Learn B2B, BizTalk and XML Tutorial

Introduction

In the B2B Zone you will learn about B2B and XML; and how to make use of it in your applications - start reading to learn the B2B Basics or read here to find out the BizTalk Basics.  Please do take a look at the other Learning Zones we have available.

BizTalk Utilities

Try these BizTalk Connectors and adapters (for both 2002/2004) for a free trial 30 days.  Free developer licenses are available!  These adapters are fully featured BizTalk adapters for SAP IDoc, OLEDB/SQL databases, MSMQ, email, fax and more, all for Microsoft BizTalk 2002/2004.  Now includes and online tutorial!

B2B websites

Visit UsingBizTalk.com - UsingBizTalk is a new site dedicated to providing a “one-stop” site for Microsoft's BizTalk Server related information.

Table of Contents

BizTalk and Adaptors Tutorial
The BizTalk Utilities product suite includes a unique set of features that extends the communications reach of BizTalk to many external products and tools, including FTP, POP3, SMTP, XSD, Suspended Queues, Document Definitions, Microsoft Exchange, JMS (Java Messaging Services), MOM Messaging, Web Services, Fax, IBM MQ Series, Functoids and File Receive Functions AND MORE...

XLANGUtil for BizTalk
When we started working with CommerceOne MarketSite and BizTalk Server, we came across a problem. CommerceOne's MarketSite Posts documents to the BizTalk Server and the BizTalk Server needs to respond with a document. This class allows you to manipulate an XLANG Schedule in a synchronous manner, and will provide you with a response document. The whole problem is that BizTalk Server is not really geared for Synchronous processing. It becomes even worse when you need to use an XLANG Schedule for processing, since an XLANG schedule does not give you a return document back after processing. I came across the SOC sample located in c:\Program Files\Microsoft BizTalk Server\SDK\Messaging Samples\SOC. This was a C++ sample on how to manipulate an XLANG schedule programmatically and get a response document from it. Since I'm not really a C++ fan, and couldn't get the thing to work, I decided to rewrite it in Visual Basic.

Appender AIC for the Ariba MarketPlace and Biztalk
I had to do a proof of concept project showing how to integrate the Ariba Marketplace (www.ariba.com) into a Supplier System using BizTalk Server 2000. The Ariba marketplace uses a XML standard called cXML (www.cxml.org). The cXML specification uses DTD declarations to validate documents. The Appender allows you to pre-append text to an outbound Document and also allows you to evaluate any responses via an XPath query, so that you can integrate the Ariba Marketplace with Biztalk Server 2000.

Introduction to BizTalk Server
Introducing programmers to BizTalk Server 2000 (BTS) and prepare you for e-commerce and application integration using BTS.

BizTalk and Application Integration
BizTalk Server enables you to integrate separate applications together to create a larger system. Whether the applications are your own, or those of your business partners, BizTalk Server allows you to keep integration code on a central server rather than writing integration code into the applications themselves

BizTalk and XML Interoperability
From business-to-business supply chain management, through to providing web services, interoperability will play a key role in the next generation of Internet-enabled applications. Developers will be increasingly faced with the challenges of having their applications communicate with other systems. Distributed applications will move to the mainstream as developers produce applications that consume web services provided by third parties, and build web services for others to use. Presenting current and emerging state-of-the-art XML-based solutions to the interoperability puzzle, such as SOAP, BizTalk and the BizTalk Server, this presentation will show how these XML technologies can be used to solve real-world integration and interchange challenges.

Why BizTalk?
When people talk about eCommerce, they don't mean putting a button on the website which says call 0800. No, what they are referring to are smart systems (be they desktop machines, CE devices or mobile phones), which can describe themselves to other smart machines and computing devices. These systems are able to sustain automated relationships with each other. Moving information around, fulfilling just-in-time orders, providing receipts and more.

