The following steps describe how to create a channel for your plugin when you already know that the plugin is working properly. For instructions on how to create a channel to test your plugin, see Testing a Source Plugin.

To interact with a source plugin, you must create a channel whose source component is From Plugin.

To create the channel:

• In the Dashboard Control Panel, click Add Channel. The Select Channel Components screen appears.
• From the Source list box, select the source of your incoming messages.
• From the Destination list box, select To Plugin.
• Click Configure Channel.
• Click the Channel tab. The Channel screen appears:

• In the Channel name field, specify a name to identify the channel on the Dashboard and in the plugin.

	For more details on the fields in the Channel tab, see Configuring the Channel Details.

• Click the Source tab. The From Plugin screen appears:

• In the Full executable path field, type the complete pathname and filename of your plugin.
• Follow the instructions provided in From Plugin to complete the rest of the fields in this section.
• Click the Destination tab. Use the instructions provided in Configuring the Destination Component to configure the destination component of the channel.
• Click Add Channel to add the channel.

Your channel is now ready to handle messages received by your plugin. For information on working with your channel, including how to start or stop the channel, see Updating Channel Information from the Dashboard.