4. The iXPath BPMN
Introduction
iXPath uses the BPMN (Business Process Model and Notation) standard for the translation part.
BPMN is a business process modeling method to describe the business activities of an organization in a graphical representation.
Below an example of a flow traced by the iXPath BPMN module:
As we can see, there are 2 main types: Connectors and Gateways
Connectors
A connector is an algorithm that is executed via a trigger. In iXPath, the trigger is always an input file.
In this part, we go through each of the connectors and their particularities:
Listeners
A listening connector (or listener) is the entry point for a scenario. It allows the created event to be routed through a communication channel (FTP, SFTP, AS2, MAIL, FILE, Webservice). Communication's config is required to handle those connectors.
Note: iXPath detects incoming events in real-time.
| Listener Name | Icon | Description |
|---|---|---|
| FTP Listener |  | Listen on an FTP/FTPS communication, on a specific user (created locally), and on a specific directory with a given file mask. |
| SFTP Listener |  | Listen on an SFTP communication, on a specific user (created locally), and on specific directory with a given file mask. |
| AS2 Listener |  | Listen on an AS2 communication, on specific AS2_ID (created locally), and on specific file mask. |
| FILE Listener |  | Real-time listening on a specific directory with a given file mask. |
| WebService Listener |  | Listen on a Rest communication (HTTP/HTTPS), on a specific endpoint URI (GET/POST/PUT/DELETE) (created locally) |
| Mail Listener |  | Listen on Mail communication (IMAP), on a specific mail, on a regex sender mask, on a regex mail subject, and on a given file mask. |
| App Event |  | Listen on a Rest communication (HTTP/HTTPS), on a specific endpoint URI (GET/POST/PUT/DELETE) (created locally). App event is used locally between iXPath's app. |
| Tracking Listener |  | Listen on a Tracking database event, on a specific tracking type (Order, OrderLine...), on the specific action (Create, Delete, Update), and on a specific tracking status. |
| Time Listener |  | Listen on a time with cron expression. it allows triggering event at a specific time periodically. |
Scenario
A scenario connector deals directly with the input file, either translating it into some desired format or copying it, etc...
here's the list of all scenario connectors of iXPath :
| Scenario Connector | Icon | Description |
| FileToXML |  | Transforms a certain file to XML format with a given output file name. |
| XMLToFile |  | Converts an XML file to a file format. |
| ExcelToXML |  | Takes an Excel (XSL, xslx) file and converts it to XML format. |
| XMLToExcel |  | converts an XML file to its convenient Excel format. |
| XMLToPdf |  | Converts an XML file to PDF text format. |
| PdfToXML |  | Transforms a PDF file input to XML format. |
| XMLToXML |  | Transforms an XML File to another XML File. |
| TrkToXML |  | retrieve a tracking from the database and translate it to an XML file. |
| XMLToTrk |  | Stores tracking in the database from the XML input file. |
| XMLToBDD |  | Translates data from an XML file and store it in the database. |
| BDDToXML |  | Extracts data from the database and converts it into an XML file. |
| JsonToXML |  | Takes a JSON file and translates it to XML format. |
| XMLToJSON |  | Converts an XML file to JSON format. |
| XMLToBin |  | Converts an XML file to its Binary format. |
| CopyFile |  | Copy a group of files from some connectors to a certain directory. |
| SplitXML |  | splits an XML file in a certain node with a split number and output file name. |
| MergeXML |  | merges XML files in a certain node with a given output file name. |
| Pile |  | Put data in a linear stack that is used to store the collection of objects. |
| GenerateFile |  | writes and generates a file with a given output file name. |
| FiltreTracking |  | ********** |
| LoadFile |  | Loads a group of files from a directory path and chooses to move it or not from the original folder. |
| ReturnWebService |  | returns a web service with an HTTP code response to a flow. |
Routing
Routing connectors help route received files to the appropriate destination, and launch a route inside each environment.
| Routing connector | Icon | Description |
| File Detection |  | Detects the input file type and makes a filter by pattern and type. |
| File Fix |  | Fixes a file by giving: its identifier column, size, and value and sets the value needed to be fixed. |
| File Variable |  | Sets a bunch of variables in the input file. |
| XML Detection |  | |
| Savoye |  | |
| Call Scenario |  | |
Exploitation
Exploitation Connectors are often available only for root users in iXPath, their main mission is to fix and prevent all database and memory problems.
here's an updated list of exploitation connectors :
| Exploitation connectors | Icon | Description |
| PurgeJob |  | Deletes jobs older than a given date. |
| BackupBDD |  | Dumps database for a backup. |
| PurgeTrackings |  | Deletes trackings older than a certain date. |
| PurgeFiles |  | Deletes files or directories older than a certain date. |
| Zip | Create a zip format for input files. | |
| UnZip | Unzip the input zip file in a directory. | |
Timers
Timers connectors, as its name says, set a timer to execute the next connector or launch a scenario ...
Timers connectors are listed as below :
| Timers connectors | Icon | Description |
| Wait |  | Waits for a given time. |
| Wait Until |  | Waits Until a certain date. |
Gateways
Gateways is a BPMN notation used to control how a process flows. Connected by sequence flows, a gateway acts as a decision point that decides which (outgoing) sequence flow to take based on the result of the evaluation of condition(s) specified.
Inclusive gateway
The inclusive gateway is used to create alternatives routes, and also parallel inside a process flow. Contrary to the exclusive gateway, all condition expressions are evaluated. Whilst the Inclusive Gateway can be used to show that all paths must be taken, it should be used in such a way that at least one of the paths is taken.