About this task
A message map is the IBM® Integration Bus
implementation of a graphical data map. It is based on XML schema and
XPath 2.0 standards.
A message map offers the ability to achieve the transformation of a
message without the need to write code. It provides a visual image of the transformation, and
simplifies its implementation and ongoing maintenance.
You can use a
message map to adopt any of the following
integration requirements graphically:
- Transform a message: You can use a message map to graphically transform a message assembly, message body, and
properties, according to the transforms and XPath functions defined in the message map. You can use the full set of XPath 2.0 expressions and
functions to implement data calculations and manipulations in a message map. To define the input and output messages to a map, you can use
a schema base message model, which defines the structure of the data and provides information about
the data type, or you can define it dynamically in the map by using the
Add user defined function.
- Enrich a message with data available in an external
database: You can use a message map to enrich, or conditionally
set the output message with data from a database table. The table
data structure must be defined to the message map, and an SQL where clause
can be used to select specific rows. The resulting row data is presented
as an extra input in the message map,
according to the database schema.
- Modify data located in an external database.
- Route a message based on content: You can
use a message map to graphically
route a message. You can modify the local environment tree to set
a dynamic message destination.
Read the following sections to learn how to design,
create, configure, and troubleshoot a message map and its associated resources: