Welcome again to another BizTalk Server Best Practices, Tips, and Tricks blog post! In my previous blog posts, I discussed some essential tips and tricks for BizTalk Server administrators:
And for BizTalk Server Developers:
Today we are going to switch and speak about another critical Best practice, Tips, and Tricks, this time for BizTalk Server developers: Orchestration Designer Shortcut Keys
#18 Orchestration Designer Shortcut Keys
The Orchestration Designer design surface provides full accessibility using the keyboard. This accessibility begins when you open the design surface, which you can do in Visual Studio by selecting menu options starting with the New option on the Filemenu.
Accessibility is also supported within the design surface, where, for example, you can select different shapes and parts of shapes by pressing the Up and Down arrows. When a shape is selected on the design surface, it is highlighted on the design surface and in the Orchestration View window (if applicable). At the same time, the Properties grid also displays information about the selected shape.
Orchestration Designer supports accessibility by providing many shortcut keys. Different shortcut keys are available depending on what part of the design surface you use.
You can also use many of the existing shortcuts available in Visual Studio, for example, when you are using Microsoft IntelliSense in the BizTalk Expression Editor.
Shortcut Keys General to the Design Surface
Key
Effect
TAB
Moves the selection and focus to the shape with inactive selection in the next design surface area on the right (the Process Area or Port Surface). Example: Selection and focus are currently on a port in the left Port Surface. When the TAB key is pressed, selection and focus move to the shape with an inactive focus in the Process Area.
SHIFT + TAB
Same as TAB, but in the opposite direction.
PAGE DOWN
Scrolls the page down so that later parts of the orchestration are shown. Selection and focus do not change.
PAGE UP
Same as the PAGE DOWN key, but in the opposite direction. Selection and focus do not change.
SHIFT + PAGE DOWN
Horizontally scrolls the entire design surface to the left by set increments. Selection and focus do not change.
SHIFT + PAGE UP
Same as SHIFT + PAGE DOWN except that the design surface scrolls to the right. Selection and focus do not change.
ENTER
Performs the default action for the selection, which usually means shifting focus to the Properties grid.
SPACE
Selects the shape that currently has the focus. There is no effect if the focus is on a shape connector.
CTRL + SHIFT + F1
Toggles between expansion and collapse of the Smart Tag of a selected shape. UP and DOWN ARROW can then be used to move through the items of a Smart Tag. When expanded, the Enter or Space keys execute the related action of a Smart Tag item (as well as collapsing the Smart Tag).
DELETE
Deletes the current selection.
Shortcut Keys Specific to the Process Area
Key
Effect
DOWN ARROW
Moves the selection to the next connecting line or shape below. If the shape is connected to several branches below (as in the case of a Decide shape), the selection moves to the first shape in the leftmost branch. If selection is on the End shape for the orchestration, pressing this key has no effect because there are no more shapes below it. If selection is on the Return shape within a branch of a complex shape, the next shape is the endpoint of the complex shape.
UP ARROW
Moves the selection to the next connecting line or shape above. If the shape is connected to several branches above, the selection moves to the last shape on the leftmost branch (even if the last shape of the branch is a Return shape). Pressing this key has no effect when the Start shape is selected.
LEFT ARROW
If the selection is on a Send or Receive shape and the shape is connected to a port: If the shape has a port connector leading to a port in the Left Port Surface, focus and selection shift to the port connector of the shape. If the shape has a port connector leading to a port in the Right Port Surface, pressing this key has no effect. If the shape has no port connector, navigation is the same as with any other shape. For other shapes (or Send or Receive shapes not connected to a port): If the selection is in a branch, and a branch exists with shapes on it to the left of the current branch, the selection moves to the nearest shape on the branch to the left. The key has no effect anywhere else in the orchestration.
RIGHT ARROW
Same as the LEFT ARROW key, but in the opposite direction.
HOME
The selection changes to the connector that leads from the Start shape of the orchestration.
END
The selection changes to the connector, leading to the orchestration’s End shape.
NUM LOCK + –
Collapses the selected complex shape.
NUM LOCK + +
Expands the selected complex shape.
