Version 2024r2 Introduces Support for YAML, FORTRAS EDI, and More

The latest release in Altova’s line of desktop developer tools and server software products includes support for new industry standards, updated database support, and performance optimizations.

With each new product version, we aim to provide customers with a mix of developer-requested features, support for emerging standards, and performance improvements. Version 2024r2 is no different, with tools introduced for working with YAML, FORTRAS EDI, and XBRL Report Packages as well as multiple performance and usability enhancements across the product line.

Here’s a look at the highlights.

YAML Validation, Editing, & Conversion

YAML is a human-readable data serialization format that is commonly used for configuration files, data exchange, and API payloads. Its syntax is designed to be intuitive and easy to read, using indentation and whitespace to represent data structures. YAML supports numerous data types, including lists, dictionaries, scalars, and nested structures, making it versatile for representing complex data hierarchies.

YAML’s simplicity, readability, and interoperability make it a preferred choice for developers working with configuration data and exchanging information between systems.

That said, many modern applications and systems use a combination of XML, JSON, and YAML for data handling. New support for YAML in XMLSpy gives developers a full-featured editing environment with full support for all three.

In addition to comprehensive XML and JSON tools, starting with v2024r2, XMLSpy includes:

• YAML editor
• Syntax highlighting, source folding, and well-formedness checking
• YAML validation against JSON Schema
• One-click conversion between XML, JSON, and YAML

For a hyper-performance YAML validator, RaptorXML Server now also supports YAML in addition to XML, JSON, and XBRL standards.

XBRL Report Packages Support

XBRL reports are usually made of multiple files (XBRL instance document, XBRL Taxonomies, linkbase files, etc.) that must be consumed together. A relatively new standard, XBRL Report Packages provide a standardized way for combining XBRL report instances and all their dependencies for efficient distribution and consumption.

An XBRL Report Package is an archive that contains an XBRL or iXBRL report together with its supporting documents.

As part of its comprehensive XBRL support, XMLSpy now supports XBRL Report Packages 1.0. Report packages can be validated, and users can open them to view the contained reports in Browser View.

RaptorXML+XBRL Server has also added XBRL Report Packages to the long list of XBRL standards it supports for high-volume, high-performance validation and processing.

FORTRAS EDI Data Mapping

MapForce supports numerous popular EDI formats (EDIFACT, HL7, iDOC, PADIS, SWIFT, VDA, and others) for any-to-any data mapping. This makes it easy to convert EDI messages to other data formats like XML, JSON, and databases, as well as to transform one EDI message format to another.

In the latest version, Altova has added support for FORTRAS EDI to MapForce.

FORTRAS messages are used to exchange information among freight hauling companies, and support for this popular standard has been requested by MapForce customers working on EDI data integration.

FORTRAS is also now supported by MapForce Server for high-performance, server-based automation of data integration and ETL projects.

Performance &Usability Enhancements

As with all releases, numerous updates to improve performance and offer users flexible implementation options have been added.

Assigning prepackaged schemas to XML instances

XMLSpy includes a convenient XML Schema Manager that provides a centralized way to install and manage industry-standard DTDs and XSDs. This makes it easy to download and install schemas and their versions without ever leaving the XML editor.

Now users can assign an industry schema automatically when creating or working with an XML instance. If the specified schema is not already installed on the user’s machine, the XML Schema Manager will download it automatically after it is selected.

Optimized performance for Joins

MapForce Server offers affordable, high-performance automation of data integration and ETL jobs created in MapForce. The server software features join optimization, which accelerates execution of data mappings in which large sets of data are being filtered or joined.

The latest version introduces significant performance improvements to further enhance join optimization.

Streamlined, flexible setup for FlowForce Server

A key component of the Altova Data Platform, FlowForce Server is a highly-customizable workflow engine for automating enterprise-level data processing and data integration tasks such as those executed by MapForce Server, RaptorXML Server, and StyleVision Server. It includes easy tools to implement, manage, and monitor multi-step jobs with comprehensive access control options.

To make setting up and upgrading FlowForce Server more user-friendly, the Setup page has been optimized to be more flexible and user-friendly. The new Setup page makes it easy to configure service ports, create or upgrade the instance data directory, and install and manage services.

This convenient UI-driven setup is now also supported on Linux and macOS in addition to Windows.

Learn More and Update Your Software

Version 2024 Release 2 includes numerous other updates across the product line. Check out the What’s New page to learn about new features in each product.

Existing customers can update to the latest version. All these products are also available for a free, 30-day trial at the same link.