title: Using com.ibm.ws.Transaction.TransactionManagerFactory in Websphere 8.5
body: <p>I have a software project running in IBM Websphere 8.5.5. It needs to lookup the JTA TransactionManager from the application server. Currently it uses the <code>com.ibm.ws.Transaction.TransactionManagerFactory</code> class, and then calls <code>getTransactionManager()</code> on that.</p>
  
  <p>My question is this: Is it legitimate to do this in IBM Websphere 8.5? It seems there are newer interfaces around (e.g. <code>UOWManager</code>). However, I haven't been able to find any documentation on the use of <code>com.ibm.ws.Transaction.TransactionManagerFactory</code> beyond Websphere 5. It doesn't say anywhere that it can be used. It doesn't say anywhere that it shouldn't be used either.</p>
  
  <p>So does <code>com.ibm.ws.Transaction.TransactionManagerFactory</code> still work, albeit old-fashioned? Or is it problematic and shouldn't be used?</p>
  
  <p>(I haven't seen the code fail so far, but this might mean either a) it works properly, or b) we just haven't hit the right test cases!)</p>