What is Global Configuration?

Throughout the BPA Platform documentation and when talking about BPA Platform, you'll frequently hear the phrases "global configuration", "global settings", or "global connections". These are configuration sets or connections to external systems that are available to all instances of that tool across all tasks licensed for BPA Platform, or "globally". For example, before you can use the Send Email (SMTP) The Send Email (SMTP) tool sends messages to any SMTP compliant mail server. This tool is capable of sending multiple messages in either text or HTML formats, incorporating data from Input and Format steps to any number of recipients. If recordset data being used from an Input step includes a column containing email addresses, then this can be used as a "dynamic" recipient address. tool in a task, you must have at least one working global configuration connection to an email server:

Click the image to view full size.

At task design time, you can select which email server that task step uses:

Click the image to view full size.

Typically, such connections must be set up in the tool's global configuration before you can use said tool in a task step. The following tools require at least one global configuration to be setup before they can be used (note that some are actually optional). Also, some tools also have the ability of using a variable to dynamically determine which global configuration to use during a particular task instance. Such tools are indicated in the table below:

Tool Name	Global Configuration can be Dynamically Selected?	Comments
Applications Platform Connector The Applications Platform Connector allows communication between BPA Platform and Applications Platform. All communication uses XML. You use the Connector to map BPA Platform data to Applications Platform objects and operations.		Connections to Applications Platform Applications Platform provides a fully hosted environment for you to quickly and easily build database applications, develop application extensions create web portals or deploy ready-made library applications. tenants, see Applications Platform Connector - Global Configuration.
Call Stored Procedure (OLEDB) The Call Stored Procedure (OLEDB) tool executes database stored procedures and functions to provide read, write, and automated data processing.		Connections to OLEDB data sources, such as a database. Global OLEDB connections are shared with the Database Query (OLEDB) You typically use the Database Query (OLEDB) tool to extract specific records from a relational database, using a valid ODBC driver to make the connection. These are then made available to other task steps as a recordset. tool, see Adding OLEDB Connections.
Call Task The Call Task tool is used to trigger an external task to run. Using variables, BPA Platform data can be passed between the two tasks at run-time, if required.		Connections to existing task folders on nominated BPA Platform client machines, see Call Task Tool - Global Configuration.
Convert XML to Recordset The Convert XML to Recordset tool is used to convert XML data into a flat-format BPA Platform recordset, allowing the data to be used by recordset-only consuming tools. This could then be used to power alerts via fax, email, or SMS, create reports, power a workflow, perform FTP transfer, and so on.		Optional global configuration — Add XML schemas to use for validation, see Creating a Library of XML Schemas.
Database Query (ODBC) You typically use the Database Query (ODBC) tool to extract specific records from a relational database, using a valid ODBC driver to make the connection. These are then made available to other task steps as a recordset.		Connections to ODBC data sources, such as a database, see Adding ODBC Connections.
Database Query (OLEDB)		Connections to OLEDB data sources, such as a database. Global OLEDB connections are shared with the Call Stored Procedure (OLEDB) tool, see Adding OLEDB Connections.
Email Trigger (SMTP) The Email Trigger (SMTP) tool triggers a task to run based on the contents of incoming or outgoing mail sent via an SMTP mail server.		Optional global configuration — Although optional, you must have a Email Trigger (SMTP) Agent configured, see Introducing the Email Trigger (SMTP) Agent. Determines how email is checked for and stored, see Choosing the Email Delivery Mode.
File Management Use the File Management tool to carry out a number of automated actions on single or multiple files — move, copy, rename, and delete — either locally, across the network, or on a nominated file storage provider. Uploads to and downloads from an FTP server are also supported.		Only required if connecting to an FTP server, see Connecting to a File Server.
Import Flat File The Import Flat File tool imports a delimited or fixed width file into BPA Platform, extracts the file contents including any file properties, and outputs it as either a recordset or as XML.		Optional global configuration — Determines the time-out period for importing files. See Connecting to Import Flat File.
