In WebSphere business integration system business objects, metadata is stored in a business object definition and which helps the connector interact with an application. A metadata-driven connector handles each business object that it supports based on metadata encoded in the business object definition rather than on instructions hard-coded in the connector.
Business object metadata includes the structure of a business object, the settings of its attribute properties, and the content of its application-specific information. Because the adapter is metadata-driven, it can handle new or modified business objects without requiring modifications to the connector code. However, the connector's configured data handler makes assumptions about the structure of its business objects, object cardinality, the format of the application-specific information, and the database representation of the business object. Therefore, when you create or modify a business object for SAP XI, your modifications must conform to the rules the connector is designed to follow, so that the connector can correctly process new or modified business objects.
After installing the adapter, create business objects. There are no requirements regarding the structure of the business objects other than those imposed by the configured data handler. The business objects that the connector processes can have any name allowed by Integration Broker. For more on naming conventions, see Naming CrossWorlds Components.
There are two methods for generating business objects. The preferred method is to generate business objects from imported IDOC structures. The alternate method is to generate business objects from XML schema definitions in the SAP Interface Repository (IFR).
XML Object Discovery Agent (ODA) generates business objects from any schema or document type definition (DTD) that conforms to W3C guidelines. For more information about this functionality, see the XML ODA User Guide. To generate business objects for the SAP XI adapter:
The preferred method for generating business objects is to import them from existing IDoc structures. To generate business objects for the SAP XI adapter:
XML Object Discovery Agent (ODA) generates business objects from any schema or document type definition (DTD) that conforms to W3C guidelines. For more information about this functionality, see the XML ODA User Guide. To generate business objects for the SAP XI adapter:
Below is a sample business object properties for an SAP XI connector with the XML data handler.
[ReposCopy]Version = 3.0.0
[End]
[BusinessObjectDefinition]
Name = MATMAS01
Version = 3.0.0
AppSpecificInfo = elem_fd=unqualified;attr_fd=unqualified
[Attribute]
Name = XMLDeclaration
Type = String
Cardinality = 1
MaxLength = 255
IsKey = false
IsForeignKey = false
IsRequired = false
AppSpecificInfo = type=pi
IsRequiredServerBound = false
[End]
[Attribute]
Name = ROOT
Type = MATMAS01_MATMAS01
ContainedObjectVersion = 3.0.0
Relationship = Containment
Cardinality = 1
MaxLength = 255
IsKey = false
IsForeignKey = false
IsRequired = false
AppSpecificInfo = elem_name=MATMAS01
IsRequiredServerBound = false
[End]
[Attribute]
Name = ObjectEventId
Type = String
Cardinality = 1
MaxLength = 255
IsKey = false
IsForeignKey = false
IsRequired = false
IsRequiredServerBound = false
[End]
[Verb]
Name = Create
[End]
[Verb]
Name = Delete
[End]
[Verb]
Name = Retrieve
[End]
[Verb]
Name = Update