Retrieving and Storing Repository Documents

 

The WebLogic Integration repository feature provides a centralized document storage mechanism that supports the following four document types:

• Message Format Language document

• XML Document Type Definition document

• XML Schema document

• XSLT Stylesheet

The repository allows the supported documents to be shared in WebLogic Integration. The repository provides access to these document types and provides manipulation of repository documents including access to the document text, description, notes, and removal of the document. The repository allows the supported documents to be shared between data integration, business process management (BPM), WebLogic Server, and B2B integration. The repository also includes a batch import utility that allows previously constructed MFL, DTD, XML Schema, and data integration documents residing on a different file system to be easily migrated into the repository.

This section discusses the following topics:

• Accessing the Repository

• Retrieving Repository Documents

• Storing Repository Documents

• Importing Documents into the Repository

• Using the Repository Document Chooser

 

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Accessing the Repository

To access the repository:

1. Start Format Builder by choosing Start—>Programs—>BEA WebLogic E-Business Platform—>WebLogic Integration 2.1—>Format Builder. The Format Builder main window displays.

2. Choose Repository—>Log In. The WebLogic Integration Repository Login window opens.

   Figure 5-1 WebLogic Integration Repository Login Dialog Box

   
    

3. Enter the userid specified for the connection in the User Name field.

4. Enter the password specified for the connection in the Password field.

5. Enter the server name and Port number in the Server[:port] field.

   Note: The WebLogic Integration Repository Login window allows up to three unsuccessful login attempts, after which, a login failure message is displayed. If you experience three login failures, choose Repository—>Log In to repeat the login procedure.

6. Click Connect. If your login is successful, the Login window disappears and the Format Builder Title bar displays the server name and port number entered on the WebLogic Integration Repository Login window. You may now choose any of the active repository menu items to access.

The following commands are available from the Repository Menu.

Table 5-1 Repository Menu Commands

Menu Command	Description
Log In	Displays the WebLogic Integration Repository Login dialog box, allowing you to connect to the repository.
Log Out	Disconnects from the repository.
Retrieve	Retrieves a document from the repository.
Store	Stores the current document in the repository.
Store As	Stores the current document in the repository under a different name.

 

 

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Retrieving Repository Documents

Perform the following steps to retrieve repository documents:

1. Start Format Builder.

2. Log in to the WebLogic Integration Repository.

3. Choose Repository—>Retrieve. The Select-document-to-retrieve dialog box opens.

4. Select the document you want to retrieve from the document list.

   Note: Only MFL file types are available in the Format Builder repository.

5. Click Retrieve. The Select-document-to-retrieve dialog box is dismissed and you are returned to the Format Builder main window with your selected document listed in the navigation tree.

Once you have retrieved the specified document, you can edit it as you would any MFL document within Format Builder, store the document back into the repository, store the document back into the repository with a different name, or save as a local file.

Anytime you open a document that is stored in the repository, a read-only Document Repository Properties box displays in the Message Format detail panel when the message format node is selected. This properties box provides you with a document description and any notes that were attached to the document.

 

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Storing Repository Documents

Perform the following steps to store a MFL document in the repository:

1. Start Format Builder.

2. Open the MFL document you want to store in the repository.

3. Log in to the repository.

4. Choose Repository—>Store As. The Store As dialog box opens.

   Note: Please do not add the MFL file extension to your entry. Only MFL file types are available in the Format Builder repository.

5. Enter the name you want to associate with this repository document in the Name field.

6. Enter a description of the repository document in the Description field.

7. Enter any notes you would like attached to the document in the Notes field.

8. Click Store. The Store As dialog box is dismissed and your MFL document displays in the Format Builder navigation tree. A Document Repository Properties box with document Description and Notes information displays in the Detail panel of the right pane of Format Builder.

If your Format Builder options specify generation of a DTD/XML Schema, these documents will also be stored in the repository using the supplied name.

 

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Importing Documents into the Repository

The WebLogic Integration repository batch import utility provides a command line interface to the repository. It provides a mechanism for easily importing previously built MFL documents into the repository. The batch importer is capable of importing MFL, DTD, class, XSLT, and XML schema documents in any combination. The Batch Importer also works with any plug-in repository.

