Evaluating on the amount of items returned in a message

Hi Grant,

   If you can’t get the pipeline component to work, I would suggest that you use XPath and XQuery inside your orchestration to parse your BodyPart entity (to determine batch size) and construct your output message accordingly.

   Best,

   Daniel.

Hi Daniel,

                   thank you once again i will work on that solution.

Thanks again for your time.

Grant

Hi All,

            is it possible to do a foreach statement within and expression shape:

i.e.

Foreach (BACSBody <= 30)

{

RemXmlDoc = new System.Xml.XmlDocument();

RemitXmlDoc.LoadXml(strHeaderRemitMsg+”<BACSBody>”+sbRemitMsg.ToString()+”</BACSBody>”+strTrailerRemitMsg);

}

Or awa y do this?

Kind Regards,

Grant

Hi Grant,

    BizTalk uses XLANGs as its programming language in Orchestrations and underlying shapes, it’s derived from C# and is limited in its scope and syntax. For instance, the statement “Foreach” is not allowed.

    You can use XPath to achieve what you want in parsing and grouping the contents of your output message. Here’s a link on how to get started on XPath: http://www.w3schools.com/xpath/default.asp

    The following link is a sample from BizTalkGurus on using XPath in orchestrations (written for version 2004 but still applicable for 2006 R2):

https://www.biztalkgurus.com/media/p/15516.aspx

    Here’s a link to another blog that you would find useful dealing with XPath: http://geekswithblogs.net/sthomas/archive/2004/10/25/13269.aspx

    I hope this is enough information to get you started… Let me know how you make out on this.

    Daniel.

Hi Daniel,

                  I am using xPath to return  the count of the amount of records.

Expression Sharp

nRecordCount = System.Convert.ToInt32(xpath(Input, “count(//*[local-name()=’Person’])”)); //Say return 100

///This is the new part i wanted to do

was if (nRecordCount ==< 30)

{

RemitXmlDoc.LoadXml(strHeaderRemitMsg+”<BACSBody>”+sbRemitMsg.ToString()+”</BACSBody>”+strTrailerRemitMsg);

But the problem is I may have to repeat this as there could be a return of 300 or more:

The part I do not understand is would I have to rewirte the adding of strHeaderRemitMsg+”<BACSBody>”+sbRemitMsg.ToString()+”</BACSBody>”+strTrailerRemitMsg

if xPath?

Kind Regards,

Grant 

} 

Hi Grant,

   Have a look at the following link: http://blog.eliasen.dk/2006/11/05/LoopingAroundElementsOfAMessage.aspx

   You would follow the same pattern that the blog’s author details in Suggestion 1 with the loop and counters, etc.

    Inside your loop, you would assign the following statement to a String variable in an Expression shape: MyVar = MyVar + “<BACSBody>”+sbRemitMsg.ToString()+”</BACSBody>” every time you loop through. Then you would have a decide shape inside the loop to look for a counter of batch of 30 records: if it is 30 records then you will have an Expression shape where you will do RemitXmlDoc.LoadXml(strHeaderRemitMsg + MyVar + strTrailerRemitMsg); and ouptut this message to a Send Port (if you want), reset the counter and move along in the workflow.

    This scenario would work well if your message is not that large, assuming that’s the case, otherwise your orchestration will get a performance hit.

    Regards,

    Daniel.

Hi Daniel,

             A really big thanks you!! I see the way now J

If may ask one final thing please, I knock together what you mentioned.

//Expression Shape (Get Record Count)

nRecordCount = System.Convert.ToInt32(xpath(Input, “count(//*[local-name()=’Person’])”));

nLoopCount =1;

//Loop

nLoopCount <= nRecordCount

//Decide

nLoopCount <= 30

////Expression Shape (Do Stuff)

System.Diagnostics.EventLog.WriteEntry(“ExpressionTrre”,System.Convert.ToString(nLoopCount));

////Expression Shape

nLoopCount = nLoopCount + 1;

My first 30 records take this route and the others that the ELSE route.

Now I think there is a problem with my counter in my loop, where would I reset this?

Kind regards,

Grant

Hi Grant,

    You should have another secondary counter (i.e. nMessageCount) which keeps track of number of messages to batch. In your Decide shape, your first If Branch rule should have conditional statement like nMessageCount == 30 , and in the same flow, have an Expression shape where you reset this counter and your message variable myVar :

nMessageCount = 0;

myVar = “”;

     Also, at the end of the loop, make sure to do the “stuff” one more time (the logic from your If Branch rule) so that you collect any remaining records that were not previously batched in the loop. Remember that you should increment the nMessageCount variable as you do for the nLoopCount.

   You should be all set to achieve what you want.

   Daniel.

