Using the Application Integration Framework (AIF) to integrate Microsoft Dynamics AX with external software systems

       

            Application Integration Framework (AIF) provides an extensible framework that supports multiple asynchronous transports, as well as synchronous transport using Web services, to reliably exchange documents in XML format with trading partners or other systems.

An exchange starts with a document, that is, a document class defined using Microsoft Dynamics AX business logic. The document is serialized into XML and header information is added to create a message, which may then be transferred into or out of your Microsoft Dynamics AX system (called the local endpoint within AIF). The other entity taking part in the exchanges is called the endpoint. The transaction types are called actions in AIF: for example,SendPurchaseOrder. You set up and configure endpoints and actions and all the other elements of an exchange using forms found when you click Basic >Setup > Application Integration Framework.

An asynchronous exchange uses an adapter to convert the document into the proper format for exchange by means of a particular transport mechanism, such as Microsoft Message Queuing (also known as MSMQ). Adapter-based exchanges are asynchronous in that they involve moving the document into a queue where it waits for processing by a Microsoft Dynamics AX batch job. Adapter-based exchanges require configuration of a channel for use by the AIF. Adapters support the following transaction types for asynchronous exchange:

• Send Documents - Microsoft Dynamics AX sends documents to another system
• Receive and Create Documents - Microsoft Dynamics AX receives documents from another authorized system and creates new records in the Microsoft Dynamics AX database
• Respond to Read and Query Requests - Microsoft Dynamics AX receives requests for documents from another authorized system, retrieves the requested information (whether a document or a list of documents) from the Microsoft Dynamics AX database, and returns it to the requesting system, with appropriate filtering and security

The same transactions can be accomplished by using Web services. Using Web services for inbound documents requires installation and configuration of Web services for application integration and Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) 6.0. An exchange using outbound Web services (that is, sending a document from your installation to another system) requires an adapter and the Web services that reside on the receiving end of the transaction.

You configure the AIF framework using the configuration forms found in the Basic section of Microsoft Dynamics AX. For asynchronous, adapter-based exchanges, you configure and control the Microsoft Dynamics AX batch jobs that process documents in the AIF queues. Exchanges configured to use inbound Web services are processed synchronously. AIF allows multiple connections. That is, your Microsoft Dynamics AX system can support the processing of document exchanges with multiple partners using multiple transport types simultaneously.

Microsoft Dynamics AX includes the functionality to enable connections with the following asynchronous adapters: