Case data is stored in Content Platform Engine. However, you can use an
external data service with a solution to access data from a different repository or other data
source. This data is then incorporated into the case and stored with the rest of the case data in
Content Platform Engine.
About this task
For example, you might have a database that contains detailed customer records. When a
case worker enters a customer’s serial number, the external data service can get the name and
address of the customer from that database. These values are then incorporated into the case data
and stored in Content Platform Engine.
In addition to getting property
values, you can use an external data source to modify property attributes such as minimum value or
maximum value. The external data service must work within any constraints placed on the property
attributes in Content Platform Engine. For example, if a minimum value is
specified for the property in Content Platform Engine, the external data
service cannot make the setting less restrictive. That is, the service can set the minimum only to a
larger value. It cannot decrease the minimum value.
You can also use the external data service to define dependencies between properties. By using
this feature, you can implement dynamic behavior in your solution. For example, you might specify a
dependency between a
state property and a
city property.
When a case worker selects a state, the choice list that is associated with the
city property contains only cities that are in that state.
Note: External data
service does not work with case Business Object properties.
Procedure
To get data from an external data source:
-
Use the workflow APIs to implement a service to extract case data from the external data
source.
-
Use the Case configuration tool to
register the external data service for use with your solution.
Restriction: You can register only one external data service for a solution.
- Import the certificate of the External Data Services (EDS) server.
- Deploy or redeploy the solution and run it.
- Optional: If the EDS application is configured with a
secured login, in the WebSphere® Application
Server, under Security role to user/group for the EDS application, map the
All Authenticated role to the special subject All Authenticated in
Application's Realm.
Results
After you register the external data service, Case Client communicates with the service
to get case data whenever case workers create cases or modify cases. This communication is handled
automatically through the workflow APIs.
For properties that are associated with an external data service choice list, only
the value, not the display name, is persisted. The Search widget, which generates a result set for
the Case List widget, does not call the external data service to retrieve the display names for
these properties. However, selecting the case from the Case List widget does cause the external data
service to retrieve the property display names.
Important: You use the external data
service only for retrieving data from an external source. For example, when a case worker creates or
modifies a case, Case Client saves the data that was received from
the external data source in Content Platform Engine. If the case worker
modifies this data, Case Client does not update the corresponding
data in the external data source.
This topic is shared by BAW, CP4BA. Last updated on 2025-03-13 12:15