NUM LOCK + *
Expands the selected complex shape, plus any child complex shapes it may have.
Shortcut Keys Specific to the Port Surfaces
Key
Effect
DOWN ARROW
If a Role Link has the focus, it shifts to the first port inside. If no ports are inside the Role Link, the focus shifts to the next port or Role Link below it. If a port has the focus, it shifts to the next port or operation below it. If an operation has the focus, it shifts to its first operation part. For the template, the focus shifts to the next port. If an operation part has the focus, it shifts to the next operation part, operation, or port below it. There is no effect if no more objects exist below the current one.
UP ARROW
Same as the DOWN key, but in the opposite direction. There is no effect if no more objects exist above the current one.
RIGHT ARROW
Left Port Surface: If an operation part has the focus, it goes to the first port connector leading out of it. If there are no connections on the current operation part, pressing this key has no effect. If an operation has the focus, the focus goes to the first port connector of the operation’s first part that has a connection. If there are no connections in the operation, pressing this key has no effect. If a port connector gets the focus, whatever was selected in the Port Surface receives inactive selection. Right Port Surface: No effect.
LEFT ARROW
Same as the RIGHT ARROW key, except in the opposite directions (that is, no effect for the left Port Surface, and the focus can go onto a port connector for the right Port Surface).
HOME
Focus and selection shift to the first shape in the channel.
END
Focus and selection shift to the last shape in the channel.
Shortcut Keys Specific to Port Connectors
Key
Effect
RIGHT ARROW
Port connectors leading to the Left Port Surface: Focus and selection shift to the connecting Send or Receive shape. The port connector is deselected. Port connectors leading to the Right Port Surface: Focus and selection shift to the connecting operation part. In this case, whatever has a selection in the Process Area now receives an inactive selection.
LEFT ARROW
Same as the RIGHT ARROW key, except directions are reversed.
DOWN ARROW
Focus and selection shift to the port connector on the next operation part. If the last connector on the last port has focus, pressing this key has no effect.
UP ARROW
Same as the DOWN ARROW key, except in the opposite direction. If the first connector has focus, pressing this key has no effect.
HOME
Focus shifts to the shape connector leading out of the Start shape.
END
The focus shifts to the shape connector leading into the End shape.
DELETE
The port connector is deleted. This clears the Port Operation property on the Send or Receive shape. Focus shifts to the affected Send or Receive shape.
I hope you enjoy this developer tip and stay tuned for the following BizTalk Server Best practices, Tips, and Tricks.
Author: Sandro Pereira
Sandro Pereira lives in Portugal and works as a consultant at DevScope. In the past years, he has been working on implementing Integration scenarios both on-premises and cloud for various clients, each with different scenarios from a technical point of view, size, and criticality, using Microsoft Azure, Microsoft BizTalk Server and different technologies like AS2, EDI, RosettaNet, SAP, TIBCO etc.
He is a regular blogger, international speaker, and technical reviewer of several BizTalk books all focused on Integration. He is also the author of the book “BizTalk Mapping Patterns & Best Practices”. He has been awarded MVP since 2011 for his contributions to the integration community.
View all posts by Sandro Pereira
Time to start another series of blog posts about Logic Apps: Data Mapper Tricks and Tips! Where I will address simple tips and tricks, we can apply to our Data Mapper to be more productive, solve a problem, or help bypass some limitations or constraints.
For this first blog post, I decided to explain a simple workaround that we can use today to help us organize our maps better in order for them to be more readable. Unfortunately, at the moment, I’m writing this post when we add a Function to our map we cannot drag and drop the function into another position in the data mapper area. That means that often when we are applying the mapping rules, they will get overlap as you see in the picture below:
In this case, the To Integer Function is on top of the Concat function, which makes it difficult to read and work inside the Data Mapper. In this sort video, we will see a very useful trick and Tip to organize our functions inside the Logic Apps (Standard) Data Mapper – it may not work in all scenarios but is the best option we have for now.
P.S: Microsoft is working on adding this drag and drop capability, so in the future, we will be able to move the shapes, aka functions, in the mapping area.
