Connector Points and Connector Ports

1. Introduction to Connectors:

• Connectors are the lines that represent the data flow between components in the mapping diagram.
• Connector Ports are small circles on the left and right sides of the components that allow connections to other components.
• Connector Points are the actual pathways for input or output data for a component.

2. Creating Connections Between Components:

• Click and Drag: To create a connection between two components, click on the connector port of the first component and drag a line to the connector port of the second component.
• Connection Rules: If the connection is allowed, ODI will either use an existing unused connector point or create a new one on each component.

3. Display of Connections in the Mapping Diagram:

• Once the connection is created, a line will be displayed in the Mapping Diagram between the two connector ports.
• If there are multiple connections between components, only one line will be shown in the diagram, even if there are multiple connector points.

4. Input and Output Connectors:

• Most components have both input and output connectors:
• Input connectors are used to receive data from other components.
• Output connectors send data to other components.
• The connector ports are displayed as small circles on the sides of the components.

5. Connector Limitations:

• Some components have limitations on the number of connectors they can support. For example:
• A target datastore can only have one input connector point.
• A Join component has two input connector points by default but can have more by adding additional input connector points.

6. Adding Additional Connector Points:

• Some components, like the Join component, allow the addition of extra connector points:
• Default: A Join component starts with two input and one output connector points.
• Adding More Inputs: If you drag a third connection to the Join component, ODI will automatically create a third input connector point.
• Using Property Inspector: You can also add connector points manually:
• Select the component (e.g., Join).
• In the Property Inspector, go to the Connector Points section and click the green plus icon to add new input or output connector points.

7. Restrictions on Connections:

• You cannot create a new connection to an input connector port if it has already reached the maximum number of connections.
• For instance, a target datastore can only accept one input connection. If you attempt to drag another connection to the input connector, no new connection will be created.

8. Deleting a Connector:

• If you need to remove a connector, you can do so in two ways:
• Right-click the connector line between the two components and select Delete.
• Alternatively, you can select the connector line and press the Delete key on your keyboard.

Summary:

• Connector Ports are the entry and exit points for data between components, while Connector Points represent the actual data paths.
• You can create connections by dragging from one connector port to another, and ODI will automatically manage the connector points.
• Some components allow you to add or delete connector points through the Property Inspector.
• Be mindful of the limitations and maximum connections for certain components like target datastores.