Transformation Map Data Interchange Attributes

LANSA Composer

Transformation Map Data Interchange Attributes

LANSA Composer defines and stores a set of data interchange attributes for each Transformation Map.  These are defined to accommodate attributes that are used by the transaction document processing framework as follows:

Map direction

Specifies the direction (inbound or outbound) of the transaction document processing flow to which this map applies.

When the map is linked to a Trading Partner, this attribute is referenced to identify qualifying transformation maps when using the FIND_TPMAP activity with the DIRECTION parameter.

Map standard

Specifies, by selection from a drop-down list, the document type and the document standard to which this map applies.

When the map is linked to a Trading Partner, this attribute is referenced to identify qualifying transformation maps when using the FIND_TPMAP activity with the STANDARD parameter.

Map transaction type

Specifies the transaction type to which this map applies.  For example, '850' for an EDI X12 purchase order transaction or 'ORDERS' for an EDIFACT order transaction.

When the map is linked to a Trading Partner, this attribute is referenced to identify qualifying transformation maps when using the FIND_TPMAP activity with the TRANSACTIONID parameter.

Import processor

Specifies the name of the import processor that imports inbound transaction data into an application database after it has been received, typically into staging database tables, by this transformation map.

This name should be passed to the TXDOC_IMPORT activity in order to execute the import step for an inbound transaction document after executing the associated transformation map.

Export processor

Specifies the name of the export processor that extracts transaction information from an application database and writes it, typically into staging database tables, to be read by this transformation map to prepare an outbound transaction document.

This name should be passed to the TXDOC_EXPORT activity in order to execute the export step for an outbound transaction document before executing the associated transformation map.

 

The transformation map data interchange attributes are used in the transaction document processing framework, or can be used in your own custom transaction document processing solution in the following ways:

  • Where applicable, the attribute values are accessible within a processing sequence by using built-in variables such as *transform.edi.imp and *transform.edi.exp for the import and export processor names.  You must first have assigned a transformation map identifier to the *transform built-in variable before you can access its attribute values in this way.

    Refer to Transformation Map (*TRANSFORM) Built-in Variable Qualifiers for more information.
  • LANSA Composer refers to some of the attribute values to identify qualifying transformation maps when using the FIND_TPMAP activity.
  • Some of these and other attributes relating to the document type and standard can be retrieved in a processing sequence using the DISCOVER_MAP activity.

 

Import and Export Processors

Note that the use of import and export processors is not mandatory.  These attributes and this capability are provided to support the use of intermediary "staging" database tables when processing inbound or outbound transaction documents.  If you choose instead that your transformation maps directly read from and write to your application database tables, then you may not need to separately define or execute an import or export step.

For more information about defining import and export processors, refer to:

4.1.9 Application program interfaces (APIs)