Hope you find this helpful! So, if you liked the content or found it helpful and want to help me write more content, you can buy (or help buy) my son a Star Wars Lego!
Author: Sandro Pereira
Sandro Pereira lives in Portugal and works as a consultant at DevScope. In the past years, he has been working on implementing Integration scenarios both on-premises and cloud for various clients, each with different scenarios from a technical point of view, size, and criticality, using Microsoft Azure, Microsoft BizTalk Server and different technologies like AS2, EDI, RosettaNet, SAP, TIBCO etc.
He is a regular blogger, international speaker, and technical reviewer of several BizTalk books all focused on Integration. He is also the author of the book “BizTalk Mapping Patterns & Best Practices”. He has been awarded MVP since 2011 for his contributions to the integration community.
View all posts by Sandro Pereira
As part of the Intergalactic Automation Summit 2022 online event organized by the Power Community that is taking place between 4-6th February 2022:
4th Feb- Power Automate Bootcamp
5th Feb- Azure Integration Bootcamp
6th Feb- Power Platform ALM DevOps
All of these events are free! And you can register here.
I choose to submit a session to the Azure Integration Bootcamp, and I’m honored to be accepted as a guest speaker on a session about Logic Apps: A new set of Best practices, tips and tricks. My session will take place at 11:00 am according to GMT/UTC.
Logic Apps: A new set of Best practices, tips and tricks
As I mentioned before, my session will be all about best practices and small tips and tricks that we can apply to our Logic Apps flows. For those reasons, I would like to invite you to join me at the Azure Integration Bootcamp virtual event on Saturday, February 5, 2022.
Session name: Logic Apps: A new set of Best practices, tips and tricks
Abstract: A brand new set of tips and tricks and best practices that you should know for being more productive and building more reliable and effective Logic Apps. This is not an introduction session anymore. In this session, we will go through a list of 10 new best practices, tips, and tricks addressing advanced topics like deployment, dynamic connectors configurations, etc.
Join us and reserve your presence at the Azure Integration Bootcamp virtual event on Saturday, February 5, 2022, it is free!
As part of the Intergalactic Automation Summit 2022 online event organized by the Power Community that is taking place between 4-6th February 2022:
4th Feb- Power Automate Bootcamp
5th Feb- Azure Integration Bootcamp
6th Feb- Power Platform ALM DevOps
All of these events are free! And you can register here.
I choose to submit a session to the Power Automate Bootcamp, and I’m honored to be accepted as a guest speaker on a session about Power Automation: A new set of Best practices, tips and tricks. My session will take place at 05:00 pm according to GMT/UTC.
Power Automation: A new set of Best practices, tips and tricks
As I mentioned before, my session will be all about best practices and small tips and tricks that we can apply to our Power Automate flows. For those reasons, I would like to invite you to join me at the Power Automate Bootcamp virtual event on Friday, February 4, 2022.
Session name: Power Automation: A new set of Best practices, tips and tricks
Abstract: A brand new set of tips and tricks and best practices that you should know for being more productive and building more reliable and effective Power Automate flows. This is not an introduction session anymore. Instead, this session will go through a list of 10 new best practices, tips, and tricks addressing advanced topics like deployment, dynamic connectors configurations, etc.
Join us and reserve your presence at the Power Automate Bootcamp virtual event on Friday, February 4, 2022, it is free!
As part of the Intergalactic Automation Summit 2022 online event organized by the Power Community that is taking place between 4-6th February 2022:
4th Feb- Power Automate Bootcamp
5th Feb- Azure Integration Bootcamp
6th Feb- Power Platform ALM DevOps
All of these events are free! And you can register here.
I choose to submit a session to the Global Automation Bootcamp, and I’m honored to be accepted as a guest speaker on a session about How to monitor your integrations solutions with Automation Account. My session will take place at 05:00 pm according to GMT/UTC.
How to monitor your integrations solutions with Automation Account
In this session, we will address how you can monitor your integrations solutions using Azure Integration Account running PowerShell Runbooks and Logic Apps to notify inconsistencies in your solutions. For those reasons, I would like to invite you to join me at the Global Automation Bootcamp virtual event on Friday, February 4, 2022.
