How to send any data (even binary) through XI, without using the Integration Repository

[Former Member]

Contrary to popular believe, the message or document sent thru XI does NOT have to be in XML format. This means that any data, including EXE, ZIP, PDF, Word, Excel, etc., can be sent thru XI from any adapter to any adapter. Provided, of course, the receiver system will be able to handle the data format. (File adapter is an example which can handle any format without any development.)

Not only that, in developing this interface, there is no need to create any objects in the Integration Repository (IR). This means no mapping. Yes, if the data is not in XML, then no mapping can be done. So, we will only need to work in the Integration Directory (ID).

What can we do with this knowledge? Here are some examples:

1. we can test adapters very easily and quickly without any IR development.
2. we can send any formatted data without having to convert it to XML and back again, e.g. file->XI->file.
3. we can send any document from 1 sender to multiple receivers using XI to guarantee delivery.

Here are the steps required: (some steps will not contain any details because they are no different than developing for any other XI interfaces)

1. Configure sender and receiver communication channels in a Business Service or System, as usual.
2. Create a Receiver Determination:

   

   1. The Service has to be a valid business service or system in the ID.
   2. Interface name can be anything you make up, but should be unique. In this case, it is "nonexistence_interface".
   3. Namespace name can be anything you make up or already exists. In this case, it is "http://abc.com".
3. The following is created:

   

   Enter a valid service for the Receiver and save.

4. Create Interface Determination:

   

   1. Use the same Interface name as the sender.
   2. Use the same Namespace name as the sender.
   3. Do NOT enter any Interface Mapping.
5. Create Sender and Receiver Agreements as usual.

The interface is now ready to be activated and executed. Once executed, you can examine the content of the payload in SXMB_MONI. It will contain whatever the data you sent, but you will also receive an error indicating that the message is not XML (which can be ignored).

The main points of this exercise is:

1. IR is not necessary for development of interfaces in XI.
2. In ID, any name can be used for Sender Interface and Namespace names, and they do not need to exist in IR.
3. No Mapping can be used, since the data may not be XML.
4. The Receiver Interface and Namespace names must match that of the Sender Interface and Namespace names.
5. Most importantly: the data sent thru XI does NOT have to be in XML; any data can be sent thru XI.