Time to get back to BizTalk Server and publish new resources on this fantastic product, and also return to one of my old pet projects: the BizTalk Pipeline Components Extensions Utility Pack.
Today, I decided to create a brand new component called the Send File To a Date-Based Structure Encoder Pipeline Component.
For those unfamiliar with it, the BizTalk Pipeline Components Extensions Utility Pack is a collection of custom pipeline component libraries. These libraries include several components that you can use in both receive and send pipelines.
Most importantly, these components extend BizTalk’s out‑of‑the‑box pipeline capabilities. As a result, they give developers more flexibility and control when handling complex integration scenarios.
📝 One-Minute Brief
Managing outbound files often requires organizing data into predictable folder structures. This article explains how to use a custom Encoder Pipeline Component to send files into a date‑based folder structure, improving organization, traceability, and long‑term maintenance. The approach fits integration scenarios where file systems remain critical and structured output matters.
Send File To a Date-Based Structure Encoder Pipeline Component
The Send File To a Date-Based Structure Encoder Pipeline Component is a pipeline component that can be used in a send pipeline. As the name suggests, we can use this inside the Encode stage, which allows you to send an outbound file to a dynamic folder path organized by date tree:
- <basePath>\yyyy\MM\dd\<filename>
In other words, you will define the base path in the adapter URI, and this component will use it to add a dynamic structure to that path based on the date.
This component doesn’t require any property configuration.
How to install it
As always, you just need to add these DLLs to the Pipeline Components folder, which by default is in the BizTalk Server 2020 installation folder. In the last version of the product, it will be:
- C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft BizTalk Server\Pipeline Components
In this particular component, we need to have this DLL:
- BizTalk.PipelineComponents.SendFileToDateBasedStructure.dll
How to use it
As with previous pipelines, I recommend creating generic pipelines that you can reuse across all applications. Alternatively, you can create multiple generic pipelines when needed. This approach improves consistency and simplifies maintenance.
Next, add the pipeline component to the Encode stage. However, keep in mind that this component applies only to send pipelines.
Download
THIS COMPONENT IS PROVIDED “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND.
You can download Send File To a Date-Based Structure Encoder Pipeline Component from GitHub here:
Hope you find this helpful! So, if you liked the content or found it helpful and want to help me write more, you can help us buy a Star Wars Lego for Sandro’s son!
