Overview of

Application
Integrator
Module 1

Overview 1-1
 Module Objectives

• At the end of this module, you will understand:

– The basic tasks involved in EDI mapping.
– The major interfaces included in AI that will help you perform
mapping activities.
– The overall translation process.

Overview 1-2

Overview 1-2
 Application Integrator:
The Big Picture
EDI Trading Partner

What Application
are we System
Communications
really Outbound Inbound

doing? Application Integrator Engine

Application EDI
Data Data
Translation

Processes
(actions)

Trading
Source Target
Partner
Model Model
Database

Trading Partner
Map Development Administration

Overview 1-3

The goal: get our company data to our trading partner, and, get their data to us. To accomplish
this, we need a translation process, which AI provides. To get that process in place, you will use
a couple of tools: one for map development, and another for trading partner administration.
Once you have accomplished setting these up, the translation can happen and you are on your
way!

Overview 1-3
 What is EDI Mapping?

Mapping is simply a process that helps you convert data

from one data format...
ISA*00* *00* *ZZ*YOURPARTNER *ZZ*YOURCOMPANY »
GS*IN*TRAINING*PARTNER*031028*1507*000000013*X*004010
ST*810*000130001
BIG*030219*IN-458AR
N1*VN*TRAINING SYSTEMS INC.
N3*11 MOTION AVENUE
N4*TAHOE*NV*28083
IT1*001*100*EA*14.90
IT1*002*10*EA*21.20
IT1*003*20*EA*10.10
TDS*190400
CTT*2
SE*11*000130001
GE*1*000000013
IEA*1*000000010

Overview 1-4

From a broad viewpoint, mapping is just taking data that’s in one format… for example, we will
be working with EDI data:

ANSI X12 Invoice Document

ISA - Trading Partner Addressing Information
GS - Document Group Information
ST - Document Identification Information

Overview 1-4
 What is EDI Mapping? (continued)

To another data format ...

10LC-5309485 IN-458AR 02192003

20TRAINING SYSTEMS INC.
3011 MOTION AVENUE TAHOE NV 28083
40 1 100.00 14.90EACH
40 2 10.00 21.20EACH
40 3 20.00 10.10EACH
50 1904.00130

Overview 1-5

… and converting it into another desired format. For example, the Company “Back Office”
Format.

Overview 1-5
 What is EDI Mapping? (continued)

• There are three important activities involved in

mapping:
– Defining the structure of your input and output data.
– Creating instructions that retrieve data from your input file and
store it in the right place in your output file.
– Creating profiles that define parameters to follow for specific
trading partners.

Application Integrator provides two interfaces

to help you with these activities.

Overview 1-6

Overview 1-6
 Workbench

• Workbench
is a tool you
use to
create
your maps.

Overview 1-7

Overview 1-7
 Workbench (continued)

• Workbench
allows you
to manage
your maps
by Trading
Partner.

Overview 1-8

Overview 1-8
 Workbench (continued)

• You use the Workbench interface to perform these

map development tasks:
– Define your input and output file structures.
– Map data items from your input file to your output file.
– Create and edit mapping instructions.
– Establish custom processing rules using RuleBuilder.
– Run translation.
– View input and output data.
– View trace logs from translation sessions.
– Obtain lists of your data structure and mapping instructions.

Overview 1-9

Overview 1-9
 Workbench (continued)

• To open the Workbench interface:

In our classroom, you may optionally open the

AI 5.2 Development program group on your
desktop.

Overview 1 - 10

Opening Workbench
Steps To open Workbench:
1. Open the Workbench and Trade Guide Software program group.
2. Choose the 5.2 program group.
3. Choose the Development program group.
4. Choose the Development Workbench icon.

NOTES:
In our classroom, you may open the AI 5.2 Development program group on your desktop and choose
the icon that corresponds to the platform you want to use:
WINDOWS: Choose the Windows Workbench Development icon.

Overview 1-10
 Trade Guide

• Trade Guide
is a tool you
use to define
operating
parameters
for your
translation
environment.

Overview 1 - 11

Overview 1-11
 Trade Guide (continued)

• You use the Trade Guide interface to perform these

activities:
– Perform system configuration tasks.
– Create profiles that identify unique processing requirements for
each trading partner.
– Load ID codes for EDI standards.
– Generate administrative reports.
– Create and maintain cross-reference tables.
– Define custom Trading Partner Profile tabs for your unique data
requirements

Overview 1 - 12

Overview 1-12
 Trade Guide (continued)

• To open the Trade Guide interface:

In our classroom, you may optionally open the

AI 5.2 Development program group on your
desktop.

Overview 1 - 13

Opening Trade Guide

Steps To open Trade Guide:
1. Open the Workbench and Trade Guide Software program group.
2. Choose the 5.2 program group.
3. Choose the Development program group.
4. Choose the Development Trade Guide icon.

NOTES:
In our classroom, you may open the AI 5.2 Development program group on your desktop and choose
the icon that corresponds to the platform you want to use:
WINDOWS: Choose the Windows Trade Guide Development icon.

Overview 1-13
 Understanding the Control Server

• The control server is the main AI program that manages

other AI client processes.
– Initiating translations.

– Performing code look-ups, substitutions, and

cross-references.

– Reporting status messages to the command line interface.

– Managing requests from the Workbench (mapping) interface.

– Managing requests from the Trade Guide (administration)

interface.

Overview 1 - 14

Overview 1-14
 Understanding the Control Server (continued)

• You must start the control server before you:

– Open Workbench (if you want to run translations),
– Open Trade Guide,
– Or, initiate any command line processes.

UNIX command line otstart

Windows
(from program group)

Windows otstart.bat
(from command line)

Overview 1 - 15

Overview 1-15
 Understanding the Control Server (continued)

• To stop the control server:

UNIX command line otend

Windows
(from program group)

Windows
otend.bat
(from command line)

Overview 1 - 16

Overview 1-16
 Application Integrator:
The Big Picture Recap
EDI Trading Partner

How do Application
the parts System
Communications
all come Outbound Inbound

together? Application Integrator Engine

Application EDI
Data Data
Translation

Processes
(actions)

Trading
Source Target
Partner
Model Model
Database

Workbench
Trade Guide
RuleBuilder
Map Development Trading Partner
Administration

Overview 1 - 17

What do you think is the “applied work” part of the project?

If you think, “Making the model,” you’re right. This is the biggest part of what this class is about.
You will need to define the structure of your model. To do that, you need to have details
specifications on your data. Getting that information – accurately - is one of the biggest parts of
the whole project.
To avoid unnecessary troubleshooting and rework, make accurate determination of data
specifications a priority!

Overview 1-17
 Module Review

• This module described:

– The basic tasks involved in EDI mapping.
– The major interfaces included in AI that will help you perform
mapping activities.
– The overall translation process.

Overview 1 - 18

A Demonstration:
The Telephone Directory

The Instructor will present a simple translation.

Input File:
Mary Smith 2359097684
John Green 2125018733
Bob Jones 1600532342
Sue Willis0303877651

Output File:
2359097684 Smith Mary
2125018733 Green John
1600532342 Jones Bob
0303877651 WillisSue

Overview 1-18