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| Below are answers to the most commonly asked questions about MapForce® 2012, the definitive tool for data integration and information leverage from Altova.
- What is MapForce, and what does it do?
Altova MapForce is a powerful data integration and Web services implementation tool that allows developers to design XML, database, flat file, EDI, Excel 2007+, XBRL, and Web services mappings visually through an intuitive user interface. It can be used to convert data on-the-fly, and it autogenerates data conversion code to programmatically implement data mappings and Web services in a runtime environment. MapForce is an easy-to-use tool that saves users time and reduces the occurrence of errors that can be introduced by manual coding.
Back to Top - Who is MapForce used by?
MapForce is designed for Web services developers, data architects, database administrators and developers, and systems integrators working to interactively or programmatically integrate data from different sources in a standards-based, cost-effective manner.
Back to Top - Why should companies or organizations use MapForce?
Modern technologies have given organizations the ability to share information in real time with customers, partners, and internal business units. However, these entities often store and exchange data in dissimilar formats, such as XML, databases, flat files, EDI, and XBRL. To remain competitive, companies must have the ability to seamlessly integrate information regardless of its underlying format. With MapForce you can map between these popular formats to integrate data from different sources and fully realize the benefits of interconnected business systems. You can also consume Web services functionality as a source, target, or data processing function in any data mapping project.
MapForce simplifies the data integration process by allowing users to design mappings visually through an intuitive interface. Based on the design, MapForce can instantly convert data for one-time integration projects or automatically generate data conversion code to implement for ongoing use in a custom data integration or Web services applications, saving time and increasing productivity significantly. Code is generated according to globally-defined, configurable parameters and options, which helps improve overall code readability, interoperability, and reusability. MapForce allows you to execute, view, and save the output of any transformation.
By simplifying the data mapping and Web services design process and automating code generation, MapForce accelerates information exchange and the development of higher-quality data conversion applications.
The following are just a few examples of how developers are using MapForce to build Web services and data integration applications:
- Building ecommerce applications: Every company has a data model for representing their business objects and processes, such as purchase orders, order requests, financial reports, and other business documents. Whether partners use XML, relational databases, text files, EDI, or XBRL for exchanging information, MapForce can easily transform data in one format to that used by another company, enabling distributed business-to-business transactions.
- Integrating database systems: With MapForce, users can develop a unified information access layer that spans multiple databases and/or other data repositories.
- Automating business processes: Developers easily automate the most advanced business processes with MapForce, which allows them to concentrate on implementing the business logic of an application, rather than wasting time writing tedious Web services and data conversion code.
Back to Top - What are some of the typical ways engineers and developers use MapForce?
MapForce can be applied to solve a great number of challenges across any industry. Here are a few possibilities:
- A financial institution could automate credit card processing.
- A healthcare organization could access records across a network of hospitals.
- A retail store could easily interact with the business systems of their suppliers and customers.
- A manufacturing company could automate the process of re-ordering parts inventory from its vendors.
- A publically traded US company could autogenerate quarterly financial reports from their accounting data stores to meet the SEC's XBRL mandate.
Back to Top - How does MapForce support Web services implementation?
Developing Web services can be complicated and time consuming and can represent a significant learning curve for users who are inexperienced with the related technologies, such as SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) and WSDL (Web Services Description Language).
MapForce takes the complexity out of Web services implementation by allowing developers to build Web services visually, using a highly-intuitive graphical design interface. With MapForce, users simply map operations in WSDL 1.1/2.0 transactions by dragging connecting lines from data sources, through optional data processing functions, to WSDL operations. Supported data sources include any combination of XML files, relational databases, flat files, EDI messages, and XBRL reports. Then, once mappings for all the transactions in a WSDL file are defined, MapForce auto-generates the C# or Java code required to implement the Web service on a server.
The MapForce approach to building Web services allows developers to implement Web services quickly and easily, using an intuitive visual design process. Code that used to take hours or days to write is now auto-generated in a matter of seconds. Visual design in MapForce removes the complexity from Web services development, allowing your team to build standards-conformant Web services applications more quickly than ever before.
In addition to building new Web services, MapForce allows you to connect to existing Web services and integrate their functionality in mappings of XML, databases, flat file, EDI, and XBRL data. In fact, you can even use existing Web services as components for building new Web services in MapForce, and you can aggregate two or more Web services to create a “mash up” that integrates functionality from multiple services.
Back to Top - What EDI formats does MapForce support?
MapForce includes full support for the most popular EDI standards in use today: ANSI X12, UN/EDIFACT, HIPAA, Health Level 7 (HL7), SAP IDoc, and IATA PADIS. ANSI (American National Standards Institute) X12 is the de facto EDI standard in North America, UN/EDIFACT (United Nations Electronic Data Interchange for Administration Commerce and Transport) is the most prevalent international EDI standard, HL7 is an international standard for transmitting healthcare data, and IDoc is the standard for exchanging data with and between SAP systems. MapForce ships with latest the transaction sets and messages covered by the X12, EDIFACT, HL7, and PADIS EDI standards, allowing them to be used as both the source and/or target of a mapping transformation. MapForce also supports all previous versions of these EDI formats. The configuration files are available for free download on the MapForce components page, allowing businesses to customize MapForce to integrate the version they utilize.
Finally, though MapForce supports the most popular EDI sets, users often need to customize the EDIFACT, X12, HL7, or PADIS messages according to their specific implementations. MapForce includes a more user-friendly EDI configuration file format that allows users to add new transactions or modify and enhance existing messages quickly and easily.
SAP IDoc requires that configuration files for mapping be supplied by the user. Simply browse to locate this file on your hard drive or server to insert it into your mapping project.
