The IBM WebSphere InterChange Server system contains a Java mapping API, the Mapping API, that includes methods for handling common data transformation situations. Graphical design tools are provided for creating the two principal components of IBM WebSphere InterChange Server mapping--maps and relationship definitions:
The Map Designer tool is used for creating and compiling maps.
The Relationship Designer tool is used for creating relationship definitions and the table schemas that are used to store the runtime relationship instance data.
Both map and relationship definitions reside in the InterChange Server's repository. Like business object definitions, relationship definitions function as specifications or templates for the instances that are created. Unlike instances of business objects, relationship instances persist, and are stored in special tables for each relationship.
Each time the system receives a request to transform a given business object, it executes the associated map, and, depending upon the purpose of the transformation, creates one or more instances of its associated relationship definitions. Relationship instances created during map execution contain the runtime data from the attributes they associate, and this data is stored in the relationship tables.
For more information about how the mapping tools work, start with Chapter 1 of the Map Development Guide.