Instance Tracking

Transformation Manager is a general-purpose transformation product that may be used in a number of different scenarios – database, XML, flat file or Java. However, a very common use case is the XML to XML transformation. Although the intention eventually is probably to deploy this in a messaging or J2EE environment it is common to develop the transform itself by transforming between representative XML files. In addition, standards bodies usually publish example XML files in conjunction with the standards.

A very powerful feature has been added to TM for working with XML to XML transforms. As the transforms are being created a view of the target is dynamically constructed providing immediate feedback to the designer. If indeed example sources and targets are available, which is quite a common scenario, the designer is presented with a view that compares the XML target so far created with the expected target and highlights any differences. It’s so simple to ensure that your transforms meet the desired objectives!

TM's dynamic XML instance data construction and comparison feature (DDCC) is designed to take maximum advantage of the information that is available. The same feature is also useful even where representative targets are not available – the comparison feature is simply ignored, but the dynamic building and display provides instant feedback.

The DDCC concept may be illustrated as follows:

DDCC is always valuable, but is of particular value when the data models are large – and typically standard-based models are large, if not huge – but where the instances are quite small. In the finance space, for example, FpML contains 1134 elements, which allows it to represent an enormous number of different financial trading messages, while any individual message may contain 20-30 elements. Similar examples occur in almost all industries. The WITSML model used in oilfield exploration and production is similarly large, but again actual messages contain only a score or so distinctive elements.

Thus when the data models are large and the business logic complex writing transforms can be confusing. It is in this scenario that Transformation Manager’s (TM) Dynamic Data Construction and Comparison (DDCC) facility helps to construct the project methodically, clearly and correctly. It allows the user, while constructing the project, continuously to view the instance data populating the target as the project is being constructed and immediately compare the populated target with an expected target.

The Entity Values Expected View shows the expected target model in its entirety:

The Target View displays the section of the target model that has been populated. The populated section appears in dark text, the remainder in light grey.

For further information, see the example document: Dynamic XML Instance data Construction and Comparison (DDCC)