1. ACE 2011 International
How to Think about
How to Think about
Integrations
John Sperling
John Sperling
Director of Product Management
300 Brickstone Square
Engineering Applications Suite 904
Andover, MA 01810
Andover, MA 01810
Aras Corp [978] 691‐8900
www.aras.com
Copyright © 2011 Aras All Rights Reserved. aras.com

2. Agenda
Integration Landscape
Aras Integration Technologies
Aras Integration Technologies
Example Integration Scenario
Aras Integration Platform Capabilities
Integration Offerings
Where to go for Help
Copyright © 2011 Aras All Rights Reserved. Slide 2 aras.com

3. Integration Landscape
Authoring Systems Enterprise Systems
MCAD
ERP
EDA
Electrical
Aras Innovator CRM
Software Concept Design Development Launch Manufacture Support
Firmware Phase‐Gate Program Management
Authoring Compliance Enterprise
Configuration Management Contract
Integ. Platform Integ. Platform
Document Mgt Deliverables
MS‐Office
MS Offi File Vault
Desktop Publishing Quoting Requirements
Management
&
Traceability
Sales
Configurator
BOMs & Parts
AVL / AML
Qualified
Suppliers
Manufacturing
Planning Maintenance
Repair &
Overhaul
Graphic Design Reports & FMEA CAPA
Dashboards Process Flows Control Manufacturing Deviations
Corrective Actions Execution &
Plans
Waivers
Simulation
CAM
Legacy ERP Systems
CAPP
Digital Factory
Ideation /
PLM / PDM
Requirements Mgt. Sales Configurator
Collaboration
Costing
Compliance
PDM Legacy /
Other Solutions Other Legacy Systems
Copyright © 2011 Aras All Rights Reserved. Slide 3 aras.com

4. Aras Integration Technologies
We will be reviewing the following technologies:
1. Flat File Integration
2. AML‐lite Integration
3. WSDL Integration
4. EAI/ESB Integration
5. IOM API Integration
5 IOM API I i
6. Federation Integration
These are roughly in order of capability and effort
Th hl i d f bili d ff
to implement Federation
IOM API
EAI/ESB
WSDL
Flat File AML-lite
Copyright © 2011 Aras All Rights Reserved. Slide 4 aras.com

5. It’s Always AML…
Every integration method is fundamentally AML input and
output behind the scenes
Aras Innovator
IN
<AML/> Request
Innovator Server
<AML/> Response
OUT
Copyright © 2011 Aras All Rights Reserved. Slide 5 aras.com

6. Flat File Integration
Use method code in Innovator to convert flat file to AML, or vice versa
Can be client or server side
Other System Aras Innovator
Method Code IN
Request
TXT TXT
<AML/> Innovator Server
<AML/> Response
OUT
Federation
IOM API
EAI/ESB
WSDL
Flat File AML-lite
Copyright © 2011 Aras All Rights Reserved. Slide 7 aras.com

7. AML‐lite Integration
If the system can produce or consume XML, then transform it to AML
using xslt, and communicate directly with the Innovator server
Other System Aras Innovator
<XML/> IN
Request
Innovator Server
xslt <AML/> Response
xslt <AML/>
OUT
Federation
IOM API
EAI/ESB
WSDL
Flat File AML-lite
Copyright © 2011 Aras All Rights Reserved. Slide 8 aras.com

8. WSDL Integration
You can create web services for Aras items and expose through WSDL
Specific item properties and actions must be defined, and remain static
Other System WSDL Aras Innovator
IN
Request
Integration Web
Code
<XML/> <XML/>
Service <AML/> Innovator Server
<AML/> Response
OUT
Federation
IOM API
EAI/ESB
WSDL
Flat File AML-lite
Copyright © 2011 Aras All Rights Reserved. Slide 9 aras.com

9. EAI/ESB Integration
You can create web services for Aras items and expose through WSDL
Specific item properties and actions must be defined, and remain static
erprise Service Bus
Other System <XML/>
Aras Innovator
e
IN
Request
Integration Web
Code
<XML/> <XML/>
Service <AML/> Innovator Server
<AML/> Response
OUT
Ente
<XML/>
Federation
IOM API
EAI/ESB
WSDL
Flat File AML-lite
Copyright © 2011 Aras All Rights Reserved. Slide 10 aras.com

