Converting business objects to specified data formats

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

Figure 37 illustrates request processing with the Complex Data data handler:

Figure 37. Request processing with the Complex Data data handler


  1. The adapter receives a service call request.
  2. The adapter sends the business object to the Complex Data data handler using the getStringFromBO() or getStreamFromBO() methods from the data handler API.
  3. The Complex Data data handler invokes the XML data handler, passing the business object. The result of the execution is an XML string.
  4. The Complex Data data handler receives the XML string from the XML data handler and initializes a session with the ContentMaster engine.
  5. The ContentMaster engine is invoked with the XML string and the Serializer name determined from the data handler configuration meta-object. The output from the Content Master engine is either a String or a byte[].
  6. The Complex Data data handler sends either a String(if text) or an InputStream(if byte[]) back to the calling adapter.
  7. The native data is sent to the application, file, transport, or other client based on the adapter being used and its configuration.

Copyright IBM Corp. 1997, 2004