The XML Schema Definition (XSD) language natively defines message structure in BizTalk Server. XML Schemas are the foundation of all scenarios and document exchanges using BizTalk Server. Basically, once you have created your schema, you can create your scenario.
While XML standards are the core of BizTalk messages, a message structure can extend beyond XML to apply t other formats such a comma-delimited flat file representation.
Any XSD-compliant XML Editor can define BizTalk messages, but BizTalk Editor supports many of rich capabilities of XSD, such as importing common schemas to facilitate reuse, …
Creating Document Schemas
- Create a new BizTalk empty project in Visual Studio;
- Right-click on the project name and select Add → Add New Item;
- In Add New Item dialog box, select Schema as the type of the item, type a name and click Ok;
Now you can define the structure of the document, first you have to change the Root name, you have to understand that this is not necessary, but it’s a common best practice, because BizTalk Server identifies the document (sets a message context property called BTS.MessageType) by making a concatenation of document namespace and Root Node Name.
- Right-click the Root name and select rename;
- To add nodes, right-click a node and select insert schema node, then you can select from the following options:
- Child Record, to add a new record
- Child Field Attribute, to add a new attribute node
- Sibling Field Attribute, to add a new attribute node
- Child Field Element, to add a new element node
- Sibling Field Element, to add a new element node
- Select the node to view and change its properties