Back to Top - Does MapForce generate program code?
Yes. MapForce supports code generation based on visually defined mapping designs. Developers and engineers can use code generated by MapForce to programmatically implement data integration and Web services applications. MapForce generates code in:
- XSLT 1.0
- XSLT 2.0
- XQuery
- Java
- C++
- C#
This extensive list makes MapForce the industry’s first and only product to let the user choose between XSLT 1.0, XSLT 2.0, XQuery, Java, C#, and C++ code generation – all from the same mapping design.
Back to Top - What is the benefit of generating XSLT 2.0 code for XML mappings?
The XSLT 2.0 and XPath 2.0 (which is used with XSLT) specifications from the W3C represent a significant upgrade compared to version 1.0. In terms of XML data mapping, XSLT 2.0 includes a remarkable number of new, more powerful functions, which developers can utilize to process data more effectively – and thus develop more sophisticated, higher-quality XML data integration applications more quickly than ever before.
In addition to full support for XSLT/XPath 1.0, MapForce includes a complete implementation of XSLT 2.0 and XPath 2.0. When a user chooses XSLT 2.0 code generation, these powerful new functions are available in a function library for use in creating a visual mapping design. Once complete, MapForce auto-generates standards conformant XSLT 2.0 stylesheets to implement XML data mappings.
Back to Top - How does MapForce compare to XMLSpy's code generator?
MapForce is a code generator for data integration projects, helping programmers and database developers get their data from XML / database / flat file / EDI / Excel 2007+ / XBRL sources to database, flat file, EDI, XBRL, or XML targets. MapForce also supports code generation for implementing Web services on a server.
XMLSpy also has a code generator, but it is more commonly used for binding XML Schema data models to XML program class files (in C# / C++ / Java). Both XMLSpy® 2012 and MapForce are highly complementary; using them together, a software developer could autogenerate much of the code needed for an XML-enabled application, including the code to marshal data from different sources.
XMLSpy also includes a visual WSDL editor, which, when combined with the Web services code generation capabilities in MapForce, allows developers to build Web services from start to finish – without having to write a single line of code.
XMLSpy and MapForce are part of the Altova® MissionKit® 2012. Get up to 8 software tools for the price of 2 with the Altova® MissionKit® 2012! The MissionKit is an integrated suite of XML, database, and UML tools designed to meet the needs of software architects and XML developers. Download a free trial now!
Back to Top - How does MapForce compare to other data mapping tools?
When compared to other Web services and data mapping tools, MapForce delivers countless advantages , a few of which are listed below.
- Only MapForce generates both XSLT 1.0/2.0 stylesheets and software program code, and only MapForce works with XML, EDI, flat files, WSDL files, and any relational database.
- Only MapForce supports XML, database, flat file, EDI, Excel 2007+, and XBRL input and output in mappings for true systems integration.
- Only MapForce gives you the option to generate XSLT 1.0, XSLT 2.0, XQuery, Java, C++, or C# code – all from one mapping design.
- MapForce is designed to be natively compatible with all relational databases through implementation of ODBC and ADO.
- MapForce is the first retail priced, general purpose data mapping tool and code generator not bound to a particular server or middleware product.
- MapForce is developed by the makers of XMLSpy and has the same powerful yet intuitive user interface.
Overall, MapForce is the most comprehensive, easy-to-use, value-priced data integration and Web services mapping tool on the market today!
Back to Top - What servers and databases does MapForce work with?
MapForce is designed to work with any server platform or database. Database support includes:
- Microsoft® SQL Server® 2000, 2005, 2008
- IBM DB2® 8, 9
- IBM DB2 for iSeries® v5.4, 6.1
- Oracle® 9i, 10g, 11g
- Sybase® 12
- MySQL® 4, 5
- PostgreSQL 8
- Microsoft Access™ 2003, 2007
Because output generated by MapForce is in XSLT 1.0, XSLT 2.0, XQuery, C++, C#, or Java, it can be used in any server environment.
Back to Top - What programming languages are supported by MapForce?
MapForce auto-generates custom mapping code in XQuery, Java, C++, C# and XSLT 1.0/2.0. In addition, the built-in MapForce engine allows you to execute mapping transformations, then immediately preview and save the result of a mapping as it would be generated in XSLT 1.0 or 2.0, XQuery, Java, C++, or C#. This allows you to test your mapping code directly within MapForce, saving considerable time when designing and troubleshooting intricate mappings. It’s also an invaluable feature for executing and saving the results of one-time mapping projects.
Back to Top - Does MapForce integrate with multi-purpose development platforms?
Yes. Altova MapForce supports complete integration with both Microsoft® Visual Studio and Eclipse. The respective integration modules allow developers to seamlessly access the MapForce data integration, Web services implementation, and code generation features directly inside their choice of multi-purpose development environment. These modules are both available for free from our download page.
Back to Top - Which edition of MapForce is right for me?
MapForce is now available in three editions customized to meet your team’s Web services and data integration needs:
- MapForce® 2012 Basic Edition supports XML-to-XML mapping and code generation in XSLT 1.0 and XSLT 2.0.
- MapForce® 2012 Professional Edition supports mapping any combination of XML, database, and flat file data and generates code in XSLT 1.0, XSLT 2.0, XQuery, Java, C++, and C#.
- MapForce® 2012 Enterprise Edition supports all the features of MapForce Professional edition listed above, with the addition of Web services mapping and implementation, EDI mapping, XBRL & XBRL Dimensions, and the FlexText flat file parser.
Back to Top
For a complete list of features supported by the Standard, Professional, and Enterprise Editions of MapForce® 2012, visit the MapForce Edition Comparison.
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