B2B - the basics
Let's take it from the top. B2B is nothing fancy. Businesses have been communicating with other Businesses since the beginning of time. What has changed is the technology which carries the communication - from smoke plumes to pigeons to mail to fax to EDI and now to communication via the internet (B2B). Communication via the internet (which is what B2B is when you look under the skin) is simply the latest souped up communications technology to come along ... allowing for the communications be more frequent, rapid and accurate. That's all.

XML Interoperability
Presenting current and emerging state-of-the-art XML-based solutions to the interoperability puzzle, such as SOAP, BizTalk and the BizTalk Server, this presentation will show how these XML technologies can be used to solve real-world integration and interchange challenges.

Connecting E-commerce Systems with XML
Connecting systems together results in increased efficiency, a decrease in erroneous data, and speeds up the business process. It has become clear that XML is the way to connect these systems together.

Introduction to BizTalk Server
One of the key components of the Windows DNA 2000 architecture is BizTalk Server. This session is intended to introduce programmers to BizTalk Server 2000 (BTS) and prepare you for e-commerce and application integration using BTS. Stephen will describe the overall architecture of BTS, along with the main development tools of BTS (Editor, Mapper, BizDesk, and SDK). He will also show the process of integrating two applications via BizTalk. This session should give you an appreciation for the role of BizTalk Server in enterprise development, as well as introductory knowledge of how to program and administer BTS

Doing business in the future, now with BizTalk
Integrating applications together is extremely difficult and usually expensive. It always has been. But integrating applications is just a means to an end, not the goal - the real goal is integrating business processes (and hopefully simplifying them). To achieve that, organizations that wish to thrive in the 21st century must do a better job of integrating their processes - not only within their organization, but between themselves and their partners, and also perhaps with their key customers as well. How does BizTalk fit into this picture?

Introduction to BizTalk
As far back as 1998, if the U.S.-based Internet Economy (as measured in terms of total revenues) were a nation by itself, it would have ranked 18th worldwide behind Switzerland and ahead of Argentina in terms of GDP! Since then, the Internet has grown more rapidly than anyone could have envisioned. It is now opening up new vistas of communication, collaboration and coordination between consumers, businesses and trading partners. What started out as simply a marketing channel, is now an ubiquitous, low cost communication network. How does BizTalk fit into this picture?

BizTalk Concepts & Architecture
Find out the meaning of words like: Orchestration, Schema, BizTags, BizTalk message, Envelope and XLang.

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.

BizTalk is the glue for business growth
The "party" of the nineties (90's) has become the "working party" of the noughties (00's) and the toolset of choice is BizTalk. Participants in the BizTalk community are committed to making this vision of business-to-business communication and interoperability a reality. BizTalk is the great enabler; it is the Swiss Army knife for Internet business eCommerce. It brings the promise and power of XML to businesses and to their existing and legacy systems.

The scale of the opportunity for B2B and BizTalk
The incredible growth of the Internet and connectivity to the Internet by individuals and businesses alike has brought many opportunities to create new industries and new efficiencies within businesses and between businesses. Here is a glimpse at the major groups of relationships that will be transformed by BizTalk and the advent of eCommerce.

BizTalk Orchestration
With the rise of web services and exchange of data in XML format, we are essentially talking about document delivery and messaging. BizTalk provides a reliable business document delivery service which is rules-based and role-based, giving every business a great deal of control over the automation which is occurring. In addition, the documents can be transformed, tracked and protected with the BizTalk and Windows DNA infrastructure, and if that isn't easy enough… all this is designed through a Microsoft Visio style graphical and user-friendly system

What is BizTalk?
So, we have heard that BizTalk is one of the key's to the next generation of technologies… but what exactly is it? When people ask what BizTalk is, trainers or salespeople may be inclined to answer: 'it is a set of tools enabling business-to-business exchange'. But in order to truly understand the power and usefulness of BizTalk, try to think of BizTalk as plumbing. This plumbing carries text between participants.