Data Interchange Services client allows you to create or import document definitions for the source and target documents, and then create a map which relates the elements in the source document to elements in the target document.
Data Interchange Services client allows any combination of source and target document types in a map. For example, you can create a map which transforms an EDI document into an XML document, or an ROD document into an EDI document. Similarly, EDI-to-EDI and XML-to-XML maps are possible, along with the other combinations.
A map contains the commands necessary to transform a source document into a target document. Data Interchange Services client provides a graphic user interface (GUI) which simplifies creation of the mapping commands. In the simplest cases, Data Interchange Services client allows "drag and drop" mapping between source and target elements. This type of mapping handles cases where there is a one-to-one correspondence between source and target elements. You can also drag and drop elements when creating more complex mapping commands. After completing the map, you compile it into a "control string" using Data Interchange Services client, and export the control string to WebSphere Partner Gateway.
In addition to the data transformation maps described above, there are two types of specialized maps - validation maps and functional acknowledgment maps.