SQL Adapter Schema Generator Wizard Bug

SQL adapter schema genarator wizard throws an error when the stored procedure parameter contains char(1). There is no KB article for this bug.

Workaround:Make the char(1) to varchar(1) and generate the schema and change it back to char(1) in the stored procedure.

geek's fix:
In BizTalk installation directory, look for XDRtoXSD.xslt and change as follows:

From: <xsl:template mode="convert-datatype" match="@dt:type[.='char']">xs:char</xsl:template>
To: &<xsl:template mode="convert-datatype" match="@dt:type[.='char']">xs:string</xsl:template>
You are all set now.

BizTalk Documentation Tools

I discovered a great tool today developed by Jason Birth.
This tool can be used to create a compiled help file describing a BTS 2K4 installation.
http://www.gotdotnet.com/Community/UserSamples/Details.aspx?SampleGuid=f7764071-e7ae-4051-a9e5-fa02a5dc57f3

Using this tool, you can create a help file describing all the configured artifacts associated to one project or all installed project. Don't forget to try the word xml generation, it so cool... Excellent tool for project documentation.


BizTalk 2004 Explorer Extension

The extension is the BtsAsmExt.dll and is located in the \Program Files\Microsoft BizTalk Server 2004\Developer Tools subdirectory. This functionality is turned off by default (which is why most people don't know about it). To enable this functionality, run regsvr32 BtsAsmExt.dll either on the run windows or from the command prompt. Once you have done this, you will see the BizTalk Server Assemblies icon in Windows Explorer alongside the drive letters.

When you click on the BizTalk Server Assemblies you will a list of all of the deployed assemblies. You can then click on each of the assemblies and you will see the BizTalk artifacts that are used in that specific assembly. These includes Orchestrations, Schemas, Maps and Pipelines. In addition, if you double click on an individual artifact, the Type Content Viewer windows pops up and will show you an XML representation.

This tool also includes additional functionality. It adds a BizTalk Server Search pane (found under the View ->Explorer Bar->BizTalk Server Search) which lets you search across the deployed assemblies for any of the BizTalk types. So, I could do a search for any schemas that are referenced by pipelines across all assemblies or Correlation Types referenced by Orchestrations found in assembly X.