Designer graph components

The dataflow graph is composed of the following components:

Control: A component with one or more input ports through which data flows into the package and one or more output ports through which data flows out. A transform control at minimum has one input and one output port. Different types of packages facilitate different transformations.

Port: An abstraction around the data provider or receiver; each port has a record format associated with it that defines the data streaming through it. Output ports are square. Input ports are round.

Connector: A link used to connect an input port to an output port (one package to another) defines the dataflow. A valid connector requires each end to have the same record format. As a general principle, resolution of mismatching ports is handled in the package on the receiving side of the data (the package on the input port-side of the connection).

Journal feature: The (scribe) icon opens a journal panel for log entries regarding dataflow creation, scripts, and packages. Optional journal functionality is provided at multiple levels to capture information about objects, functions, and operators