An application archive file contains the objects and metadata of an application in an XML format.
When you deploy an application to this format, you save all the information about the application to an XML file. The file has an .iar extension.
You might want to create an application archive file for any of the following reasons:
Deploy the application. If your organization restricts the ability to deploy applications to a Data Integration Service to administrators, an administrator can deploy an application from an archive file to a Data Integration Service. The administrator can use the Administrator tool, or infacmd dis deployapplication.
Import the application to a Model repository. An administrator can import an application from an archive file to a Model repository using infacmd oie importobjects.
If you import an application archive that contains objects that are already in the Model repository, the Developer tool creates a new project folder.
The version of the Model repository where you import the application must be compatible with the version from which you exported the application to an archive file.
Archive the application archive file in another system. For example, if the Model repository is not integrated with a version control system, an administrator can check the archive file into a version control system.