Accessing and Using ePM

The eXchange ePM tool allows you to create and enable TPs for your ebXML Protocol Manager eXchange Projects.

Using ePM: Overview

In eXchange, each TP contains information identifying the values for the messaging, enveloping, and/or transport parameters to be used for sending and receiving B2B information.

Parameter Types

ePM contains the following types of parameters:

• General eXchange parameters common to all protocol managers

• ebXML Protocol Manager-specific parameters present only for this particular application

See Configuring TPs for a complete explanation of parameter types.

Creating and Enabling TPs

To create and enable TPs you can do the following operations using ePM:

• Create bindings:

  • For external delivery channels (XDCs); required.

  • For internal delivery channels (IDCs); optional.

  Create one or more TPs.

• Configure your TPs.

• Activate your TPs.

For complete information on how to do these operations in ePM, see the eXchange Integrator User’s Guide. Also, Run-time Steps contains a sample scenario with specific examples of TPs set up in ePM.

The following sections provide basic instructions on how to use ePM:

• Importing and Configuring TPs in ePM

• TP Activation

The rest of this section provides a general summary of how to access ePM, as well as use it with TPs for ebXML Protocol Manager Projects.

Before Starting

Before you can access ePM for a Project, make sure that, using Enterprise Designer, you have created and activated the eXchange Project Deployment Profiles, including any for the necessary B2B hosts.

Accessing ePM

After you have ensured these conditions have been met, you can use your Web browser to access ePM. By default, you can access ePM using a predefined URL, for example:

http://localhost:12000/epm

If access to ePM has been set up using a different URL, consult your system administrator for this URL.

Using Bindings

A binding is an association of metadata parameters with a particular set of values you define, using ePM. This metadata can be for either XDCs or IDCs.

Creating Bindings for XDCs

The top of the Delivery Channels (XDCs) subtab in ePM lists all bindings currently defined for the current TP’s XDCs.

In the case of XDCs, the transport parameters are those specified in a transport attribute definition (TAD). The packaging (messaging) parameters are those specified in a message attribute definition (MAD).

To create bindings for XDCs

1. Access an XDC and create a binding to it.

2. Import a signature certificate and encryption key, if necessary.

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   Note –

   Using certificates and encryption keys in ebXML Protocol Manager is done in the same way for all eXchange protocol managers. For complete information, see the eXchange Integrator User’s Guide .

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Creating Bindings for IDCs

The top of the Internal Delivery Channels subtab in ePM lists all bindings currently defined for the TP’s IDCs.

In the case of IDCs, the transport parameters are those specified in a TAD. The use of IDCs is optional.

To create the bindings for IDCs you must:

• Access an IDC and create a binding to it.

Optionally, you can also:

• Add a new binding for your IDC.

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  Note –

  To correctly use ebXML Protocol Manager and eXchange, you must understand the concepts and features explained in this section. For a quick reference that provides definitions of features, such as TADs, MADs, IDCs, and XDCs, see the Glossary.

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Creating TPs and Messaging Service Bindings

To use ebXML Protocol Manager, you must create and activate one or more TPs. You must also create a new Messaging Service binding based on one of the Messaging Services shown on the ePM window.

You can also find the Messaging Service as the bottom leaf of the ePM Explorer pane’s tree (on the left), under the messaging attributes definition, standard or custom, with which it is associated.

When you are finished, all the new elements you have created appear in this tree, on the ePM Explorer pane.

For details on these components and operations, see the eXchange Integrator User’s Guide. Also, see the sample scenario in Run-time Steps.

Configuring TPs

After you have set up and activated your TPs, you must configure them for ebXML and your current system. Each set of specific configurations you assign to a TP make up its profile. TP configuration parameters include the following settings:

• Properties: Under this tab, you supply values for the necessary eXchange parameters not ebXML-specific, but needed by eXchange. These parameters are basic eXchange properties and enable the essential eXchange operation of its Projects.

• Under other tabs, you find parameters that allow you to supply values for the following types of eXchange and ebXML Protocol Manager-specific configuration settings that define:

  • Delivery Channels: Under this subtab, you supply XDC values for the ToPartner and FromPartner transport attributes, as well as the ToPartner and FromPartner packaging attributes.

  • Internal Delivery Channels: Under this subtab, you supply values for the ToPartner and FromPartner transport attributes for each IDC.

  • Messaging Actions: Under this tab, you supply values for each of the messaging actions (inbound and outbound).

The ePM user interface refers to XDCs under tabs and headings named Delivery Channels .

Importing and Configuring TPs in ePM explains a sample scenario with specific examples of how to configure parameters for an individual TP using ePM.

After you have configured each TP, you must activate it then check for its successful activation. See TP Activation for details.

The rest of this chapter explains in detail how to configure each ePM parameter setting for ebXML Protocol Manager’s TPs, summarized under the types shown in the previous list. For more information, including information on the various tabs/subtabs, what they contain, and how to navigate through them, see the eXchange Integrator User’s Guide.