Map Building Process
This table provides an overview of the map-building process.
| Stage | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Prepare and Analyze Obtain a layout of your flat file and determine how it corresponds with the XML. Determine how you move data to or from each application field. |
| 2 | Set Global Defaults (first time only) The first time you use the Sterling Gentran:Server® Application Integration subsystem, you should establish the default date format, display, and confirmation options that the system uses. See the Application Integration User Guide for more information on setting these defaults. |
| 3 | Register the Tutorial XML Build and Break Translation
Objects We provide you with XML build and break maps and translation objects to use in this tutorial in the GENSRVNT\Tutorial\XML folder. To use these translation objects you must register them with Sterling Gentran:Server. See the IBM® Sterling Gentran:Server for Microsoft Windows User Guide for more information on registering translation objects. |
| 4 | Set Up a Splitter Configuration Entry for XML We provide you with tutorial XML break maps and translation objects in the GENSRVNT\Tutorial\XML folder. To use these translation objects you must select the build and break translation objects for the splitter entry you configured for XML. Also, you must change the Start tag for your XML splitter entry to PETTEST_INVOICE. See Modifying the Splitter Configuration for more information on setting up an XML Splitter entry. |
| 5 | Create, Save, and Name a New Map See Creating the Inbound Tutorial Map for more information on creating, saving, and naming a map. |
| 6 | Define your Flat File Format If you are creating an import or export map, you must define your flat file to the Application Integration subsystem. In Sterling Gentran:Server terminology, your flat file is also referred to as a fixed-format file or a positional file. Your application file must contain all the information that you either need to extract from your partner’s document (if the map is inbound) or need to send to your partner (if the map is outbound). See Creating the Inbound Tutorial Map for more information about defining your application file format by importing a DTD. |
| 7 | Map the Appropriate Data for Each Application
Field To reconcile your flat file format with XML, you must identify each flat file component with its corresponding component in the XML file and select a method for mapping it. To map information to a field, you use linking, standard rules, extended rules, or a combination of all three. See Correlating your Flat File and the XML Invoice and Additional Mapping Requirements for more information about mapping your data. |
| 8 | Compile the Translation Object See About Finalizing a Map for more information on compiling the translation object and translation object naming conventions. |
| 9 | Register the Translation Object See the IBM Sterling Gentran:Server for Microsoft Windows User Guide for more information on registering translation objects. |
| 10 | Create or Import the Appropriate Trading Relationship Establish the appropriate trading relationship in Sterling Gentran:Server for your trading partners. The trading relationship that you will use in this tutorial (PETZONE5) is loaded into the GENSRVNT\Tutorial\XML folder. You need to import the partner profile (PETZONE5.PAR) into Sterling Gentran:Server, before you begin this tutorial. See the IBM Sterling Gentran:Server for Microsoft Windows User Guide for more information on creating and importing trading relationships. |
| 11 | Testing the Translation Object Obtain test data from your partners and process the data. Verify acknowledgement processing (if applicable). Verify communications with your network. See Testing the Inbound Translation Object for more information on test the translation objects. |