Where to integrate AR System

The three options for integration points with  AR System are the client, the server, and the database server. The choice depends on the nature of the integration and whether user interaction is involved.

Integrating the  AR System  client

• AR System  to a third-party application—Integration with the AR System  client typically involves taking data from a form and passing it to another application where the user can then perform additional functions. Integration can also simply consist of launching another application that reads data from the AR System  database. In general, client integration assumes that the user will access the other application to some extent. Most instances are real-time, where a user is involved right now.
• Third-party application to AR System —Often, a third-party application launches a mid tier and directs it to display specific data. For example, a network management system might have a graphical map of the network devices. Selecting a device on the map and then selecting List Open Tickets from a menu could cause the mid tier to be triggered with the ID of the selected device passed as a parameter, The mid tier can then generate a results list of all of the open trouble tickets for the device. This way, a network technician can quickly see all of the outstanding problems for a device, but does not need to know the details of starting AR System  and issuing queries.

Integrating the AR System server

Integration with the  AR System server generally implies data sharing or transfer, either to or from the server. The integration might involve workflow that triggers secondary actions. Sometimes, the server initiates the interaction. For example, a filter is triggered and uses a Run Process action to send a notification to a technician. In other instances, a third-party application might submit new requests to the server or query for the status of existing requests. For example, a system management agent running on a PC might discover the addition of a new sound card. The agent sends a message to a (remote) management application that, in turn, submits a new request to an asset application in AR System . AR System  users are not directly aware that a new request has been created, but the next time someone generates an asset report, the new information is included.

Integrating the database

The following modes of integration involve the database directly:

• A third-party application reading the AR System  database
• AR System  reading an external database
• AR System  writing to an external database

The first two modes, which involve reading databases, are relatively straightforward. Any application that can issue SQL commands and that has the appropriate permissions can read the data in the AR System  tables. In a similar manner, AR System  workflow actions can execute SQL read commands and scripts that query external database tables and retrieve information. For more information, see Integrating.

The third mode, having AR System  write data to an external database table, can be accomplished by using Direct SQL. Another method is to create  AR System  workflow that executes an SQL command script, passing any AR System  data as parameters to the script.

View and Vendor forms are also available to provide access to external databases in AR System  forms.

Having a third-party application write data to a  AR System  table is not supported. The  AR System server  maintains the relationships among the tables in the AR System  database. If a third-party application attempts to add data and does not maintain these relationships, the entire database can become corrupted.

Integrating the Mid Tier

The  Mid Tier provides integration capabilities to interface with third-party products. Integration provides the mid tier access to external data, and third-party products can access AR System  data through the mid tier. AR System  allows applications to expose interfaces as web services, and it allows AR System  applications to consume external web services. You can also use the data visualization field for external web content integration.