Collector node

You can use a Collector node to gather multiple input messages from IBM® Integration Bus into a single TX Map node. This is also known as fan-in.

Use a Collector node where multiple messages are required to trigger the map to run.

The Collector node gathers input messages, and when specified event criteria have been met, propagates the input messages in the form of a message collection tree. Each message is contained in a folder in the tree. The name of the folder is the same as the name of the Collector node input terminal that received that message.

The TX Map node interprets broker message collection trees. At run time, when a message collection arrives at the input terminal of a TX Map node, it disassembles it, and passes the individual input messages to the input cards of the IBM Transformation Extender map. The name of the folder in the message collection determines the input card that receives that message.

For example, a map has two input cards. The name of card #1 is PurchaseOrder, and the name of card #2 is AddressDetails. You want the map to run only when both cards have data. Configure the Collector node at design time to create message collections that consist of one purchase order message, and one address details message. If you dynamically add two input terminals to the Collector node, one named PurchaseOrder, and one named AddressDetails, to match the map input card names, the propagated message collection will contain folders named PurchaseOrder and AddressDetails.

Input cards, which do not have associated folders in the message collection, get their data from the IBM Transformation Extender adapter specified on the card.

The Collector node input terminal names and the map input card names are case sensitive. If you do not name them the same, the message collection will have a folder name that does not match the name of the input card. This condition causes the message in the folder to be discarded, and the input card to get its data from the IBM Transformation Extender adapter specified on the card. The name of the Collector node input terminal can not contain dots (.). Therefore, if you create a map that is used in a IBM Integration Bus message flow, the names of the map input cards that are wired to the previous Collector node in the flow can not contain dots (.).

The Collector node provides a comprehensive set of controls that enable you to set complex event criteria.

For more information about the Collector node, and message collection, see the specific IBM Integration Bus product documentation.