Using the Object Dependencies Browser

Purpose of the Object Dependencies Browser

Object hierarchy

How to use the Object Dependencies Browser

How to display dependencies for another object

Purpose

When you define or import an object, it is stored in the metadata repository and is available for reuse by other objects. Since all objects must have a unique name, you can reuse an object by referring to it using its unique, logical name. This functionality is known as reusing objects by reference.

For example, a TopographyDiagram uses other metadata objects, such as HostGroups, Hosts, and so on. However, the objects used by that TopographyDiagram exist in the repository as self-contained units and can be reused in association with other objects in a separate TopographyDiagram. In turn, each of those objects can use and be used by other objects.

To help users manage the interlinked network of objects, the software provides the Object Dependencies Browser that displays the object dependencies for a selected object. In particular, the Object Dependencies Browser is useful when you remove an object from the Server. This action may have an impact on the objects that use the selected object: if an Application object is no longer on a Server, the Channels and Integration-Services-Diagrams that use it can no longer execute correctly.

Object hierarchy

To maintain consistency and coherence in this interlinked network of metadata objects, the objects are arranged in a specific hierarchy. Objects are said to use objects that are below them in the object hierarchy, as shown in the object hierarchy diagram below.

Object hierarchy diagram

The following diagram illustrates how objects relate to one another in the object hierarchy.

For example, a Channel uses a Axway Server, a Partner and an Application. An Axway Server uses a Host which, in turn uses a CommNetwork.

This means that when you modify an object:

• You set or reset the status of the modified object to ToBeChecked
• The software looks for any objects that use the modified object and changes the status of those objects to ToBeChecked

You must then re-check the modified object before you can send it to Server. For details, see Modifying objects and Checking objects.

Weak dependencies

In some cases, the link between certain objects is a weak dependency. That is, modifications to one of the objects has no impact on the other object.

If the link with another object represents a weak dependency, the Dependencies Browser displays blue arrows to the left of the object name:

Host1

The objects at the lowest level of the object hierarchy are based on a given attribute or sub-object type: CommNetwork type, OS type, CommAdapter type. This link has no impact on object status.

ProcessManager: Embedded Business Processes

In ProcessManager, the icon indicates that the object used by the selected object is an embedded Business Process.

How to use the Object Dependencies Browser

The Object Dependencies Browser shows how objects relate to each other in the object hierarchy. You can display the object dependencies for all metadata objects.

How to display the Object Dependencies Browser

1. Select the object you want to analyze from the left pane.
2. Use one of the following techniques to display the Object Dependencies Browser for the selected object:

• Right-click the object and select Object Dependencies Browser from the contextual menu
• Click on the toolbar
• Select Tools > Object Dependencies Browser from the menu bar

The Object Dependencies Browser displays:

• The selected object
• Objects that use the selected object
• Objects that the selected object uses

Object Dependencies toolbar

How to display object dependencies for a new object

You can either display object dependencies for a new object in the current window, or alternatively open a new Object Dependencies Browser for the selected object.

To display dependencies for a new object in the current Object Dependencies Browser, use one of the following techniques:

• Drag and drop a new object from the left pane to the current Object Dependencies Browser
• Select an object from the tree of objects in the current Object Dependencies Browser and click on the Object Dependencies toolbar

To display dependencies for an object in a new Object Dependencies Browser, select the object from the tree of objects in the Object Dependencies Browser and click on the toolbar.

Flat view and Hierarchical view

The Object Dependencies Browser provides two possible display modes:

• Flat view: displays objects used by the selected object and that use the selected object in a list form.
• Hierarchical view: displays dependent objects in a hierarchical tree structure. The hierarchical view enables you to see the relationship between the dependent objects.

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