> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.arc.cdata.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Getting Started

> Overview of CData Arc's core features, including flows, connectors, mapping, scripting, and EDI trading partner management.

export const siteNameShort = "Arc";

export const siteName = "CData Arc";

{siteName} is a web application that provides a suite of Connectors for creating, executing, and monitoring custom data-integration flows. The {siteNameShort} visual flow designer simplifies the process of integrating Managed File Transfer (MFT), EDI messaging, API management, data manipulation, and back-end integration.

{siteNameShort} workflows are modular, which means they can handle entire end-to-end integrations or perform specific data-management functions as part of a larger data ecosystem. See [Architecture](./architecture) for detailed information about the principles and design of {siteNameShort}.

## Key Features

* **Managed File Transfer:** Secure messaging capabilities including AS2, AS4, SFTP, FTPS, FTP, OFTP, RNIF, SOAP, and so on.
* **Data Mapping:** Mapping and translation between data and file formats including EDI, EDIFACT, X12, IDoc (SAP), CSV, JSON, XML, and so on.
* **REST-based APIs:** Accessible management through simple standards-based interfaces like SOAP, REST, HTML, RSS, ATOM, JSON, XLS, and CSV.
* **Flexible Deployment Options:** A modern web-based application that is deployable anywhere - on-premises (Windows, Linux/UNIX, macOS) or in the cloud.
* **Workflow Engine:** Easily build and automate workflows between applications such as Salesforce, MailChimp, Shopify, Google Apps, Dropbox, Microsoft Dynamics, NetSuite, and more.

## Quick-Start Guide

See the [Quick-Start Guide](./quick-start-guide) for a set of links enabling you to quickly find the {siteNameShort} information you need.

## Flows

Flows are the heart of the application and offer a flexible way to build scalable workflows to move and manipulate data. See the [Flows](../flows) section for more information about creating flows in {siteNameShort}.

## EDI Trading Partner Management Console

The Trading Partner Management Console (TPMC) is a central place where users can go and configure an EDI partner relationship, map any necessary documents, and have that partner's details as well as the document mapping be reusable. See [EDI Trading Partner Management Console](../tpmc) for details on how to use the TPMC.

## Connectors

Flows consist of a set of Connectors. Each connector performs one of the following roles in the {siteNameShort} flow:

* Connect to remote servers, trading partners, databases, and applications
* Transform files into different formats or manipulate the data within a file
* Route files through the flow to provide complex branching logical processes which provide connectivity to applications, databases, servers, as well as data transformation

See the [Connectors](../connectors) section to learn more about specific connectors in {siteNameShort}.

## Mapping

Both the [TPMC](../tpmc) and [XML Map connector](../connectors/xml-map/xml-map) rely on mapping to define how data is translated between various XML data structures. Mapping plays an important role in facilitating data transformation and exchange in {siteNameShort}. See [Mapping](../mapping) to learn how to define mappings.

## Admin API

The Admin API is a REST interface for managing {siteNameShort} programmatically—you can create and configure connectors and workspaces, manage certificates and files, read logs and transaction metadata, and run administrative actions without using the browser-based UI. See the [Admin API](../admin-api) section for authentication, resources, and actions.

For a complete, per-operation listing of every endpoint, see the [API Reference overview](../api-reference/overview).

## How-To Guides

The How-To Guides provide step-by-step walkthroughs for common {siteNameShort} tasks, including configuring AS2, AS4, and OFTP connectors, building EDI flows, and backing up or migrating an {siteNameShort} instance. See the [How-To Guides](../how-to) section for the full set of tutorials.

## Scripting

{siteNameShort} core functionality can be extended with {siteNameShort}Script and Python, two scripting features included with the application. Event-based scripting is available within each connector, and a dedicated Script connector supports fully-customizable processing. See the [Scripting](../scripting) section to learn more about extending {siteNameShort} functionality with {siteNameShort}Script and Python.