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Node-Hierarchy Level Matching

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BizTalk Mapper enables you to configure a link property to control how the compiler matches node hierarchies between the source and destination schemas. When you create a link from a field in the source schema to a field in the destination schema, BizTalk Mapper automatically adds compiler links. These compiler links depend on the matching you select.

When you select a link in the displayed grid page, one of the properties displayed in the Visual Studio Properties window is the Target Links property. You can choose among the following possible values for each link in your map:

  • Flatten links. Use this value to flatten all source hierarchies to the parent record in the destination schema node.

  • Match links top down. Use this value to match node levels from the top of the schemas to the bottom of the schemas.

  • Match links bottom up. Use this value to match node levels from the bottom of the schemas to the top of the schemas.

In this mode, all the source hierarchies are flattened to the parent record of the destination node. In the first case, the source schema is more complex than the destination schema. In the second case, the destination schema is more complex.

Image that shows how the source schema is more complex than the destination schema.
Flatten Links

Image that shows how the destination schema is more complex.
Flatten Links, Second Case

This mode matches level to level from the top down. In the first case, the source schema is more complex than the destination schema. In the second case, the destination schema is more complex.

Image that shows an example of top-down matching.
Top-Down Matching

Image that shows a second example of top-down matching.
Top-Down Matching, Second Case

This mode matches level to level from the bottom up. In the first case, the source schema is more complex than the destination schema. In the second case, the destination schema is more complex.

Image that shows an example of bottom-up matching.
Bottom-Up Matching

Image that shows a second example of bottom-up matching.
Bottom-Up Matching, Second Case

Because you can set the Target Links property to different values for different links, BizTalk Mapper needs a way to resolve the different settings when they may conflict.

For example, if you use a flatten compiler directive, a top-down compiler directive, and a bottom-up compiler directive for links from Field nodes to Field nodes in the destination schema, and these nodes share the same parent Record node, BizTalk Mapper ignores the conflicting top-down and bottom-up compiler directives and treats all the links as if they were set to the flatten compiler directive.

The following table shows how BizTalk Mapper treats links to Field nodes in the same Record node in the destination schema, based on the settings for the Target Links property for the links within the same Record node.

Flatten Top-down Bottom-up Result
0 or more 1 or more 1 or more BizTalk Mapper treats all the links as if they were set to the flatten compiler directive.
1 or more 1 or more 0 BizTalk Mapper treats all the links as if they were set to the top-down compiler directive.
1 or more 0 1 or more BizTalk Mapper treats all the links as if they were set to the bottom-up compiler directive.

The top-down and bottom-up compiler directives take precedence over the flatten compiler directive, but cancel each other out when both are present.

See Also

Mass Copy Functoid
How to Set the Source Links Compiler Value
Compiling Maps