Session name: How to monitor your integrations solutions with Automation Account
Abstract: In this session, we will address how you can monitor your integrations solutions using Azure Integration Account running PowerShell Runbooks and Logic Apps to notify inconsistencies in your solutions.
Join us and reserve your presence at the Global Automation Bootcamp virtual event on Friday, February 4, 2022, it is free!
After I delivered 21 lectures last year, it is time to start the 2022 season in a “new place” (it is virtual): Chicago! The M365 Chicago Virtual Conference brought to you by VEEAM is a free online (in Microsoft Teams), one-day event on Friday, January 14, 2022. The event will run from 8:30 am ~ 4:30 pm Central Time. ?
Microsoft 365 specialists, Cloud IT administrators, Power Platform administrators, end-users, architects, developers, and other professionals that work with Microsoft Collaboration or Cloud Technologies will meet to share the latest information for working with anything and everything related to Microsoft 365 and Power Platform.
“M365 Below in Chicago!” is a community-led event dedicated to educating and engaging members of the technical community. The event draws upon the expertise of IT Professionals, Microsoft MVPs, Developers, Solution Architects, and other experts who come together to share their real-world experiences, lessons learned, best practices, and general knowledge with other like-minded individuals.
You will find sessions on different subjects like:
I choose to submit a session to this event, and I’m honored to be accepted as a guest speaker on a session about Power Automation: A new set of Best practices, tips and tricks. My session will take place at 03:00 pm according to UTC+0 on the Water Tower Power Platform room.
Power Automation: A new set of Best practices, tips and tricks
As I mentioned before, my session will be all about best practices and small tips and tricks that we can apply to our Power Automate flows. For those reasons, I would like to invite you to join me at the M365 Below in Chicago! virtual event on Friday, January 14, 2022.
Session name: Power Automation: A new set of Best practices, tips and tricks
Abstract: A brand new set of tips and tricks and best practices that you should know for being more productive and building more reliable and effective Power Automate flows. This is not an introduction session anymore. Instead, this session will go through a list of 10 new best practices, tips, and tricks addressing advanced topics like deployment, dynamic connectors configurations, etc.
Join us and reserve your presence at the M365 Below in Chicago! virtual event on Friday, January 14, 2022, it is free!
As part of the Global Power Platform Bootcamp, the Lüdinghausen / PASS RG Münsterland, Deutschland is organizing a virtual event that runs from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Lectures and workshops are about Microsoft Power Platform (Power BI, Power Automate, Power Apps, and Power Virtual Agents). This is basically two days of Power Platform Festival – free events that are driven by user groups and communities around the world, for anyone who wants to learn more about Microsoft’s Power Platform that you can know more bout it here: Global Power Platform Bootcamp.
I choose to submit a session to the Lüdinghausen / PASS RG Münsterland, Deutschland community and I’m honored to be accepted as a guest speaker on a session about Power Automation: Best practices, tips and tricks. My session will take place at 12:00 am according to GMT+1.
Power Automation: Best practices, tips and tricks
As I mentioned before, my session will be all about best practices and small tips and tricks that we can apply to our Power Automate flows. For those reasons, I would like to invite you to join me at the Global Power Platform Bootcamp – Lüdinghausen / PASS RG Münsterland, Deutschland virtual event on Friday, February 19, 2021.
Session name: Power Automation: Best practices, tips and tricks
Abstract: In this session, we will do a reflection to your existing Power Automation flows and when thru a list of must-have best practices, tips, and tricks that will allow you to build more reliable and effective flows. At the same time, these will allow you to be more productive and document your flow’s from the beginning. I will be sharing 10 tips that you should know for being more productive and build epic flows!
Sometimes we want to bypass the adapters and perform the communication thru .NET code. Sometimes we want to access multiple values, or recursive values, of a message inside a helper class that supports an orchestration. Sometimes we want to perform a complex transformation or construct a message thru .NET code instead of a BizTalk Server map.
