Tools for map development
Table 3 shows the
two graphical design tools of mapping.
Table 3. Principal components of data mapping system
Design tool |
Mapping component |
Description |
Map Designer Express |
Map |
Uses Java code to specify how to transform attributes
from one or more source business objects to one or more destination
business objects. You typically create one map for each source business object
you want to transform, though you can also break up a map into several
submaps. |
Relationship Designer Express |
Relationship |
Establishes an association between two or more data
entities in the Map Development system. Relationship definitions
most often associate two or more business objects. You use relationship definitions
to transform data that is equivalent across business objects but
is represented differently. For example, a state code for the state
of Michigan might be represented as MI in one application and MICH in another. This data is equivalent but is represented differently
in each application. Most maps use one, or a few, relationship definitions. |
These graphical
tools run on Windows 2003 and Windows XP. Therefore, these platforms
are for map development.
Table 4 lists the additional
tools that are supported for map development.
Table 4. Tools for map development
Tool |
Description |
Mapping API |
Set of Java classes with which you can customize
the generated mapping code. |
System Manager |
Provides graphical windows to configure a map
instance as well as configure a relationship object. |
Map Designer Express
Map Designer Express creates and
compiles maps. You can launch Map Designer Express from System Manager
by selecting Map Designer Express from the Tools menu. For other
ways to launch Map Designer Express, see Starting Map Designer Express .. Map Designer Express provides a tab
window to view map information. This window displays one of four
tabs: Table tab, Diagram tab, Messages tab, or Test tab.
Figure 3 shows a map displayed
in the Diagram tab of Map Designer Express.
Figure 3. Map Designer Express
For information on how to use Map Designer Express to create
a map, see Creating maps.
Relationship Designer Express
Relationship Designer Express
creates relationship definitions that store the run-time relationship
instance data. You can launch Relationship Designer Express from System
Manager by selecting Relationship Designer Express from the Tools
menu. Figure 4 shows several relationships
displayed in Relationship Designer Express.
Figure 4. Relationship Designer Express
For more information on how to use Relationship Designer Express,
see Creating relationship definitions.
Mapping API
Many transformation steps can be programmed using standard
Java methods. To make writing transformation steps easier, the map
development system provides a mapping API (described in detail in Mapping API Reference), with methods to handle
the most common data transformation situations. The mapping API
includes the following classes:
- DTP
(Data
Transformation Package) classes provide methods for string manipulation,
data type conversion, date manipulation, submap calling, and SQL
query execution. The classes are:
- DtpConnection (deprecated)
- DtpDataConversion
- DtpDate
- DtpMapService
- DtpSplitString
- DtpUtils
- Business
object classes are used for both collaboration development and mapping.
The classes are:
- Relationship
management classes provide methods for creating and managing relationship
instances. The classes are:
- Participant
- Relationship
- IdentityRelationship
- Database connection classes provide methods for SQL query execution.
These classes are:
- CwDBConnection
- CwDBStoredProcedureParam
- DtpConnection (deprecated)
- UserStoredProcedureParam (deprecated)
- Utility
classes assist with error handling and debugging, and setting important
run-time values for maps. The classes are:
System Manager
System Manager is a graphical tool that provides an interface
to InterChange Server Express and
the repository. System Manager provides the means to manage maps and
configure a map definition. You can:
- Set some general properties
of a map definition, including its trace level and data validation
level.
- Display the source
and destination
business objects of a map.
- Compile a map definition.
Note:
System Manager provides ways to start up
Map Designer Express.
For more information, see
Starting Map Designer Express .
System Manager also provides the means to manage relationships.
You can:
- Set some general properties of a relationship, including the
location of its relationship tables.
- Display the participants of the relationship.
Note:
System Manager also provides ways to start up Relationship
Designer
Express.
For more information, see
Starting Relationship Designer Express.
