B2B Gateway uses transformation services to convert inbound EDI messages to interface files and convert interface files to outbound EDI messages. B2B Gateway mappings include out-of-the-box transformation services that converts a specific message type in its standard format. You can create custom transformation services to process customized EDI messages and to enable EDI UCS and VICS messages in outbound flows.
Customized EDI messages
Your organization or your partners might choose to customize EDI messages by adding or removing message elements. To process the customized messages, you create custom transformation services that are based on out-of-the-box transformation services of the same message type.
For example, consider an online furniture vendor that uses EDI 850 Purchase Order messages. The EDI 850 message structure defines hundreds of data elements. The vendor uses most of the standard elements, but customizes their messages by removing and adding the following elements:
•Removing the batch number and expiration elements
•Adding a custom element for the wood type
To process the customized EDI 850 messages from this vendor, create a custom B2B Gateway transformation service that is based on the standard EDI 850 transformation service, remove the unused elements from it, and add a wood type element to it.
Outbound UCS and VICS messages
EDI UCS and VICS are subsets of the EDI standard. To send UCS and VICS messages to partners, create a custom B2B Gateway transformation service for each message type, version, and EDI subset that you want to use in outbound partner flows. You don't need to create custom B2B Gateway transformation services for inbound UCS and VICS messages.
For example, to send 810 VICS messages, create a custom B2B Gateway transformation service for 810 VICS. To send 880 UCS messages, create a custom B2B Gateway transformation service for 810 UCS.
B2B Gateway manages the customized services in the B2B Gateway repository. You select the customized service when you create a partner, for the appropriate message type.
To work with transformation services, you must have administrative privileges.
Custom B2B Gateway transformation service process
You use custom B2B Gateway transformation services to process customized EDI messages and to process outbound EDI UCS and VICS messages.
To create a custom B2B Gateway transformation service, perform the following tasks:
1In B2B Gateway, search for and download an out-of-the-box transformation service for the standard form of the same EDI message.
2Depending on the type of custom B2B Gateway transformation service you create, perform one of the following tasks:
- To create a custom B2B Gateway transformation service for customized EDI messages, edit the relevant out-of-the-box transformation service to align with the customized message structure. You can edit the service with Data Transformation, using the Library Customization Tool. For more information, see the Data Transformation User Guide.
- To create a custom B2B Gateway transformation service for outbound EDI UCS or VICS messages, edit the serializer of the relevant out-of-the-box transformation service to indicate the relevant message subset type, UCS or VICS. You can use any editor that opens TGP files to edit the serializer.
3Create a custom B2B Gateway transformation service and associate the custom transformation service with it.
When you define a partner in B2B Gateway, you can associate a custom transformation service with a specific EDI message that is sent from or to the partner. B2B Gateway runs the service when a flow runs for the partner for the message that is associated with the service.
Searching for a B2B Gateway transformation service
Custom transformation services and out-of-the-box transformation services are displayed in different views on the Transformation Service Management page. Search for a transformation service in the appropriate view. The default view shows custom transformation services.
1On the upper right of the Home page, click Transformation Service Management. To switch to the out-of-the-box view, select Out-of-the-Box.
2In the search field, type any part of the service name or description.
The services that match your search are displayed on the Transformation Service Management page.
Downloading a B2B Gateway transformation service
You can download both custom and out-of-the-box transformation services to your local machine. After you download an out-of-the-box transformation service, you can use the service as a template to base a custom transformation service on.
1On the upper right of the Home page, click Transformation Service Management. To switch to the out-of-the-box view, select Out-of-the-Box.
2Select the row that contains the service, click the Download icon, and then save the ZIP file to your local machine.
3Unzip the file to a folder with a unique name. Names are case sensitive.
Editing a transformation service serializer for EDI VICS and UCS outbound messages
To create a customized B2B Gateway transformation service for an EDI VICS or UCS outbound message type, edit the initialization value of the out-of-the-box transformation service serializer to include the relevant message subset type, UCS or VICS. Perform this task for each message type, version, and EDI subset type that you want to use in outbound partner flows.
1In an editor, open the following file from the folder where you downloaded the out-of-the-box transformation service:
For example, to edit the serializer of message type 4010, version 204, open the following file:
\scrips\X12_4010_204_serializer_variables.tgp
2Expand the functionalGroupVersionsSupported function, and add the message subset type to the value of initialization. For example, to use message type 4010 VICS in outbound flows, change the value of initialization to 004010VICS.
3Save the file.
Creating a custom B2B Gateway transformation service
When you create a custom B2B Gateway transformation service, you upload a transformation service that you created or edited externally.
By default, B2B Gateway uploads the message schema that is associated with the transformation service to Informatica Intelligent Cloud Services as a hierarchical schema. You can use the hierarchical schema with the Hierarchy Parser or Hierarchy Builder transformations in Data Integration mappings. You can select not to upload the schema when you create the service.
1On the upper right of the Home page, click Transformation Service Management and then click New Service.
The New Service dialog box opens.
2Browse to find the folder that contains the transformation service that you created or edited externally.
If you use a Chrome browser, select the folder. If you use Internet Explorer, select all the files in the folder.
3B2B Gateway transformation service names must be unique. If a B2B Gateway transformation service by the name of the transformation service that you selected exists, rename the service. The name is case sensitive.
4Optionally, add a description to the service. The description must not contain angled brackets (< or >).
5To prevent B2B Gateway from uploading the message schema to B2B Gateway, deselect Upload Schema.
6If Upload Schema is selected, in Schema Root, select the root element of the schema.
You can select a root element that is used by the out-of-the-box transformation services or select a custom root element.
7Click Save.
The transformation service appears on the Custom view of Transformation Service Management page.
Editing a custom B2B Gateway transformation service
When you edit a custom B2B Gateway transformation service, you can associate a different transformation service with the service, select whether or not the upload the message schema to Informatica Intelligent Cloud Services, and select the root element of the schema.
1On the upper right of the Home page, click Transformation Service Management.
2Select the row that contains the service and then click the Edit icon.
3To associate a different transformation service with the custom transformation service, browse to find the directory that contains the transformation service.
If you use a Chrome browser, select the folder. If you use Internet Explorer, select all the files in the folder.
4To select whether or not the upload the message schema to Informatica Intelligent Cloud Services, select or deselect Upload Schema, as appropriate.
5If you selected Upload Schema, in Schema Root, select the root element of the schema.
6Click Save.
Deleting a custom B2B Gateway transformation service
You can delete a custom B2B Gateway transformation service that isn't assigned to a partner. You can't delete custom transformation services that are assigned to partners and out-of-the-box transformation services.
1On the upper right of the Home page, click Transformation Service Management.
2Select the row that contains the service and then click the Delete icon.
3If the transformation schema is used by a mapping in Data Integration, a warning message is displayed. Click OK.