Hi Daniel,

                 You are a gent thank you for your time and help. [:D]

Best Regards,

Grant

Hi Daniel,
                 Sorry to bother you again on this subject, I went to implement what you had suggested which seems correct but I have run into the following issue:

my decide shapes are there job ie. nLoopCount <= 30 and then the expression has the following RemitXmlDoc.LoadXml(strHeaderRemitMsg + MyVar + strTrailerRemitMsg); But what I get is for the 43 records being returned in the count I get 43 times the same message beiong repeated in the out put file:

Any ideas
Grant

Hi Grant,

   In my previous post, I mentioned that your Decide shape should have the If Branch rule with its conditional statement set to nMessageCount == 30 , with nMessageCount being a secondary counter that you would use as a message batch counter, and you would reset that counter in the If Branch rule workflow.

   Also, are you iterating through your original message in your loop, because you should not be getting the same message each time your loop comes around? To concatenate your messages together after extracting each one from your original message, define a Scope shape with transaction type Atomic, and inside that scope shape, define two variables, one of type System.Xml.XmlNode and the other of type System.Xml.XmlNodeList (let’s call them vXmlNode and vXmlNodeList). Then define an Expression shape in your Scope shape, that have the following lines of code (let’s call your original message InputMessage):

vXmlNodeList = xpath(InputMessage, “/*[local-name()=’Employees’ and namespace-uri()=”]/*[local-name()=’Employee’ and namespace-uri()=”][” + nLoopCount + “]”);

vXmlNode = vXmlNodeList.Item(0);

myVar = myVar + vXmlNode.InnerText;

   This should help you achieve what you want. Let me know how you make out on this.

   Daniel.

Hi Daniel,

                I am going to follow what you have said word for word so are you saying in the decide shape I have nLoopCount <= 30 &
nMessageCount == 30 ? did not think you could have both?

Sorry

Grant

ops ok you can let me do yhe rest of stuff you mention.

Thanks

Grant

Daniel,

             am I right in thinking

vXmlNodeList = xpath(InputMessage, “/*[local-name()=’Employees’ and namespace-uri()=”]/*[local-name()=’Employee’ and namespace-uri()=”][” + nLoopCount + “]”);

nLoopCount  is of type System.Int32 as it complaing about the conversation and I want to makesure I am following you correctly?

Hi Grant,

    Yes, convert that variable to String like this: System.Convert.ToString(nLoopCount)

   Sorry for the omission.

   Daniel.

Sorry Daniel,

                      But does the converstion have to be outside the xpath..?

This is what I have vXmlNodeList = xpath(BACSRemittanceMsg,”string(//*[local-name()=’BACSRemittance_DATA’ and namespace-uri()=’http://P5.BizTalk.Schemas.PP_SAPToBottomlineBACSRemittance_App_FF’%5D/*%5Blocal-name()=’BACSBody&#8217; and namespace-uri()=”]/*[local-name()=’BACSRemittance’ and namespace-uri()=”]/*[local-name()=’Remittance’ and namespace-uri()=”]/*[local-name()=’RemittanceDetail’ and namespace-uri()=”]/*[local-name()=’BACSRemittance_DATA’ and namespace-uri()=’http://P5.BizTalk.Schemas.PP_SAPToBottomlineBACSRemittance_App_FF’%5D/*%5Blocal-name()=’BACSBody&#8217; and namespace-uri()=”]/*[local-name()=’BACSRemittance’ and namespace-uri()=”]/*[local-name()=’Remittance’ and namespace-uri()=”]/*[local-name()=’RemittanceDetail’ and namespace-uri()=”][” + System.Convert.ToString(nLoopCount) + “]”);

Grant

Hi Grant,

    You can stick the function that does the conversion inside the call to xpath, when you pass the second argument to it.

    Daniel.

Hi Daniel,

                  Can I just give you a summary of where I am so not to waste too much of your time before I deploy and test?

Shape

 Expression

nLoopCount =1;

nMessageCount = 1;

Loop start

nLoopCount <= nRecordCount

Decide Shape

nLoopCount <= 30 & nMessageCount == 30

Atomic Scope

vXmlNodeList = xpath(BACSRemittanceMsg, “System.Convert.ToString(//*[local-name()=’BACSRemittance_DATA’ and namespace-uri()=’http://P5.BizTalk.Schemas.PP_SAPToBottomlineBACSRemittance_App_FF’%5D/*%5Blocal-name()=’BACSBody&#8217; and namespace-uri()=”]/*[local-name()=’BACSRemittance’ and namespace-uri()=”]/*[local-name()=’Remittance’ and namespace-uri()=”]/*[local-name()=’RemittanceDetail’ and namespace-uri()=”]/*[local-name()=’BACSRemittance_DATA’ and namespace-uri()=’http://P5.BizTalk.Schemas.PP_SAPToBottomlineBACSRemittance_App_FF’%5D/*%5Blocal-name()=’BACSBody&#8217; and namespace-uri()=”]/*[local-name()=’BACSRemittance’ and namespace-uri()=”]/*[local-name()=’Remittance’ and namespace-uri()=”]/*[local-name()=’RemittanceDetail’ and namespace-uri()=”][” + nLoopCount + “]”));

vXmlNode = vXmlNodeList.Item(0);

MyVar = MyVar + vXmlNode.InnerText;

Expression Add count

nLoopCount = nLoopCount + 1;

nMessageCount = nMessageCount + 1;

Any mistakes ?