10. IOM API Integration
IOM is the Aras Innovator API
It has full access to all item types, plus special platform calls like
CheckoutManager plus convenience functions
CheckoutManager, plus convenience functions
Other System Aras Innovator
IN
Integration
IOM IOM
IOM Request
Code <AML/> Innovator Server
API <AML/> Response
API
API OUT
API
Federation
IOM API
EAI/ESB
WSDL
Flat File AML-lite
Copyright © 2011 Aras All Rights Reserved. Slide 11 aras.com

11. Federation Integration
Other System Aras Innovator
IN
For details, attend the next session –
Innovator Server
“Understanding Federation and Web Services”
“U d di F d i dW bS i ”
OUT
Federation
IOM API
EAI/ESB
WSDL
Flat File AML-lite
Copyright © 2011 Aras All Rights Reserved. Slide 12 aras.com

12. Summary of Technologies
Use the Flat File approach only if the other system is limited
to that
Both the AML‐lite and IOM API approaches allow for any
Innovator operation to be accomplished
The IOM API approach provides most if not all of the
functionality of a standard web service. However, it does
p
not provide a discoverable web service in the traditional
sense – there is no WSDL.
For a more traditional web services integration, use either
the WSDL or EAI/ESB approaches
h WSDL EAI/ESB h
Copyright © 2011 Aras All Rights Reserved. Slide 13 aras.com

13. Example Integration Scenario
Build API to API integration
between graphic design system
and IOM
Create functions to create
Document items, transfer files,
, ,
and trigger PDF generation
Aras Innovator
Graphic Design Legacy MRP
Innovator
Server
Method Code
Integration IOM TXT TXT
IOM IOM <AML/> <AML/>
Code API
API
API
ML/>
API
<AM
Legacy MRP system only
accepts flat‐file input
Write Aras method code to
Sales Configurator system is extract BOM information via
able to output BOM
<AML/>
AML and convert to necessary
configurations in XML format format
Transform XML to AML via Transfer file to polled directory
XSLT, and submit directly to <XML/>
xslt location on MRP server for
Innovator server processing
End result is configured BOMs
per configurator output Sales Configurator
Copyright © 2011 Aras All Rights Reserved. Slide 14 aras.com

14. Aras Integration Platform
Capabilities
p
Aras provides additional capabilities to address the needs of common
integrations
Based on input from customers and partners
Event model
The Aras Event model provides great flexibility for controlling integration
The Aras Event model provides great flexibility for controlling integration
behaviors, for example:
• On promotion to Released state send Part to ERP
• OnAfterVersion go update viewable in other system
Data structures
Standard CAD Document data model (9.3)
Special APIs
Special APIs
CheckoutManager for bulk file download (9.2 SP5)
Process best practices
CAD change process
Copyright © 2011 Aras All Rights Reserved. Slide 15 aras.com

15. Example: CAD Integration
Aras Innovator
1
CAD Data Part BOM
CAD MCAD 2
System
Software
ECAD
3
Successful CAD integrations require a well‐
1
defined integration platform CAD data managed in Aras
2 Automated Part BOM updates from CAD
Aras is actively enhancing these core features
3
and working with partners to promote best Enterprise change management with CAD
y
data visibility
practices
Copyright © 2011 Aras All Rights Reserved. Slide 16 aras.com

16. Example: Process Best Practices
Mechanical CAD
Save Update BOM
Mechanical
components
• Single combined Part BOM
• Automated updates by CAD Connectors
• Clear ownership by discipline
Electronic CAD • Access to CAD content from Parts
• Ability to make manual updates
Circuit board
and components
Save Update BOM
Parts List
Software Design
Software
components
Save Update BOM
Manually-added
components
Slide 17
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17. Integration Offerings
Many integrations are available from Aras Partners
and the Community:
MCAD
EDA
Electrical
Software
Firmware
MS‐Office
ERP
PLM
Collaboratiion
Copyright © 2011 Aras All Rights Reserved. Slide 18 aras.com

18. Where to go for help
ACE Partner Exhibit Showcase
Aras Partner web page
Aras Partner web page
http://www.aras.com/partners/
Aras Community Forums
Aras Community Forums
http://www.aras.com/community/forums/
‘Developing Solutions’ Training
‘D l i S l ti ’ T i i
http://www.aras.com/university/training‐classes.aspx
Programmer’s Guide
’ id
API Reference
Copyright © 2011 Aras All Rights Reserved. Slide 19 aras.com

19. ACE 2011 International
Questions?
300 Brickstone Square
Suite 904
Andover, MA 01810
Andover, MA 01810
[978] 691‐8900
www.aras.com
Copyright © 2011 Aras All Rights Reserved. aras.com