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Overview

Data Replication in Bizagi is a data-level integration mechanism which allows connecting the Process data model to external data sources.

Make sure you have read the Connecting to external data sources introduction.

 

With Data Replication, Bizagi synchronizes its entities with the external data source's information periodically (as a scheduled task) and so keep an updated copy of the information stored in the external table.  

 

This updated information is stored in tables as a predefined set of values (Parameter entities).  These lists or records from tables are frequently selected in drop-down lists.
Examples of information handled through Replication are: lists of cities and countries, types of certain products, currency codes, amongst others (records from tables which are not transactional).
For data integration of transactional tables (master entities), refer to Data Virtualization.

 

How does it work?

Using Replication in Bizagi is achieved by:

 

1. Configuring the external system and its data provider (connection to the external data source).

Bizagi offers an assisted graphical wizard so that minimum configuration is required.

 

2. Defining a Replication Schema.

Bizagi will create a scheduled job to update, insert or disable the information in Bizagi, inbound from the external source.

•This job may be carried out as a daily, weekly or monthly task.

•The external data source will be kept as the single point of administration for that information (the external provider remains the information owner).

Once the scheduled synchronization occurs, the information will be presented to end users to manage it as part of a business process in Bizagi.

 

 

Important Characteristics

•Data Replication applies for those type of tables in external data sources which are seen in Bizagi as Parameter Entities (those entities which have a predefined set of values to select from).

 

To view more information about Parameter Entities, refer to Entity Types in Bizagi.  

If you wish to use this integration feature for transactional-type tables (called Master Entities in Bizagi), refer to Data Virtualization.

 

 

•Configuring replication in Bizagi is easily done through an assisted graphical wizard.

The Replication Wizard assists in establishing the data provider's connection to SQL Server databases (done in few steps and without the need of programming).

 

Supported database versions by the Replication Wizard (SQL Server connection) are:

 

Supported version by the Virtualization Wizard (native connection).

 

 

•Deleted values at the source are never deleted in Bizagi.

When synchronizing values for virtual entities, Bizagi will disable those records which are deleted at the source (will be flagged, using a database logical delete instead of a physical delete).

This is done in order to preserve data integrity for existing cases in Bizagi.

 

Major benefits

Using Replication in a Bizagi solution promotes:

 

•Reusability by allowing  processes to be integrated with existing data sources (applications) and legacy systems.

This is a frequent requirement when there are legacy systems with no Service Oriented Architecture design for integration at a higher level (data-level integration is required).

 

•By means of replicated entities Bizagi promotes the use of shared information, without interfering with the ownership or control of  the externally sourced information. This allows you to take full advantage of the information resources within your company.

For the actual implementation of the project, Bizagi's Data Replication has the following benefits:

 

•The distribution of work amongst team members in Bizagi project is made clear.

The work is separated according to different roles: business analysts design and model Processes and business rules; while the IT personnel design, configure and implement the entities data model and integration solution.

 

•Offers the business analysts a clean and corporate data model for both managing and exchanging Process information.

Business analysts deal with the data used by the Process as if directly stored in Bizagi Process repository (i.e, as local data).

In this way, they do not have to understand the complexities associated with the real data physical location.

 

•Processes Workflows to not need to include any technical Activities oriented for this type of integration (such as data access to another source).

 

Therefore, organizational Processes remain easily readable and understandable by a business audience.

Business Rules for instance, also do not have to deal with data access or field-mapping configurations.

 

•It has a single component that provides all the necessary data access management for Activities.

Through this, the solution's maintenance is greatly simplified, as the number of interfaces with external systems is significantly reduced.

 

Configuring Data Replication

As mentioned above, configuring Data Replication can be done in two ways.

In most scenarios the assisted graphical wizard will fit all your needs.

To view information about this first method, refer to Using the Replication Wizard.

 

However, for more complex scenarios you may want to use the Advanced Configuration options.

Such scenarios mainly involve the need to manually adjust the configuration. This may happen in sophisticated scenarios where you have a whole set of tables which are related to each other. This may involve relationships with virtual entities, and therefore this configuration requires that all of these tables are replicated and virtual with some considerations.

 

To view information about this second method, refer to Using advanced Replication configuration.

Last Updated 1/14/2022 11:25:06 AM