Connect Snaps to build a pipeline

The key to creating a pipeline in SnapLogic is connecting Snaps. There are a few things to consider when placing Snaps in a pipeline.

Like puzzle pieces, only Snaps with matching connection pairs (circles or diamonds) can be connected. Circle connections indicate document data while diamond connections indicate binary data.

When moved to the pipeline canvas, Snaps may display with an input (the head of the Snap) and output (the tail of the Snap). To modify the input output properties,click on the Snap and select the Views tab. See Snaps Reference for more information on Views.

Disconnect linked Snaps

Unlinked Snaps can be moved apart or placed next to each other. Make sure the circle or diamond connector is colored Grey, which indicates that the Snaps are linked.

To disconnect linked Snaps, click on the Grey connector. This clears the color and allows you to rearrange the Snaps.

Remote-connect link Snaps

You can also connect to Snaps that are not next to each other by using a Remote-Connect Link.

For example, click and hold on the Mapper Snap connector until it turns Yellow, then drag it to the Copy Snap connector. When both connections turn Grey, release the mouse button. A number is placed in both connectors to let you know they are connected.



Note: The number is only temporary until the pipeline is saved, at which point a new, permanent number may be assigned to it.

You can also click and hold on one connection and both Snaps connected by this link will darken. This feature is useful for large pipelines where it may not be easy to quickly visualize the connections.



Snap menu options

The context-menu of the Snap contains the following options:



Menu option Description
Get preview data insights in SnapGPT Analyzes preview data from the Snap and provides insights about data structure, configuration, and optimization opportunities. This option is available only when the Use preview data for contextual metadata setting is enabled in SnapGPT settings and the pipeline has been validated or executed successfully. Learn more about getting preview data insights.
Edit Displays the Snap configuration dialog.
Delete Removes the Snap from the canvas.
Disable Snap Sets the Snap execution mode to disabled. Once set, the option becomes Enable Snap on the dropdown list.
Tip:

Snap Execution Mode Setting

When a Snap is disabled, clicking the Enable Snap option returns the Execution Mode to the default setting for that Snap (regardless of the Execution Mode previously set for the Snap before being disabled).
Recommend Snap
  • Click Downstream to get suggestions for downstream (for subsequent Snaps in a pipeline) Snaps. Select the relevant Snap from the Downstream Snap suggestions pop-up.
  • Click Upstream to get suggestions for upstream (for preceding Snaps in a pipeline) Snaps. Select the relevant Snap from the Upstream Snap suggestions pop-up.
Copy Creates a copy of the same Snap. You can paste it into the same pipeline or a different one. Whenever a Snap is pasted into a pipeline in a different Environment, the account reference is cleared. You must open the Snap settings and select a valid account in the target Environment. Learn more.
Rotate Whole Snap Rotates the Snap one quarter in the specified direction. Clicking this option displays the selections Rotate Clockwise (to the right) and Rotate Counterclockwise (to the left).
Rotate Snap Head Rotates the input of the Snap one quarter in the specified direction. Clicking this option displays the selections Rotate Clockwise (to the right) and Rotate Counterclockwise (to the left).
Rotate Snap Tail Rotates the output of the Snap one quarter in the specified direction. Clicking this option displays the selections Rotate Clockwise (to the right) and Rotate Counterclockwise (to the left).
Note: The following rules apply to rotation:
  • If a Snap is not connected to another Snap, you can rotate the whole Snap or just the head or tail ends. Snaps with multiple inputs or outputs can only be rotated as a whole.
  • If the Snap is connected at the head, you can rotate the tail; if connected at the tail, you can rotate the head.
  • If a Snap is connected on both ends, it cannot be rotated.

Copy and paste Snaps that use accounts

When you copy a Snap that uses an account and paste it into another pipeline, whether the account is retained depends on the destination pipeline's location:

  • Same environment (org), account in a shared folder: The account is retained if it resides in the environment's shared folder or in the project space's shared folder.
  • Same environment, account in a non-shared project: The account is cleared.
  • Different environment: The account is always cleared. An account from the source organization can't be used in the destination organization.

If you paste a Snap and its account is cleared:

  1. Open the pasted Snap.
  2. In the Account field, select a valid account in the destination organization, or create one.
  3. Save the Snap.

Until you select an account, Snaps that require one will display the usual validation errors.

Note: Copying and pasting Snaps on the canvas does not match accounts in the destination. To carry over account references across organizations, use Project Manager to export and import the entire pipeline instead. When importing or copying assets in Manager, accounts are matched by name and type if a matching account exists in the destination.

Snap configuration recommendation

SnapLogic recommends configuration options for suggestible properties in a Snap based on settings used in other Pipelines in your environment. SnapLogic analyzes execution data from high-quality Pipelines and indexes their Snap configurations to generate these suggestions.

To view Snap configuration recommendations:

  1. In the Designer Canvas, click a Snap that contains suggestible properties, for example, MySQL - Select. The Snap Settings dialog opens.
  2. Click the suggestion icon on a suggestible property to open the configuration drop-down. The suggested values appear under Snap Recommendations.

Missing Snaps

If a pipeline contains a Snap that is no longer available from the catalog, that Snap is shown in the pipeline with the central shape colored red.



Note: When a Snap is no longer available, the schema for that Snap is not available to provide specific details for the info-box, so field labels do not display in a user-readable format.

Video demonstration

Watch the following video to link two distant Snaps in a complex pipeline.