Grant

Hi Grant,

    See my response below, in the quote, I am highlighting the changes in bold… Hope this makes sense.

[quote user="Zen"]

Hi Daniel,

                  Can I just give you a summary of where I am so not to waste too much of your time before I deploy and test?

Expression Shape (Initialize variables)

nLoopCount = 1;

nMessageCount = 1;

nRecordCount = ? (put your line of code here)

Loop shape (nLoopCount <= nRecordCount)

Atomic Scope shape (contains the following expression shape)

Expression shape (get individual node)

vXmlNodeList = xpath(BACSRemittanceMsg, “//*[local-name()=’BACSRemittance_DATA’ and namespace-uri()=’http://P5.BizTalk.Schemas.PP_SAPToBottomlineBACSRemittance_App_FF’%5D/*%5Blocal-name()=’BACSBody&#8217; and namespace-uri()=”]/*[local-name()=’BACSRemittance’ and namespace-uri()=”]/*[local-name()=’Remittance’ and namespace-uri()=”]/*[local-name()=’RemittanceDetail’ and namespace-uri()=”]/*[local-name()=’BACSRemittance_DATA’ and namespace-uri()=’http://P5.BizTalk.Schemas.PP_SAPToBottomlineBACSRemittance_App_FF’%5D/*%5Blocal-name()=’BACSBody&#8217; and namespace-uri()=”]/*[local-name()=’BACSRemittance’ and namespace-uri()=”]/*[local-name()=’Remittance’ and namespace-uri()=”]/*[local-name()=’RemittanceDetail’ and namespace-uri()=”][” + System.Convert.ToString(nLoopCount) + “]”);

vXmlNode = vXmlNodeList.Item(0);

MyVar = MyVar + vXmlNode.InnerText;

Decide Shape

If Branch rule (nMessageCount == 30)

Expression shape (logic for batching message)

Do something here to construct your batch message with myVar

nMessageCount = 0;

myVar = “”;

Expression shape (Add counters)

nLoopCount = nLoopCount + 1;

nMessageCount = nMessageCount + 1;

End of Loop

Expression shape (logic for batching rest of message)

Do something here to construct your batch message with myVar

Any mistakes ?

Grant

[/quote]

Hi Daniel,

                Got slightly confused so I have update accordingly with some questions:

Initialize Loop variables

nRecordCount = System.Convert.ToInt32(xpath(BACSRemittanceMsg, “count(//*[local-name()=’BACSRemittance_DATA’ and namespace-uri()=’http://P5.BizTalk.Schemas.PP_SAPToBottomlineBACSRemittance_App_FF’%5D/*%5Blocal-name()=’BACSBody&#8217; and namespace-uri()=”]/*[local-name()=’BACSRemittance’ and namespace-uri()=”]/*[local-name()=’Remittance’ and namespace-uri()=”]/*[local-name()=’RemittanceDetail’ and namespace-uri()=”]/*[local-name()=’DocumentIdentifier’ and namespace-uri()=”])”));

On the Decide shape I have only got an nLoopCount <= 30 & nMessageCount == 30 // should this only be nMessageCount == 30 ?

Expression shape (get individual node) This error in bold

vXmlNodeList = xpath(BACSRemittanceMsg, “//*[local-name()=’BACSRemittance_DATA’ and namespace-uri()=’http://P5.BizTalk.Schemas.PP_SAPToBottomlineBACSRemittance_App_FF’%5D/*%5Blocal-name()=’BACSBody&#8217; and namespace-uri()=”]/*[local-name()=’BACSRemittance’ and namespace-uri()=”]/*[local-name()=’Remittance’ and namespace-uri()=”]/*[local-name()=’RemittanceDetail’ and namespace-uri()=”]/*[local-name()=’BACSRemittance_DATA’ and namespace-uri()=’http://P5.BizTalk.Schemas.PP_SAPToBottomlineBACSRemittance_App_FF’%5D/*%5Blocal-name()=’BACSBody&#8217; and namespace-uri()=”]/*[local-name()=’BACSRemittance’ and namespace-uri()=”]/*[local-name()=’Remittance’ and namespace-uri()=”]/*[local-name()=’RemittanceDetail’ and namespace-uri()=”][” + System.Convert.ToString(nLoopCount) + “]”);

Error msg Syste.convert.ToString(nLoop must be in form of xpath

vXmlNode = vXmlNodeList.Item(0);

MyVar = MyVar + vXmlNode.InnerText;

Do something here to construct your batch message with myVar (Grant(Added))

MyVar = MyVar + “<BACSBody>”+sbRemitMsg.ToString()+”</BACSBody>”;

RemitXmlDoc.LoadXml(strHeaderRemitMsg + MyVar + strTrailerRemitMsg);

Kind Regards,

Grant

Hi Grant,

1) In your Decide shape, your If rule branch should have conditional statement set to nMessageCount == 30 only.

