Adaptability is key to success in the fast-paced world of technology and business. Companies must constantly evolve, tweak, and fine-tune their operations to stay competitive. For many, this means changing their MuleSoft applications, which can be complex and often developer-dependent.
In the realm of integration, lookups and cross-referencing play a pivotal role when facilitating communication between two distinct applications. However, as these mapping tasks grow in complexity and scale, businesses often find themselves in the position of needing an external tool, incurring additional costs for their operations. But what if there was a way to put the power of data management into the hands of non-technical users, enabling them to modify critical information effortlessly? Enter the MuleSoft Object Browser tool by Prowess Software.
At Prowess, we’ve devised a solution that eliminates this obstacle for MuleSoft clients. Our accelerator offers a purpose-built, business-centric interface that seamlessly handles the management of extensive lookup data stored within an object store, delivering cost-effective and efficient solutions.
In this blog, we’ll delve into the workings of this invaluable tool, taking you through its user interface and showcasing its capabilities through real-world scenarios.
The MuleSoft Object Store: A Hidden Treasure
MuleSoft’s Object Store is a repository where critical data can be stored for various purposes. This data can range from temporary tokens to static information like country codes or location data. Applications often rely on this store for quick look-ups and data retrieval. However, accessing the data within the Object Store isn’t straightforward. Developers typically need to build an API to fetch and manipulate this data, making it inaccessible to non-technical users.
Unveiling the MuleSoft Object Browser UI
To bridge this gap, Prowess Software has introduced the MuleSoft Object Browser. This user-friendly interface allows non-technical users to access and manage data stored in the Object Store. To provide a clear picture of how the MuleSoft Object Browser tool works, let’s understand its user interface:
- Access Control: The tool operates with client credentials managed by the MuleSoft Anypoint platform, ensuring only authorized individuals can use it.
- Scope-Based Access: Users are granted access to specific Object Store environments based on the scope associated with their credentials.
- Step-by-Step Selection: Upon login, users navigate through a series of selections, starting with the organization, then the environment, region, application, and finally, the store.
- Key Selection: A list of keys within the selected store becomes visible after specifying all the necessary elements.
- View and Modify Values: Users can select a key from the list and view its associated values. They also have the option to update the values, and any changes are reflected immediately within the key.
- Deletion: Users can delete entire keys by selecting the delete option.
- Flexible Data Formats: Key values are in JSON format, which supports various data types, including strings, JSON, XML, and numerical values.
- Adding New Keys: Users can also add new keys and enter corresponding values, enhancing the flexibility and versatility of the Object Store.
To illustrate the practical utility of the MuleSoft Object Browser tool, let’s consider the following scenarios.
Scenario-1: In a warehouse, goods are regularly received, and a goods receipt is issued. However, on specific days, the warehouse does not process goods receipts. To handle this, the warehouse manager stores the dates in the Object Store, indicating the days when goods receipts should not be processed. Traditionally, non-technical personnel had to rely on developers to manage that the application should not process the goods receipt on the mentioned dates. Now, only the key values are accessible to the developers and not the inside values. Thus, in this situation, the developer has to build a new API on top of the Mule application just to read the inside values. It is an unnecessary overhead for the developer to build an API. In such cases, the ‘MuleSoft Object Browser’ tool is handy, allowing even the non-tech user to amend the key.
With the MuleSoft Object Browser, the warehouse manager gains control. They log in using client credentials provided by the MuleSoft Anypoint platform, ensuring secure access. Once authenticated, they can select the relevant organization, environment, region, application, and store. Within seconds, a list of key values representing the critical dates becomes visible. If a date needs to be updated or removed, a simple click accomplishes the task. Even adding new dates to the store is a breeze. The user-friendly interface allows non-technical users to manage this vital data, eliminating unnecessary developer overhead effortlessly.
Scenario 2: Tailoring Logistics Interfaces
One of our logistics clients distinguishes itself by offering both standard and customized interfaces to meet the diverse requirements of its trading partners. While standard interfaces serve as a foundational framework, customization becomes paramount when specific partners necessitate tailored interface configurations.
In this context, the MuleSoft Object Browser is a vital tool that interacts with the MuleSoft platform, swiftly retrieving mission-critical data stored in the object store. In this instance, this data comprises information about customized interfaces and routing rules.
The logistics company can define and implement customized routing logic with this retrieved data. They can configure the Object Browser to ensure messages are routed appropriately based on the specific client ID and the type of interface requested. This level of customization ensures that each trading partner receives precisely the communication setup they need.
By harnessing the capabilities of the MuleSoft Object Browser in this way, the logistics company streamlines its operations. They efficiently manage both standard and customized interfaces, responding swiftly to partner demands without the cumbersome need for extensive developer intervention. This newfound flexibility and agility in message routing contribute significantly to their operational efficiency and partner satisfaction.
Scenario 3: Fine-tuning Finance Integrations
Finance integrations often involve complex data mapping, especially with multiple subsidiaries. In such cases, lookup data and translation values stored in MuleSoft’s object store are mission-critical. However, granting unrestricted access to this data is risky.
The MuleSoft Object Browser offers a controlled solution. Finance professionals can log in and view the required data for General Ledger mappings without altering it. This read-only access ensures data integrity while empowering the finance team to analyze and debug integration issues quickly.
The Concluding View
The MuleSoft Object Browser tool by Prowess Software is a game-changer in data management. By putting the power to retrieve, modify, and analyze critical data in the hands of non-technical users, it streamlines operations, enhances agility, and reduces unnecessary developer overhead. In a world where adaptability is the key to success, this tool empowers businesses to thrive in the ever-changing landscape of technology and commerce. It does this by seamlessly integrating with MuleSoft’s platform, allowing secure access to object store data, and providing a user-friendly interface for data management tasks.
