SmartConnect.com has been available for use for a couple months now.  If you’re a regular user of the on-premise version of SmartConnect this article will help you adapt to setting up an integration process quickly.

With SmartConnect.com there are three required areas that need to be setup in the order below to complete a basic integration.

  1. Connector(s) setup
    In SmartConnect.com you can setup as many connectors as you need (based on your subscription plan) and you can have multiple connectors setup to the same service. For example, you can setup two connectors to SalesForce pointing to different instances.  This is true for all connector types available in SmartConnect.com. 

    To setup a connector, click the Connections button from the navigation panel on the left of the interface and then click the Create Connection button.  Choose the connector you would like to setup and enter your login credentials for the connector.  This connector will now be available to use as a source or a destination.

  2. Data Sources
    Data sources must be setup before you start setting up an integration process in SmartConnect.com. This means that every data source you create is not tied to a specific integration process.  This allows you to re-use a single source on an unlimited amount of integration processes. 

    To setup a data source, expand Data Sources on the Navigation Panel.  com has three types of data sources.  The same sources exist in the desktop version of SmartConnect, but the main difference is in SmartConnect.com the bulk and change sources are setup as a standalone source, not on a map setup.

    1. Bulk Sources
      Bulk sources will be what you use to move a large amount of data by manually running an integration process or running on a schedule. This includes Excel files, text files, XML files, folder data sources, and queries to any connectors you have setup.
    2. Change Triggers
      Change sources are used when you need to only track certain new or updated records for your connector. You can define which changes will cause the record to be processed.  Change trigger sources need to be ran manually or setup on a schedule.
    3. Realtime Triggers
      Real time triggers are used when you need to track certain new or updated records and have them integrated as soon as you save the record in the source system. Real time triggers will automatically run any integration process they are used on one record at a time.

Once you have decided which source type suits your integration best, click on the corresponding button in the navigation panel and then the corresponding Create button in the top right to complete the data source setup.

 

  1. Integration Process
    After a connector and data source has been setup you can begin using them on an integration process. Any data source you have setup will be available to use as a source and most connectors you have setup will be available to use as a destination.  The FTP server connector  is only available as a destination when creating XML files.  ODBC and Oledb connectors are not currently available for use as a destination.

    To setup an integration process, click Processes in the main navigation and then click Integration Processes.  If you’re familiar with the desktop version of SmartConnect, you will see that this page is the equivalent of the Map Setup window.  On this page you will click through the tabs to setup your integration.  You need to start with the Details tab to continue to the Source tab and so on.  The Source tab is where you can choose any data sources you have setup and the Target tab is where you choose which connector you would like to use as your destination.  On the integration tab you will choose how to group your data source and map the fields from your source to your destination.  That is the basic process for a simple process.   You can view our knowledge base (https://smartconnect.com/getting-started) online to learn more about SmartConnect.com