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Frequently Asked Questions About DataDirect XML Converters™

Trying to figure out what DataDirect XML Converters™ means for your application? Here's a good place to start — and if your question isn't here, feel free to email us.

What are DataDirect XML Converters™?

DataDirect XML Converters™ are high-performance Java™ and .NET components that provide bi-directional, programmatic access to virtually any non-XML file including EDI (EDIFACT, X12, HL7, EANCOM, IATA, Standard Exchange Format), flat files, and other legacy formats. DataDirect XML Converters™ allow developers to seamlessly stream any non-XML data as XML to industry-leading XML processing components (including DataDirect XQuery) or to any application. They support StAX, SAX, XmlReader, XmlWriter, DOM and I/O streaming interfaces, and can be embedded directly for transformation purposes, or as part of a chain of programs including XSLT and XQuery, or even inside XML pipelines. DataDirect XML Converters maximize developer productivity and provide a fast, scalable solution for converting between EDI and other legacy formats and XML.

Are DataDirect XML Converters™ bidirectional?

All built-in converters are bidirectional. For example, the EDI converter supports both EDI to XML and also XML to EDI — you can read and write to your non-XML files. Custom converters defined using Stylus Studio Enterprise Suite are XML to non-XML only.

How do DataDirect XML Converters™ work?

DataDirect XML Converters™ work in two ways:

1. In Java or Microsoft .NET, files and resources are referred to using URI's. The basic URI resolvers that are included with Java or .NET are capable of resolving file:, http:, ftp:, and a few other protocols. DataDirect XML Converters™ extend the ability of the default URI resolvers to understand a new file scheme, converter:, that can be used to convert non-XML files into XML on the fly and vice-versa.

   XSLT and XQuery provide standard-based ways to access XML files using the document() or doc() functions, but by default they can only resolve the files and URL's supported by the standard URI resolvers. Now, using DataDirect XML Converters™, you can write the following:

   • In XSLT: xsl:value-of select="document('converter:EDI?mymessage.edi')"
   • In XQuery: doc("converter:EDI?mymessage.edi")

   DataDirect XML Converters™ seamlessly resolves the URI and stream the data as XML to your XSLT or XQuery processor thus enabling access to non-XML files. So for example, you can write and deploy an XQuery that accesses EDI data without writing any special code to deal with the EDI format.

2. DataDirect XML Converters™ conversions can also be executed directly from your own Java or .NET programs. For example, if you need to read in EDI as XML, you can just do this:

   Converter toXML = ConverterFactory.newInstance().newConvertToXML("converter:EDI");
toXML.convert(new StreamSource("inputURL"), new StreamResult("outputURL"));
   
   

   The input and output streams can be anything that supports Source or Result interfaces, including classes like StreamSource and StreamResult.

What file formats can I access using DataDirect XML Converters™?

DataDirect XML Converters™ provide seamless access to EDIFACT, X12, IATA, EANCOM and Flat Files. Check out our standards support page for the complete support matrixes.

Can I access other file formats, not listed here?

Yes — Using Stylus Studio, a powerful XML IDE, you can visually create and test your own custom conversions from any kind of flat file to XML.

What XML processors are supported by DataDirect XML Converters™?

DataDirect XML Converters™ can be accessed by any processor that allows the configuraion of a custom URI resolver, which means virtually any XML processing component, like DataDirect XQuery, Apache Xalan, Saxon XQuery and XSLT, the .NET XSLT processor and many more.

How fast are DataDirect XML Converters™?

DataDirect XML Converters™ use streaming XML technology, which means that rather then reading the entire file into memory and generating the whole result into memory, the data is parsed by a streaming component and in turn streamed to the downstream processing component as it goes, resulting in far greater performance and throughput. DataDirect XML Converters™ in conjunction with DataDirect XQuery provide the ultimate solution in terms of high scalability and performance.

What are the advantages of DataDirect XML Converters™?

DataDirect XML Converters™ offer a productive, scalable and easily embeddable data conversion solution which leverages your existing Java or .NET applications and/or industry leading XML processing components. Overall, you'll find that this approach is far more cost-effective then alternative approaches.

How do I try-out DataDirect XML Converters™?

Downlaoding a free trial is really easy. Simply go to our download page and fill out the short information form. Then click on the "submit" button. From there, you'll be able to download your free 15 day trial of DataDirect XML Converters™. See our download page or contact one of our sales representatives at (781) 280-4488 for more information.

How are they licensed?

DataDirect XML Converters™ can be licensed through a workstation or a server based licensing model. Check out our Help Me Choose page to learn more about the difference between the two models. Please contact your DataDirect account representative at 1 (800) 477-6473 x4488 or (781) 280-4488 to discuss which one fits best with your environment.

How much do they cost?

The pricing structure varies based on the licensing model and number of different data sources you would like to access. Visit our online shop for the price list. For more information, please call your DataDirect account representative at 1 (800) 477-6473 x4488 or (781) 280-4488.

How do I purchase DataDirect XML Converters™?

To make your purchasing process quick and easy, we suggest ordering from our online store or by contacting one of our sales representatives at (781) 280-4488.