Converting specified data formats to business objects

To convert a specific data format to a business object, the Complex Data data handler invokes the ContentMaster Parser specified by the associated data handler child meta-object. It uses the associated data handler to convert the specified data format into XML. The data handler then invokes the XML data handler to convert this XML into a business object.

Figure 38 illustrates the ContentMaster event handling run-time process.

Figure 38. Event notification with the Complex Data data handler


  1. The adapter receives an event notification.
  2. The adapter sends the data to the Complex Data data handler.
  3. The Complex Data data handler invokes the ContentMaster Engine, passing the input data and the name of the parser to execute. The parser executes and returns the resulting XML string.
  4. The Complex Data data handler determines the name of the business object and its associated verb.

    Name resolution is performed by the NameHandler specified in the XML data handler configuration meta-object. The XML datahander configuration meta-object is specified by the Complex Data data handler meta-object's XMLDH_ConfigMO attribute.

    Verb resolution is performed based on the process specifed in the Verb Resolution section below.

  5. The Complex Data data handler uses the XML data handler to process the XML string and the business object instance from Step 3.
  6. The populated business object created from the XML string is returned to the calling adapter.
  7. The business object is passed on to the broker.

Verb Resolution

When converting from a specific data format to a business object, the business object can be assigned a verb. This process is refered to as verb resolution. There are two ways a verb can be set on the business object instance. Verb resolution is attempted in the following order:

  1. The Complex Data data handler inspects the XML received from ContentMaster for a processing instruction in the format: <?Verb Create?>
  2. The Complex Data data handler inspects the Business Object Level Application-specific information field for the string: Verb=Create. ( Note: that with this approach the BO will be tied to one specific verb)

If a verb can not be determined using one of the above schemes, the verb will remain unset (CxBlank). If the verb is unset, it's assumed that the calling adapter will set the verb.

Copyright IBM Corp. 1997, 2004