Adding connections to an application

Connections help in establishing tasks between users and third-party applications. To create a connection, users need to authorize the connection to an application.

About this task

When you create a connection, the following components are presented:

  • Application
    All third-party services supported to establish a connection.

  • Display name
    A unique name to identify the connection's purpose.

  • Unique ID
    A technical name generated automatically based on the Display name field.

  • Share connection
    A switcher that set the connection to shared or nonshared. A shared connection enables all users in the tenant to use the connection in their scripts, and a nonshared connection enables only the user that created the connection to use it.

To create a connection, users need to authorize the connection through an application. See the following procedure to add connections to an application.

Before you begin

  • Your user must have permission to manage connections. See the Checking user permissions topic to learn how to check your user permissions.
  • You can only change the Unique ID when you create the connection for the first time.
  • A connection can only be reauthorized by its owner. Starting from version 23.0.17, you can now transfer the connection ownership to another user if you have the permission to Manage connection ownership or if you are the original owner of the connection.

Procedure

  1. Log in to the IBM RPA Control Center.
  2. Navigate to the Connections page on the IBM RPA Control Center.
  3. Click the Create connection button.
  4. Select an application and click Next. You can also use the Search bar.
  5. Enter a display name for the connection.
  6. Optional: Modify the auto-generated Unique ID. The Unique ID is used in RPA commands parameters to identify the connection.
  7. Set Share Connection to On to share the connection, and click Next.
  8. Review the summary of the data that you entered, and click Authorize.

Result

Once authorized, the new connection appears in the Connections table. A pop-up should notify the authentication status.

What to do next

  • Edit a connection
    To edit a connection, in the Connections menu, choose the connection and click the ellipsis button ⋮ > Edit.

    Attention:
    • Disabling the option to Share connection affects all scripts that are currently using the connection.
    • Only the owner can edit the connection.

  • Reauthorize a connection
    To reauthorize an expired connection, in the Connections menu, choose the connection and click the ellipsis button ⋮ > Reauthorize.

    Attention:Only the owner can reauthorize the connection.

  • Delete a connection
    To delete a connection, in the Connections menu, choose the connection and click the ellipsis button ⋮ > Delete connection.

    Attention:
    • Deleting a connection affects all scripts that are currently using it.
    • This action is irreversible.

  • Transfer connection ownership
    To transfer the connection to another user, choose the connection and click the ellipsis button ⋮ > Change Owner.

    Note:
    • If the connection is not shared, only the owner can transfer the ownership to another user.
    • If the connection is shared, the owner and the user with the permission to manage connection ownership can both transfer the ownership to another user.

  • Reference connections on your scripts
    If you want to reference a connection on your script, see Referencing connections on your scripts.