And for each of these circumstances, we can have several approaches, one that is simple, effective, and transversal to all of them is to use the XML Schema to generate a .NET class. This way, you have a quick and straightforward way to represent the messages you get from your BizTalk processes into a .NET class.
The easy way to generate classes that conform to a specific schema is to use the need to use the XML Schema Definition tool (Xsd.exe). You can do that by:
Open a Developer Command Prompt for VS <edition>
On the command prompt, navigate to the Schema folder and type
xsd /classes /language:CS Schema1.xsd
For complex schemas that import or include other schemas you need to provide all the dependencies, for example:
xsd /classes /language:CS Schema1.xsdSchema2.xsd
Now you will be able to import the C# class generated by the tool to your helper project and the rest is simple!
On the Orchestration you can create a variable that represents that class:
On property Type select <.NET Class…> and select the class that you created previously
From the Browse and Select .Net Type to reference, you need to select the proper assembly and the Type.
Then by using C# code inside Message Assign or Expression Shape you can serialize or deserialize XML document into C# and vice versa in a simple and straightforward way
//CONVERT MESSAGE INTO C# OBJECT
varPersonMsg = msgInput;
//CONVERT C# OBJECT INTO BIZTALK MESSAGE
msgOutput4 = varPersonMsg;
or if we have a function in a helper class like:
public static XmlDocument MapPersons(Person person)
{
...
}
we can directly pass the message to the function without the need to create a variable:
Implementation of Microsoft 365 went rocket high when Covid19 disrupted the entire world. People are more social through technology due to worldwide lockdowns. As we take advantage of new technology, the addons that follow can help grow your business, expand the capabilities, improve the processes and make your workers more efficient.
Webinar: PowerTalk by Atea is an event that will go through the tools Power Automate and Power Apps included in Microsoft365. From the basics to the more advanced scenarios. How to ensure that governance and security are taken into consideration and amended to create a secure way for your employees to become more digital and efficient.
I’m honored to be a guest speaker at this event on a session about Power Automation: Best practices, tips and tricks. My session will take place at 10:00 am according to GMT+1.
Power Automation: Best practices, tips and tricks
As I mentioned before, my session will be all about best practices and small tips and tricks that we can apply to our Power Automate flows. For those reasons, I would like to invite you to join me at the Webinar: PowerTalk by Atea virtual event on Thursday, February 25, 2021.
Session name: Power Automation: Best practices, tips and tricks
Abstract: In this session, we will do a reflection to your existing Power Automation flows and when thru a list of must-have best practices, tips, and tricks that will allow you to build more reliable and effective flows. At the same time, these will allow you to be more productive and document your flow’s from the beginning. I will be sharing 10 tips that you should know for being more productive and build epic flows!
Global Automation Bootcamp 2021 will occur between 5th-27th February, where it will be delivered 53 sessions across six days on Power Automate, Powershell, Azure, LogicApps, and Functions, WebHooks, Runbooks, DevOps, Selenium, and RPA to automate administrative manual business operations.
5th February – Global Automation Bootcamp Day 1
6th/7th February – Power Automate Bootcamp
13th February – RPA Bootcamp
20th February – Azure Track
20th February – Powershell Saturday
27th February – UI Test Automation Bootcamp
I’m honored to be accepted and allowed to speak at this event on a session about Power Automation: Best practices, tips and tricks. My session will take place on the second day, Saturday – February 6, 2021, on the track/day Power Automate Saturday Bootcamp at 11 am according to GMT/UTC.
Power Automation: Best practices, tips and tricks
As I mentioned before, my session will be all about best practices and small tips and tricks that we can apply to our Power Automate flows. For those reasons, I would like to invite you to join me at the Global Automation Bootcamp 2021 virtual event on Saturday, February 6, 2021.
Session name: Power Automation: Best practices, tips and tricks
Abstract: In this session, we will do a reflection to your existing Power Automation flows and when thru a list of must-have best practices, tips, and tricks that will allow you to build more reliable and effective flows. At the same time, these will allow you to be more productive and document your flow’s from the beginning. I will be sharing 10 tips that you should know for being more productive and build epic flows!
