How Does Ratchet-X Work?


	One of the best things about Ratchet-X is you don’t need to wade into the deep water to understand what it is or how it’s used. However, this does not mean there isn’t serious technology under the hood. If you’re interested in learning more about the platform’s underlying technology, suit up and let’s take a deeper dive.

	Ratchet-X Platform Components

	The best way to understand how Ratchet-X works is to first understand the components that comprise the platform. The graphic below depicts at a high-level, the platform’s architecture.


	Appspace


	Click to see full length “How Does Ratchet-X Work?” video

The key to Ratchet-X’s success is its ability to integrate existing applications without requiring any changes to those applications. No access to source code or working with complicated APIs (application programming interfaces) is required. This “outside-in” integration is achieved via a platform component called the appspace. An appspace is an XML representation of the specific application screens you want to integrate with the other services and systems you use. Appspaces are created with a platform tool called the Appspace Editor (see below). The Appspace Editor allows you to select the applications screens and screen components (fields, labels, buttons, graphics, etc.) you want to make available for integration through Ratchet-X. When you’re done defining screens, you save the appspace and register the resulting XML file with the Ratchet-X Commander. Once the appspace is registered, the application screens contained within are then available to be integrated with other applications and services.


			Appspace Editor



	Commander

Commander is the platform component that secures and facilitates all conversations between application screens and the other systems and services with which you interact. Think of Commander as an “instant messenger for applications”. Commander loads in your Window’s system tray looking for application screens and data that can be acted upon by registered plug-ins. When Commander finds a match, it issues alerts letting you know which functions it can perform on your behalf. Commander presents itself to the user in the following modes; administrative and alert mode.

Administrative mode is the mode from which you can do the following:

register appspaces
register plug-ins
copy and paste data to and from the Ratchet-X clipboard
set Commander configuration options and preferences
access system help

Alert mode is the mode from you which you can do the following:

execute specific integrations with other systems and services (via alerts)
manage document and user-defined field attachments
copy and paste data to and from the Ratchet-X clipboard
load the Commander in administrative mode

Commander’s alert mode is made available to the user when Commander recognizes an application screen contained within a registered appspace. When Commander recognizes the application screen, Commander adds a “hot button” (), to the application’s title bar. When you click on the hot button, you will be presented with all the functions Commander can perform on the data contained in the application screen.


	Administrative Mode


	Alert Mode


	Plug-in

Plug-ins represent the functions Ratchet-X can perform for you when Commander recognizes an application screen. For example, if you want to perform a credit check on a company contained in a CRM system screen or check a phone number to see if it’s on a national do not call list, these functions are presented to the platform in the form of plug-ins. Plug-ins and the functions they make available to your applications “are” the reasons you use Ratchet-X in the first place. Plug-ins are micro-applications that embody the user-experience service providers want to associate with their services. Plug-ins are developed in your language of choice using the Ratchet-X SDK.


	Want to learn more about Ratchet-X? Check out these related links:


	Video: How does Ratchet-X work?

	How are customers using Ratchet-X today?


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