Introduction

 

The following sections introduce the different kinds of WebLogic Collaborate applications:

• Messaging Applications

• Management Applications

• Logic Plug-Ins

The following figure shows where these types of applications reside in the WebLogic Collaborate system.

Figure 1-1 Types of WebLogic Collaborate Applications

 

For an introduction to the WebLogic Collaborate system, see Overview in BEA WebLogic Collaborate Getting Started.

 

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Messaging Applications

WebLogic Collaborate messaging applications handle the exchange of business messages among trading partners in a c-space. Messaging applications run on c-enabler nodes and exchange business messages via the c-hub. Developers can implement messaging applications in two different ways.

Table 1-1 Different Implementations of Messaging Applications

Implementation Option	Description
Workflow applications	Use WebLogic Process Integrator workflows to exchange business messages with other trading partners. The WLPI Verifier application (in \examples\wlpiverifier) is an example of a workflow application.
C-Enabler applications	Use the flexible and powerful c-enabler API to exchange business messages with other trading partners. The Verifier application (in \examples\verifier) is an example of a c-enabler application.

 

For any given messaging application, the best implementation approach depends on the particular needs of that application. Workflow applications provide design and run-time tools to expedite application development. C-Enabler applications provide greater programmatic control using Java APIs. Developers need to determine the best approach based on the relative advantages of each in relation to their specific application requirements.

A conversation usually has multiple, interoperating messaging applications, each tailored to a particular role in that conversation. For example, the trading partner who initiates the conversation uses an initiating messaging application, and trading partners who participate in the conversation use a different participating messaging application that interacts with the initiating messaging application at run time.

For more information about messaging applications, see Using Workflows to Exchange Business Messages, and Using XOCP C-Enabler Applications to Exchange Business Messages.

 

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Management Applications

WebLogic Collaborate management applications monitor run-time activities, such as message traffic and conversation statistics, on c-hub and c-enabler nodes. WebLogic Collaborate provides two administrative tools, the C-Hub Administration Console and the C-Enabler Administration Console, that monitor run-time. In addition to these system tools, developers can create custom management applications that provide comparable monitoring functionality.

Developers can implement two kinds of management applications.

Table 1-2 Types of Managing Applications

Component	Description
C-Hub management applications	Monitor activities on the c-hub node and provide run-time statistics for c-hubs, c-spaces, conversation definitions, trading partners, and business messages.
C-Enabler management applications	Monitor activities on c-enabler nodes and provide run-time statistics for c-enablers, c-enabler sessions, conversations, and business messages.

 

For c-hub and c-enabler management applications, WebLogic Collaborate provides a set of Managed Beans, or MBeans, which are special JavaBeans with attributes and methods for management operations. These MBeans are BEA implementations of the Java Management Extensions (JMX) Managed Beans API, which is defined in the Java Management Extensions Specification published by Sun Microsystems, Inc.

For more information about WebLogic Collaborate management applications, see Developing Management Applications.

 

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Logic Plug-Ins

Logic plug-ins are Java classes that perform specialized processing of business messages as they pass through the c-hub. Logic plug-ins insert rules and business logic at strategic locations along the path that business messages travel as they make their way through the c-hub. WebLogic Collaborate provides XOCP and RosettaNet router and filter logic plug-ins. A c-hub provider or trading partner can develop and install custom logic plug-ins on the c-hub to provide additional value for c-hub management and for trading partners who use that c-hub.

Logic plug-ins are stored and executed on the c-hub node and are defined in the c-hub repository. Logic plug-ins are transparent to c-enabler users.

For more information about logic plug-ins, see Developing Logic Plug-Ins.