Using transformer element to create a standalone transformer bean instead of endpoit

[Alexey Pomelov]

Hello.

Is there any way to use "transformer" element to create a standalone transformer bean but not an end point connected to channels?

Consider I'd like to replace character 'A' with 'B' in string payload. When I'm in <chain> i can do it like this:

<int:chain input-channel="..." output-channel="...">
    ...
    <int:transformer expression="payload.replace('A', 'B')" />
    ...
</int:chain>

But if I want to reuse that transformer in several chains, I have to create manually transformer and SpEL expression instance! It looks awful :

<bean id="spelParser" class="org.springframework.expression.spel.standard.SpelExpressionParser" />
<bean id="replaceABtransformer" class="org.springframework.integration.transformer.ExpressionEvaluatingTransformer">
    <constructor-arg name="expression">
        <bean factory-bean="spelParser" factory-method="parseExpression">
            <constructor-arg name="expressionString" value="payload.replace('A', 'B')" />
        </bean>
    </constructor-arg>
</bean>

<int:chain input-channel="..." output-channel="...">
    ...
    <int:transformer ref="replaceABtransformer" />
    ...
</int:chain>

Regards,
-- Alexey