2) The syntax error in your xpath expression can be solved by doing this:

vXmlNodeList = xpath(BACSRemittanceMsg, “/*[local-name()=’BACSRemittance_DATA’ and namespace-uri()=’http://P5.BizTalk.Schemas.PP_SAPToBottomlineBACSRemittance_App_FF’%5D/*%5Blocal-name()=’BACSBody&#8217; and namespace-uri()=”]/*[local-name()=’BACSRemittance’ and namespace-uri()=”]/*[local-name()=’Remittance’ and namespace-uri()=”]/*[local-name()=’RemittanceDetail’ and namespace-uri()=”]/*[local-name()=’BACSRemittance_DATA’ and namespace-uri()=’http://P5.BizTalk.Schemas.PP_SAPToBottomlineBACSRemittance_App_FF’%5D/*%5Blocal-name()=’BACSBody&#8217; and namespace-uri()=”]/*[local-name()=’BACSRemittance’ and namespace-uri()=”]/*[local-name()=’Remittance’ and namespace-uri()=”]/*[local-name()=’RemittanceDetail’ and namespace-uri()=”][” + System.Convert.ToString(nLoopCount) + “]”)

3) You should construct your MyVar variable in the Expression shape as following:

MyVar = MyVar + “<BACSBody>” + vXmlNode.InnerText + “</BACSBody>”;

    Hope this helps.

   Daniel.

Daniel,

            I am really greatful for all your help:

1. still get the same syntax error:

2. If I have to construct the message as MyVar = MyVar + “<BACSBody>” + vXmlNode.InnerText + “</BACSBody>”;

Do I still need this MyVar = MyVar + “<BACSBody>”+sbRemitMsg.ToString()+”</BACSBody>”;

RemitXmlDoc.LoadXml(strHeaderRemitMsg + MyVar + strTrailerRemitMsg);

Sorry to be a pain

Grant

Hi Grant,

1. Try the following to see if this works:

vXmlNodeList = xpath(BACSRemittanceMsg, “/*[local-name()=’BACSRemittance_DATA’ and namespace-uri()=’http://P5.BizTalk.Schemas.PP_SAPToBottomlineBACSRemittance_App_FF’%5D/*%5Blocal-name()=’BACSBody&#8217; and namespace-uri()=”]/*[local-name()=’BACSRemittance’ and namespace-uri()=”]/*[local-name()=’Remittance’ and namespace-uri()=”][” + System.Convert.ToString(nLoopCount) + “]”)

Also, you might want to download and install this tool from the following link:

http://www.bizbert.com/bizbert/2007/11/25/DanSharp+XmlViewer.aspx

It helps with pinpointing and validating XPath expressions and queries from XML data that you load into it. I found it useful when doing certain projects in BizTalk using XPath.

2. No, you do NOT need that statement in your code anymore: MyVar = MyVar + “<BACSBody>”+sbRemitMsg.ToString()+”</BACSBody>”;

I hope this all works out for you.

Daniel.

Hi Daniel,

                 Syntax still an issue:

Thanks for a link to the tool

Kind Regards,

Grant

Hi Grant,

   I suggest that you use the tool (which link I sent to you) to troubleshoot your XPath query, as it is impossible for me to do that, since I don’t know the data structure of your XML contents. Once you find the path to your individual messages in that original message, it’s not hard to plug in your variable nLoopCount to iterate over each individual message in the XPath query expression.

   Best of luck,

   Daniel.

Hi Daniel,

                thanks for coming back to me on this as I am banging my head of a wall on this, I have went between what you said before and I still am as a loss. is there anyway I can send you some screen-shots just incase what I am doing is blindly wrong?

Thanks again

Grant

Hi Grant,

   I’ve sent you a request to add you as a Friend on this site. Check your Friends link for more information…

   Daniel.

Hi Daniel,

                   I added you and typed some data > Select start conv and it went back to the main screen?

Can you try and say something to me?

Grant

Hi Daniel,

                I would like to take this opportunity to thanks you for all your help over the last few weeks, you where always there to give me ideas/guidance. You even sent me email to see how I was doing with the issue I had and helped me to completion. You had your own work to-do but you where still there helping me, thank you so so much.

 Kind Regards,

Grant