Use of the repository importer with the business process management repository requires the placement of a wlxt-repository.properties file in a CLASSPATH directory. The property file is created by the Format Builder the first time you log into the repository. Either add the directory for your existing property file to the classpath you are using, or create a new one with the appropriate URL of your WebLogic Server, for example:

wlxt.repository.url=t3\://localhost\:7001 

On Windows systems, a script named LaunchImport.cmd is included in WLI_HOME\bin. You can use this script to launch the Import utility. It provides the benefit of setting CLASSPATH properly before launching the utility. Modify the script to reflect the applicable repository path and filelist for the import operation.

To lauch the import utility directly, invoke the Batch Import Utility at the console command prompt, using the following command.

java com.bea.wlxt.repository.Import [-v] [-n] [-t type] [-f folder] files...

The following table describes the options.

Table 5-2 Options for the Import Command

Option	Description
-v	specifies that verbose mode is on. This switch may appear anywhere within the command line and affects all operations that follow. Verbose mode is disabled by default.
-n	specifies that verbose mode is off. This switch may appear anywhere within the command line and affects all operations that follow. Verbose mode is disabled by default.
-f	Optional switch specifying the parent folder of all the following files. Multiple -f switches may be specified to change folders during an import execution. By default, documents are imported into the root folder of the repository. A special -f switch argument of @ may be used to specify the root folder. Folder names specified in the -f switch are always absolute path names from the repository root folder. Folder names within a path should be separated by a forward slash.
-t	Optional switch specifying the default type of all the following files. The default type is assigned to documents when the document type cannot be determined by the file extension. Valid values are .mfl, .dtd, .class, .xsl, and .xsd.
files	specifies one or more filenames to be imported. Wildcards may be used based on the current command line shell.

 

All switches take effect at the point in the command line where the are encountered and remain in effect until overridden by another switch. For example, the following command line imports all .dtd, .class, and .mfl files in the current directory, but only enables verbose mode while class files are imported.

java com.bea.wlxt.repository.Import *.dtd -v *.class -n *.mfl

The document type of imported documents is derived from the file extension as follows:

Table 5-3 Supported Document Types and Extensions

File Extension	Document Type Assigned
.dtd	DTD
.xsd	XML Schema
.mfl	MFL
.class	Java Class
.xsl	Extensible Stylesheet Language
anything else	Default type (defaults to MFL)

 

 

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Using the Repository Document Chooser

The Repository Document Chooser provides a user interface exposing the contents of the repository. The user interface consists of six different dialog and message boxes that allow you to store, retrieve, and modify repository documents.

Using the Open Document Dialog Box

The following is an image of the Open Document dialog box used for retrieving repository documents.

Figure 5-2 Select Document To Retrieve Dialog Box

 

Table 5-4 Select Document To Retrieve Dialog Box Fields

Field	Definition
Current Folder	This field specifies the name of the current repository folder.
Up Folder icon	The button is used to move up to the parent of the current folder if the current folder is not the root folder of the repository.
Root Folder icon	This field is used to make the root the current folder if the current folder is not the root folder of the repository.
New Folder icon	This button is used to create a new child folder in the current folder. This icon is disabled if the repository does not support folders.
Document	The list field contains all the MFL documents in the current folder. Each entry in the list is prefixed by an icon indicating the type of object: Folder or MFL. Selecting an entry in the list causes its information to be displayed. Double-clicking an entry in the list causes it to be retrieved or become the current folder.
Retrieve	This button opens the selected document. If a folder is currently selected, pressing this button causes it to become the current folder.
Cancel	This button closes the dialog box without applying changes.
Name	This field specifies the name of the currently selected document folder.
Description	This field describes of the currently selected document folder.
Notes	The provides the notes attached to the currently selected document folder.

 

Using the Store Document Dialog Box

The Store Document dialog box differs from the Open Document dialog box only in its ability to enter a new document name, description, or notes.

Using the Shortcut Menus

Both the Open Document and Store Document dialog boxes provide the capability to update repository objects, rename existing objects, and remove objects. These update features are accessed by right-clicking on a repository object. The following is an image of the shortcut menus.

Figure 5-3 Store Document Dialog Box

 

Table 5-5 Store Document Dialog Box Fields

Menu Command	Description
Delete	Opens a dialog box that warns you that an object is about to be permanently removed from the repository.
Rename	Opens a dialog box where you can rename the document in the repository.
Properties	Opens a dialog box where you can update the description and notes of the selected object.