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Getting Started

Version 23.4.8839

Getting Started

CData Arc is a web application that provides a suite of Connectors for creating, executing, and monitoring custom data-integration flows. The Arc visual flow designer simplifies the process of integrating Managed File Transfer (MFT), EDI messaging, API management, data manipulation, and back-end integration.

Arc workflows are modular, which means they can handle entire end-to-end integrations or perform specific data-management functions as part of a larger data ecosystem. See Architecture for detailed information about the principles and design of Arc.

Key Features

  • Managed File Transfer: Secure messaging capabilities including AS2, AS4, SFTP, FTPS, FTP, OFTP, RNIF, SOAP, and so on.
  • Data Mapping: Mapping and translation between data and file formats including EDI, EDIFACT, X12, IDoc (SAP), CSV, JSON, XML, and so on.
  • REST-based APIs: Accessible management through simple standards-based interfaces like SOAP, REST, HTML, RSS, ATOM, JSON, XLS, and CSV.
  • Flexible Deployment Options: A modern web-based application that is deployable anywhere - on-premises (Windows, Linux/UNIX, macOS) or in the cloud.
  • Workflow Engine: Easily build and automate workflows between applications such as Salesforce, MailChimp, Shopify, Google Apps, Dropbox, Microsoft Dynamics, NetSuite, and more.

Quick-Start Guide

See the Quick-Start Guide for an set of links enabling you to quickly find the Arc information you need.

Installation and Configuration

See Installation and Configuration for guides on Arc setup including:

  • Using the embedded web server for simple setup and deployment
  • Hosting the server in IIS or an external Java servlet container
  • Configuring alerts to notify users when an error or notable event occurs
  • Clustering multiple instances of Arc for availability and/or performance
  • Server logging

Flows

Flows are the heart of the application and offer a flexible way to build scalable workflows to move and manipulate data. See the Flows section for more information about creating flows in Arc.

Connectors

Flows consist of a set of Connectors. Each connector performs one of the following roles in the Arc flow:

  • Connect to remote servers, trading partners, databases, and applications
  • Transform files into different formats or manipulate the data within a file
  • Route files through the flow to provide complex branching logical processes which provide connectivity to applications, databases, servers, as well as data transformation

See the Connectors section to learn more about specific connectors in Arc.

Scripting

Arc core functionality can be extended with ArcScript, a scripting feature included with the application. Event-based scripting is available within each Connector, and a dedicated Script Connector supports fully-customizable processing. See the Scripting section to learn more about extending Arc functionality with ArcScript.