Creating an XML Map

The general steps for creating a map are the same, but the selections you make depend on what type of map you are creating.

Use this procedure to create an XML map.
  1. Select File > New.

    The system displays the New Map Wizard.

  2. Enter the following information and click Next:
    • Select the map type.
    • Type the unique name of the map. The system adds the .MAP extension.
    • Type your name if it differs from the user name prompted by the system.
    Note: You need to complete the format of the Input side of the map (steps 3 - 9). This is the format of the data that is translated by the Sterling Gentran:Server® system.
  3. For the input side of the map, do one of the following:
    • To create a new data format using a syntax that you define, go to step 4.
    • To load the data format from a saved definition, go to step 8.
  4. Select one of the following input format options:
    • Delimited EDI (Electronic Data Interchange file)
    • ODBC (Open Database Connectivity)
    • Positional (VDA, GENCOD, application files)
    • XML (Extensible Markup Language)
    Notes:
    • For Inbound maps (Export), the Input Format Type is usually XML or EDI.
    • For Outbound maps (System Import or Import), the Input Format Type is usually XML, ODBC, or Positional.
    • For Turnaround maps, the Input Format Type is usually EDI or XML.
  5. Do one of the following:
    • To customize the format of Delimited EDI map, click Customize. The system displays the New Delimited EDI Wizard. Continue with step 6.
    • To customize the format of Delimited EDI or XML map, click Customize. The system displays the New XML Wizard. Continue with step 7.
    • Otherwise, click Next and continue with step 10.
  6. For Delimited EDI maps, do the following in the New Delimited EDI Wizard:
    1. Click Next.
    2. Select the ODBC data source that contains the standards database.
    3. Select the standards agency, version, transaction set, and release (for TRADACOMS only) and click Next.
    4. Click Finish.

    Continue with step 9.

  7. For XML maps, do the following in the New XML Wizard:
    1. Select the document source type and click Next.
    2. Type the name of your DTD file or a URL pointing to the DTD and click Next.
    3. Select the doctype, set the maximum length of data elements, and click Next.
    4. Click Finish.
    Notes:
    • The DTD does not explicitly define the root element, so you can choose from all the elements defined in the DTD. By default, the wizard selects the first element encountered in the DTD.
    • You can specify the maximum length of data elements because this is not defined in the DTD.
    • If the system needed to make changes to the DTD to make it compliant with Sterling Gentran:Server, the system informs you of the changes. Click OK.

    Continue with step 10.

  8. Select Load the data format from a saved definition.
  9. Navigate to or type the path and filename of the saved definition and click Open.
    Note: You can select either a .DDF or .IFD file. If the DDF is invalid, the system displays a message box explaining the problem and terminates the import.
  10. For the output side of the map, do one of the following:
    • Create a new data format using a syntax that you define, go to step 11.
    • To load the data format from a saved definition, go to step 15.
  11. Select one of the following output format options:
    • Delimited EDI (Electronic Data Interchange file)
    • ODBC (Open Database Connectivity)
    • Positional (VDA, GENCOD, application files)
    • XML (Extensible Markup Language)
    Notes:
    • For Inbound maps (Export), the Input Format Type is usually XML or EDI.
    • For Outbound maps (System Import or Import), the Input Format Type is usually XML, ODBC, or Positional.
    • For Turnaround maps, the Input Format Type is usually EDI or XML.
  12. Do one of the following:
    • To customize the format of Delimited EDI map, click Customize. The system displays the New Delimited EDI Wizard or New XML Wizard dialog box. Continue with step 13.
    • To customize the format of Delimited EDI or XML map, click Customize. The system displays the New Delimited EDI Wizard or New XML Wizard dialog box. Continue with step 14.
    • Otherwise, go to Step 17.
  13. For Delimited EDI maps, do the following in the New Delimited EDI Wizard:
    1. Click Next.
    2. Select the ODBC data source that contains the standards database.
    3. Select the standards agency, version, transaction set, and release (for TRADACOMS only).
    4. Click Next.
    5. Click Finish.

    Continue with Step 17.

  14. For XML maps, do the following in the New XML Wizard:
    1. Select the document source type and click Next.
    2. Type the name of your DTD file or a URL pointing to the DTD and click Next.
    3. Select the doctype, set the maximum length of data elements, and click Next.
    4. Click Finish.
    Notes:
    • The DTD does not explicitly define the root element, so you can choose from all the elements defined in the DTD. By default, the wizard selects the first element encountered in the DTD.
    • You can specify the maximum length of data elements because this is not defined in the DTD.
    • If the system needed to make changes to the DTD to make it compliant with Sterling Gentran:Server, the system informs you of the changes. Click OK.

    Continue with Step 17.

  15. Select Load the data format from a saved definition.
  16. Navigate to or type the file name and click Open.
    Note: You can select either a .DDF or .IFD file.
  17. Click Finish to load the standards information you selected and create the new map (this may take a few seconds).

    The system displays the new map in the Application Integration Window.

After you finish creating and saving a new map, you need to define the Input and Output sides of the map. The steps you take are different, depending on whether the map is an Import, System Import, Export, or Turnaround map.