BizTalk concepts

Let's highlight some of the more important XML concepts that builders, designers and consultants should be aware of and can take into account when designing a BizTalk solution.  Once we have covered those, we will explore the BizTalk tools provided to meet those needs.

When desigining a BizTalk solution, you may need to:

• Creating or using maps which effectively define how to map your data to your client, partner or customer's data
• Design and/or define your processes possibly across distributed systems - that is, distributed across your business and possibly across several businesses!
• Define your needs for process and delivery, confirmation and routing including any use of EDI
• Make use of repositories for definitions of schemas and documents/contents, such as BizTalk.org: for storing maps, schemas and glossaries which define the information content used in specific business processes
• Choose a schema or template which most closely suits your needs - with mapping services already provided
• Business process tools - to extract, save and update the data automatically, for example to your existing ERP systems

As you will see, BizTalk provides visual drag and drop tools to easily build and maintain all of those steps.  The good news is, when implementing a BizTalk design you will be bringing together and leveraging your existing investments!

Features and tools

So, having taken a look at the other building blocks in the team, what are the core features and tools for managing your business processes in the BizTalk toolset?  (Note:  most of these features will be outlined in more detail in the pages to come)

• Trading partner management (Management Desk)
• Specification management (Microsoft BizTalk Editor)
• Document transformation (Microsoft BizTalk Mapper)
• BizTalk Workflow design surface (designed in Visio)
• Electronic data interchange (EDI) format interoperability (X12, EDIFACT)
• Distribution lists and dynamic addressing options
• Retry on Transmission Error
• System administration (MMC snap-in)
• Document tracking and activity logs
• Data extraction and data mining for analysis
• BizTalk Workflow execution engine (also known as COM+ Scheduler)
• Exactly-Once-In-Order delivery, based on URT Messaging (HTTP or MSMQ)

Managing business processes

BizTalk enables companies to integrate and manage their business processes by providing the following infrastructure features:

• Support of complex business process definition, automation, and integration
• Document interchange, business rules-based routing, and reliable delivery services
• Application integration adapters for major enterprise resource planning (ERP) applications
• Security by means of digital signature and encryption
• Support for existing industry data formats, including XML, HTML, Flat Files, EDI X12, and EDIFACT

Tools and applications

BizTalk includes a collection of tools that enable you to:

• Establish and manage agreements (BizTalk Management Desk)
• Set up trading partner profiles (BizTalk Management Desk)
• Create and modify XML schema specifications  (BizTalk XML Schema Editor)
• Complete data transformations and compile data maps  (BizTalk Mapper)
• Provide a system for administrators with centralized control over document flow priority, document tracking, business analysis, and troubleshooting (Administration console)