BizTalk Blogs

One way to keep up to date with the new trends and continually learn is to read, read, and then read some more. To soak in Biztalk with the many changes that are happening in this industry, try reading some blogs: http://biztalkblogs.com/

RSS: http://biztalkblogs.com/RssDoc.xml

Powershell and BizTalk

One of the jobs I hated when doing support was going through the process of stopping and starting services then re-sending data through biztalk. I think with the power of PowerShell, you now can automate all of these tedious tasks into one simple cmdlet. (get-help *-service should be a good start)

Powershell is a really nice feature and I believe anyone that has any basic UNIX/Linux knowledge should be able to pick up the basics real quick.

HL7 Schema Generation Tool

"Enables customizing schemas that ship with Microsoft BizTalk Accelerator for HL7"

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=94877261-1f04-40b7-8c6d-cf92f38d09a3&DisplayLang=en

The tool they use to make HL7(v2.0) into XML.

Pre-req: BizTalk Server 2006 R2 or BizTalk Server 2006

Biztalk Apps

Here are some BizTalk apps that can be used to make development easier.

BizTalk SSO Configuration Data Storage Tool (http://seroter.wordpress.com/2007/09/21/biztalk-sso-configuration-data-storage-tool/) - A Single Sign-On App that sets access permissions for applications, account groups, etc..

CodePlex's BizTalk Open Source Apps (http://www.codeplex.com/Project/ProjectDirectory.aspx?TagName=BizTalk) - Dissambler, MicroSoft ESB Guidance, automated testing, distributed systems, biztalk server 2006 documenter, pipeline component wizard, tcpip adapter, wcf adapter, biztalk server 2006 orchestration profiler, biztalk extensions, pattern wizard, adapter wizard, lifecycle management, solution kits, app software factory, map tester, host configurator for applications, powershell, counters, etc........

BizTalk Query: Find what schemas are deployed.

use biztalkmgmtdb
select msgtype, body_xpath, clr_namespace, clr_typename, clr_assemblyname, schema_root_name,
docspec_name
from bt_DocumentSpec
order by msgtype --(which is the schema-name)
--order by date_modified desc -- (probably the date deployed?)

A useful BizTalk Sql Query

Found this sql statement on another blog that shows you what ports are still referencing a mapping. This is useful if you need to undeploy the maps and you are having trouble finding what port might be still referencing.

select
'RcvPort' PortType,
r.nvcName Port,
item.name MapName,
assem.nvcName Assembly,
nSequence, indoc_docspec_name, outdoc_docspec_name
from bts_receiveport_transform rt
inner join bts_receiveport r
on rt.nReceivePortID = r.nID
inner join bt_mapspec ms
on ms.id = rt.uidTransformGUID
inner join bts_assembly assem
on ms.assemblyid = assem.nID
inner join bts_item item
on ms.itemid = item.id
--order by Port, nSequence

union

select
'SendPort' PortType,
r.nvcName Port,
item.name MapName,
assem.nvcName Assembly,
nSequence, indoc_docspec_name, outdoc_docspec_name
from bts_sendport_transform rt
inner join bts_sendport r
on rt.nSendPortID = r.nID
inner join bt_mapspec ms
on ms.id = rt.uidTransformGUID
inner join bts_assembly assem
on ms.assemblyid = assem.nID
inner join bts_item item
on ms.itemid = item.id

order by PortType, Port, nSequence