Manage connectors for chains

To perform a command in a chain, you select its connector, which enables the interaction with the data source.

View available connectors

To automate processes between Wdata and your organization's systems of record, an org security admin can enable connectors for their workspace's Workiva platform and the solutions to interact with. To view the connectors enabled for use by your organization, in Wdata, click Configuration, and select Connectors.

Note: Your organization can use as many connectors as it wants. Your subscription includes all core connectors and a number of premium connectors; any additional connectors enabled when your billing cycle ends will appear on your invoice.

After an org security admin enables a connector, you can set up its connection from Chain Builder. To view the connectors set up in Chain Builder, click Connections  compare_arrows. For each connection, you can view its name, description, and runner. To view a connection's properties, expand its row.

Add a connector

To use a connector within a chain, it must be enabled for use by your organization and set up with the properties required to connect to its data source.

Step 1. Enable the connector

To make a connector available for use in your organization's chains, an org security administrator first enables it from Configuration.

Note: From Configuration, workspace owners can view which connectors are available, but not enable additional connectors.

1. From Configuration, select the connector under Connectors, and click Enable.

   Note: Under Connectors, disabled connectors appear alphabetically after your enabled connectors.

2. Click Enable.

Step 2. Set up the connection

After an org security admin enables the connector, they or a workspace owner then sets up its connection from Chain Builder. When you set up a connection, you define its use and enter the properties required to integrate with its system of record:

• The orchestrator, or runner, to interact with the data source—the out-of-the-box CloudRunner or a configured GroundRunner
• Authentication credentials to securely log in to the data source
• Any additional properties or resources required by the data source

Connections are enabled separately for each environment and workspace, ensuring users are not using production credentials for non-production environments.

1. From Chain Builder, click Connections  compare_arrows, and then Create at the top right.
2. Under BizApp Connection, choose the type of connection to create and the runner to use, based on the data source to connect to:
   • To connect to a cloud or Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) data source, select CloudRunner.
   • To connect to an on-premise data source within your firewall, select its GroundRunner.
3. To help collaborators identify the connection, under Basic Info, enter a unique name and description.

   Note: Connection names are pooled across your entire organization. For example, the name "Workiva connector" can only be used one time across your entire organization.

4. Some connections require resources, such as the certificate for an Anaplan® connector. If required, under Resources, click Add, and upload the files referenced by the connection.
5. If necessary, enter the connection's credentials and properties, based on the solution.
6. Under Environments, select which environments will use the connection; to select every environment within a workspace, click the checkbox to the right of that workspace. 
   
   • If a workspace is missing, try logging into Chains from both workspaces simultaneously.
7. Click Save.

Edit a connection's password, credentials, or other properties

To update a connection's details or properties, such as its password or credentials, a workspace owner can edit it from Chain Builder.

1. From Chain Builder, click Connections  compare_arrows, select Edit for the connection.
   
2. Update the connection's information and properties as necessary.
3. Click Save.

View a connection's usage

To view how many or which chains use a connection, such as before you edit or delete it:

1. From Chain Builder, click Connections  compare_arrows, select Edit for the connection.
2. Next to Update Connection, view how many chains use the connection. To view which chains use the connection, click its Uses count.
   

Disable a connector

If your organization no longer needs a connector, an org security admin can disable it from Configuration.

Note: When you disable a connector, you disable it for all of your organization's workspaces, and any chain with its commands no longer runs.

1. From Configuration , select the connector under Connectors, and click Disable.
   
2. Click Disable.

Delete a connection

If no chain actively uses a connection, an org security admin or workspace owner can delete it from Chain Builder.

Note: You can't delete a connection if a chain uses its commands. To view where a connection is used, click its Uses count.

1. From Chain Builder, click Connections  compare_arrows, select Edit for the connection.
2. Click Delete.