Adding a complex type mapping

A complex type amalgamates other types; it can have a repeating structure and can contain repeating sub-structures. For mapping purposes, complex types include messages, global complex types, groups and database tables. Mapping to and from complex types involves the creation or specification of a procedure call.

There are three categories of mapping:

  • A. Complex type to complex type; for example, UKAddress to USAddress
  • B. Simple type to complex type; for example, addressString to USAddress
  • C. Complex type to simple type; for example, USAddress to addressString.
In addition, there are four cases of repeating elements:
  1. <element> --> <element>
  2. <repeating element> --> <element>
  3. <repeating element> --> <repeating element>
  4. <element> --> <repeating element>
Therefore, there are 12 different cases in total.

In nested repeating structure mappings, you handle each level of repetition with a procedure call and the lowest level is a regular mapping. The following steps show you how to create a mapping involving one or more complex types.

  1. Select a complex type and create a mapping in the usual way. The Create or Use Mapping dialog box opens.
  2. Either create a new reusable mapping or to reuse a mapping that has already been created:
    • To create a new reusable mapping, click Create mapping and enter a name for the new mapping. This new mapping appears in the list of existing procedures the next time the Create or Use Mapping dialog box is opened.
    • To reuse a mapping that has already been created, click Reuse an existing procedure and select the mapping from the list. The list contains all reusable mappings that have been created.
Same type complex type to complex type mappings can then be edited in the Compose Mapping Expression editor. All other mappings that involve complex types can be edited in their own editor, as with regular mappings.
Related concepts
Message model objects: complex types
Repeating mappings
Related tasks
Adding a complex type to an element
Adding a complex type
Creating a mapping file
Related reference
Complex type properties