A configurator is a Switch flow element that drives a third-party application as part of the execution of a Switch flow. The application must be installed on the same computer as Switch (and it will also be launched on that computer).
For a list of supported third-party applications, see version requirements or the Crossroads website.
For more information on installing third-party applications for use with Switch, see Third-party applications
Depending on the application's characteristics, a Switch configurator provides a range of substantial benefits, including:
The application's settings are configured from within Switch through the configurator's properties, providing a single point of setup for all steps in a flow.
Interactive applications offering no or limited automation capabilities are turned into fully automated solutions.
Multiple configurations for the same application can be used in parallel without the need for complex hot folder structures.
Switch automatically launches the application when it is needed.
Switch controls all file movement to and from the application, fully integrating its operation with all Switch features including job tracking and logging, processing statistics, and so forth.
The application's function is documented in context of the complete flow.
Switch includes configurators for a number of frequently-used applications.
While Enfocus intends to add more configurators in future versions of Switch, it is not feasible to include every relevant application on the market. Switch offers some important options to automate or interact with third-party applications for which there is no configurator:
The Generic Application tool controls any third-party application that supports hot folders.
Command-line applications can be configured through the regular Switch user interface (rather than console commands and options).
The scripting capabilities of Switch allow interaction with the host operating system and with any application that allows scripting.