novice-file-based-connectivity-archiving--file-name-generator.png]]
35 35  
36 -[[image:Main.Images.Microlearning.WebHome@novice-devops-perspectives-annotations--annotation-best-practice-async-routing.png]]
33 +After we have done this please add a file outbound channel adapter to the flow including an input channel. Ensure that you use a property for the directory that references another directory compared to the input directory to prevent creating an infinite loop.
37 37  
38 -The second example is about using annotations on the flow level to describe parts of the flow. In this example, we will use the annotation to describe that we use a filter to determine which messages are picked up from a local directory and how we filter. That way anyway opening the flow has to merely read the annotation to get the context. Having done so will result in something like this:
35 +[[image:Main.Images.Microlearning.WebHome@novice-file-based-connectivity-archiving--archiving-config-file-outbound-basic.png]]
39 39  
40 -[[image:Main.Images.Microlearning.WebHome@novice-devops-perspectives-annotations--describe-parts-of-flow.png]]
37 +Now that we have configured the basics let us turn our attention to the advanced configuration. In the advanced tab of this component, we need to select the file name generator to ensure that the files are named correctly. In case you process each line separately you have to choose whether to save them as separate files in the archive or by appending them again. This can be achieved by selecting the correct Mode. In most cases, however, the default Mode of Replace will suffice.
41 41  
42 -The third example does not take place on the flow level but the message definition level. Therefore instead of going to Create, we go to Design. In Design when you navigate to the CDM, API Gateway Data model, Event Streaming Data model, message definitions, etc. you have the option to add annotations to the canvas. In this example, we want to make clear to all that make changes that a certain part of our CDM is used by a lot of integrations within eMagiz and therefore everyone should be careful and think twice before adjusting anything related to that part. Having done so will result in something like this:
39 +[[image:Main.Images.Microlearning.WebHome@novice-file-based-connectivity-archiving--archiving-config-file-outbound-advanced.png]]
43 43  
44 -[[image:Main.Images.Microlearning.WebHome@novice-devops-perspectives-annotations--describe-crucial-part-of-cdm.png]]
41 +The moment you are satisfied press Save. Now that we have configured this it becomes time to determine how we get the needed input to write to our archive. In the example we are using here we want to archive our input file so we need to ensure that the data we received is written to the archive as soon as possible. To do so place a wiretap on the first channel after retrieving the file. This will make sure that the message is archived before processed further. The result should be something as shown below. Note that this same piece of logic could be applied in other flows within the eMagiz platform in a similar manner.
45 45  
46 -Now that we saw some examples let us turn our attention to the how. How can I add an annotation and how can I link it. Adding the annotation is simple. You drag the annotation icon from the left context menu onto the canvas. As a result, an empty annotation will be shown on the canvas. By double-clicking on it you can type whatever you want. Note that you need to be in "Start Editing" mode to change anything, including annotations.
43 +[[image:Main.Images.Microlearning.WebHome@novice-file-based-connectivity-archiving--archiving-result.png]]
47 47  
48 -[[image:Main.Images.Microlearning.WebHome@novice-devops-perspectives-annotations--annotation-icon-context-menu.png]]
45 +=== 3.2 Clean up the Archive ===
49 49  
50 -When you are satisfied with what you have written down you can press the Save button. After you have done so you can rescale the annotation to ensure that the complete text is visible. To link the annotation to a component (on flow level) or an entity (on message definition level) you hover over the annotation until your mouse indicator changes to a + icon, execute a right-click and drag from the annotation to the component in question.
47 +To ensure that the data is not kept indefinitely we need to clean up the archive. We do so to prevent problems with disk space but also to prevent data leaks of old data that could impact the privacy of others. Before we can set up the logic in eMagiz we need to talk to the customer to see what an acceptable term is within which the data is kept. In most cases, this is a week or two weeks. In this example, we have chosen three days.
51 51  
52 -Now you know what annotations are good for and how you can add them within the eMagiz platform.
49 +Now that we know the limit it is time to configure the components. We start with a composite file filter (support object). Within this filter, we at least define how old a file must be before it can be deleted (in milliseconds). If we turn three days into milliseconds we get 259200000. Furthermore, we at least define that we only want to delete regular files.
53 53  
51 +[[image:Main.Images.Microlearning.WebHome@novice-file-based-connectivity-archiving--file-list-filter-for-archive-cleanup.png]]
52 +
53 +Having done so we can add a file inbound channel adapter to the canvas including an output channel. Ensure that the property reference for the directory matches the one you have used before in the outbound channel adapter. Furthermore link the filter to the component and define the poller according to the best practice.
54 +
55 +[[image:Main.Images.Microlearning.WebHome@novice-file-based-connectivity-archiving--file-inbound-archive-cleanup.png]]
56 +
57 +One thing we should not forget within this configuration is to set the Max messages per poll on the Advanced tab of the poller-configuration to a sufficiently high number (i.e. 50). If you forget to do so and you only check once a day it will mean that only one message will be deleted that day.
58 +
59 +[[image:Main.Images.Microlearning.WebHome@novice-file-based-connectivity-archiving--file-inbound-archive-cleanup-max-messages-per-poll.png]]
60 +
61 +Now eMagiz will check on a set time interval whether there are files that are older than three days that are ready for deletion. One last step to go. This last step will ensure that all files that fit the bill will be deleted from the archive. Simply add a standard service activator to the canvas and define the following SPeL expression within the component: payload.delete().
62 +
63 +[[image:Main.Images.Microlearning.WebHome@novice-file-based-connectivity-archiving--archive-cleanup-deletion.png]]
64 +
65 +This will ensure that each file that is retrieved will indeed be deleted from the archive.
66 +
54 54  == 4. Assignment ==
55 55  
56 -Add annotation on the flow level that describes how (a part of) a flow works.
69 +Configure an entry in which you build the archiving and the clean up of the archiving.
57 57  This assignment can be completed with the help of the (Academy) project that you have created/used in the previous assignment.
58 58  
59 59  == 5. Key takeaways ==
60 60  
61 -* Annotations can be used for:
62 - * Describing a best practice everyone should follow
63 - * Describing (more complex) parts of the flow
64 - * Describe (parts of) your message definitions
65 -* You can add annotations by dragging and dropping the annotation icon on the canvas.
74 +* Archiving is used for audit purposes
75 +* Archiving is used for retry scenarios
76 +* Ensure that data is cleaned after a retention period to keep in control of the data
77 +* Don't forget the max messages per poll
66 66  
67 67  == 6. Suggested Additional Readings ==
68 68  
69 -There are no suggested additional readings on this topic
81 +If you are interested in this topic and want more information on it please read the help text provided by eMagiz and check out the following store content:
70 70  
83 +* [[File Archiving>>doc:Main.eMagiz Store.Accelerators.File Archiving.WebHome||target="blank"]]
84 +* [[Delete Folder(s)>>doc:Main.eMagiz Store.Accelerators.Delete Folder(s).WebHome||target="blank"]]
85 +
71 71  == 7. Silent demonstration video ==
72 72  
73 73  This video demonstrates how you could have handled the assignment and gives you some context on what you have just learned.
74 74  
75 -{{video attachment="novice-devops-perspectives-annotations.mp4" reference="Main.Videos.Microlearning.WebHome"/}}
90 +{{video attachment="novice-file-based-connectivity-characterset.mp4" reference="Main.Videos.Microlearning.WebHome"/}}
76 76  
77 77  )))((({{toc/}}))){{/container}}{{/container}}