Import XML Document The Import XML Document tool imports an XML document to be used and processed by other task steps. To validate the XML documents at runtime, you can either import an XML schema file (XSD), infer from an existing XML document, or manually construct the XSD.		Optional global configuration — Determines the time-out period for importing files, see Connecting to Import XML Document.
Microsoft SQL Server Trigger The Microsoft SQL Server Trigger tool uses the Microsoft® SQL Server™ trigger functionality to create a trigger on a table of a specified SQL data source. When a specified data modification is attempted, such as an attempt to add or delete a table row, the trigger then causes a task to run.		Optional global configuration — Although optional, you must have a Microsoft SQL Server Trigger Agent configured, see About the Microsoft SQL Server Trigger Agent. Determines how frequently the database is checked, see Global Configuration.
Oracle Trigger The Oracle Trigger tool uses the Oracle Server trigger functionality to create a trigger on a table of a specified Oracle data source. When a specified data modification is attempted, such as, an attempt to add or delete a table row, the trigger then causes a task to run.		Optional global configuration — Although optional, you must have an Oracle Trigger Agent configured, see How to Install the Oracle Trigger Agent. Determines how frequently the database is checked, see Polling the Oracle Database.
Retrieve Text Message Inbound messages to ToucanText can be processed using the Retrieve Text Message tool. Delivery receipts for messages sent by the Retrieve Text Message tool can also be processed.		Connections to ToucanText accounts, see Connecting to the ToucanText API.
Run Crystal Report The Run Crystal Report tool automates the execution of SAP® Crystal Reports®. Recordsets and variables from other task steps can be consumed to dynamically populate the report at runtime. In addition, where the report requires access to a database, security credentials can be passed from in the Run Crystal Report step.		Global configuration is not available for this tool, however, Crystal Report runtimes are required which are available in the Configurator You use the Configurator to install third-party software that may be required by available tools. Connection to required agents are also configured here. Note that you can only launch the Configurator if logged into the machine with Administrator rights., see Run Crystal Report Prerequisites.
Run Microsoft Reporting Services The Run Microsoft Reporting Services tool automates the running of Microsoft Reporting Services (MSRS) reports.		Optional global configuration — Connections to remote Reporting Services servers, see Connecting to a Microsoft Report Server. Although the global configuration is optional, you must have the correct redistributable package installed to use the Run Microsoft Reporting Services tool, see Run Microsoft Reporting Services Prerequisites.
Run Microsoft Word (Merge) The Run Microsoft Word (Merge) tool is used to create a task step that creates single or multiple documents in common Microsoft Word formats containing mail-merged data.		Global configuration is not available for this tool, however, a valid installation of Microsoft Word must be on the same machine, see Run Microsoft Word (Merge) Prerequisites.
Send Email (SMTP)		Connections to SMTP email servers, see Connecting to an SMTP Server.
Send Fax (Tobit) The Send Fax (Tobit) Tool is used to create a Task Step that sends faxes that contain static or dynamic content to one or more recipients via the market-leading mid-range fax solutions from Tobit Software.		A connection to a DvISE server, see Connecting to a Tobit Fax Server.
Send Text Message The Send Text Message tool is used to create and send data-driven, personalised text messages to customers, employees, prospects, suppliers, and so on. Sending can be automated to guarantee the timing of the text messages.		Connections to ToucanText accounts, see Send Text Message Global Configuration. The Message Gateway Agent and Microsoft Message Queueing Services are also required — these are available in the Configurator, see Send Text Message Tool Prerequisites and Message Gateway Agent Prerequisites.
Transfer File (FTP) The Transfer File (FTP) Tool is used to create a Task Step that uploads or downloads one or more files to and from one or more FTP Servers. This is a powerful tool which can be used, for example, in the automated publishing of key information to Intranet / Internet sites.		Connections to FTP servers, see Connecting to an FTP Server. NOTE: The Transfer File (FTP) tool supports standard FTP only. For FTP, SFTP, FTPS (Explicit and Implicit), and HTTP / HTTPS protocols, use the File ManagementFile Management tool.
Workflow Job Trigger The Workflow Job Trigger tool triggers a task to run when responses from Workflow Jobs match criteria specified in one or a number of filters.		Global configuration is not available for this tool, however, the Workflow Job Trigger Agent is required. This is available in the Configurator, see About the Workflow Job Trigger Agent.