Changing BizTalk Mapper Item templates

 

To be able to configure default value for artifacts that are created from within Visual Studio we can leverage the ‘Item Template‘ functionality.

I have done this to adjust the mapping behavior , specifically the value for setting ‘GenerateDefaultFixedNodes’ which is default ‘YES’. See my previous post on this subject.

Below are the steps to follow

The ItemTemplates is a folder that contains the template files used when you create a new item.

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The map template can be found in the folder: Map Files

This is a .zip file that contains a .BTM file. Change the value of ‘GenerateDefaultFixedNodes’ to one of the above values and save the .zip file.

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After changing the value, the template is not working, why??? The templates are cached in the folder:

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 10.0\Common7\IDE\ItemTemplatesCached\BizTalk\Map Files

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You have to register the value by entering the following command (devenv /installvstemplates):

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Note: if you have multiple zips files, the FIRST zip file is used, i made the mistake to rename the original Map.old.zip, which still resulted in the old template to be registered.

If you create a new MAP, the template will now be used:

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Note: The only supported values are: ‘Yes’ / ”” / ‘RequiredDefaults’, i recommend to use ‘RequiredDefaults’

Be sure to read this (Accommodating Schemas with Large Footprints)!

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa561485(v=bts.10).aspx

“when the GenerateDefaultFixedNodes flag is set to No, the default field values set in the target schema are not preserved in the instance produced by the map. This is a problem when these values are required in the target instance”.

 

HTH,

Sander Nefs

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