Balaji's BizTalk Bits

Time to uprade to Windows Vista

2007-04-16T09:36:00.000-07:00

BizTalk 2006 R2 is in Beta now. This edition supports Windows Vista. Download it from http://connect.microsoft.com/site/sitehome.aspx?SiteID=65

Business Rules - Presentation

2006-12-19T09:23:00.000-08:00

My last presentation on BizTalk Rules Engine at the Twin Cities BizTalk User Group is online now. Get it at http://www.mnbiztalk.com/PastPresentations.aspx

BizTalk 2006 Touble shooting guide

2006-12-05T13:17:00.000-08:00

Microsoft has published the BizTalk 2006 developers trouble shooting guide, grab it here

Microsoft Adds Eight Application Adapters for BizTalk Server

2005-08-02T10:37:00.000-07:00

Microsoft Adds Eight Application Adapters for BizTalk Server.
Technology purchase from iWay Software enhances BizTalk Server application connectivity.
The adapters Microsoft purchased will help BizTalk Server customers connect more easily to third-party applications from Amdocs, JD Edwards, Oracle Corp., PeopleSoft, Siebel Systems Inc. and TIBCO Software Inc. More details here.

MsgBox Cleanup - SQL way

2005-05-12T12:12:00.000-07:00

In the <install dir>\schema directory you will find a file called msgbox_cleanup_logic.sql (it is installed with SP1). This file contains the definition for a stored procedure called bts_CleanupMsgbox. By default, this stored procedure exists in your msgbox except that the default implementation is empty so it does nothing. To use this script first run the .sql file against all msgboxes using Query Analyzer. This will simply create the stored procedure. It won't actually do anything to your box as far as cleanup goes

Then follow the steps below.

Stop BTS.
Do IISRESET to recycle your IIS.
Run "exec bts_CleanupMsgbox" on your message box database. This will mark your instances for deletion and it will not actually delete it.
Run "exec bts_PurgeSubscriptions" on your message box database. This will purge all your messages marked for deletion.
Restart your BTS.

Note: Never run this script on your production database. This is only for Test Environment.

BizTalk 2004 Interview Questions

2005-03-18T11:50:00.000-08:00

Check back later for more questions.

What are BizTalk artifacts?
What is Promoted Property?
What is Distinguished Field?
What is the difference between Promoted Property and Distinguished Field?
How do you debug Orchestrations?
What is HAT?
What is Functoid?
How do you develop a Custom Functoid? Which interface to use?
What transport protocols are supported in BizTalk?
What is MSMQT? How it is different from MSMQ?
What needs to be specially done to call a .net assembly from the BizTalk Orchestration?
What is xpath? How do you use xpath with Messages?
What is the difference between Static Port and Dynamic Port?
Why the ROOT Name and namespace combination in a schema has to be unique?
What is Correlation?
What are the transaction types available in an orchestration scope?
What is Compensation?
How do you catch exceptions inside the orchestration?
How do you publish an orchestration as web service?
What is Receive Location and Receive Port?
What are the adapters available with BizTalk 2004?
How do you set up MSMQ and MSMQT in the same machine?
What are the components available in an orchestration tool box?
What is the difference between Call Orchestration and Start Orchestration shapes?
How do you deploy the BizTalk assemblies in a Production Box?

Large messages in BizTalk 2004

2005-03-07T10:08:00.000-08:00

Nice article on how to deal with large messages in BizTalk 2004. Read it here

BizTalk 2004 Updated Help is available now !!

2005-02-11T12:07:00.000-08:00

The BizTalk Server 2004 product documentation update replaces your existing Help with an updated version. Download it here

BizTalk Server Scenario Wizard - Undocumented !!!

2005-02-08T08:10:00.000-08:00

Charles Young discusses a hidden BizTalk Server Scenario wizard which is completely hidden and undocumented. Follow this article to uncover the treasure hunt.

Great Work Charles !!!

BizTalk 2004 Service Pack 1 - Available Now!!!

2005-01-31T05:46:00.000-08:00

BizTalk 2004 Service Pack 1 has been released and available here.. http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=f4a5ab9e-d599-4cc8-abdf-ae6ae68bac3d

Bloggers Guide

2004-11-20T06:40:00.000-08:00

Alan Smith has included this blog in his latest Bloggers Guide (November Edition). get it here http://workspaces.gotdotnet.com/TheBloggersGuideToBizTalk.

Thanks Alan.

SQL Adapter Schema Generator Wizard Bug

2004-09-10T19:51:00.000-07:00

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

2004-09-10T13:27:00.000-07:00

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.

Undeploy Error in BizTalk Explorer

2004-08-23T07:26:00.000-07:00

I was clueless when I got this error when I undeploy the assembly using BizTalk Explorer or using WMI script.

SQL exception: I/O error 23(Data error (cyclic redundancy check).) detected during read at offset 0x00000000630000 in file 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL\data\BizTalkMgmtDb.mdf'.

Finally got the UnDeploy done in SQL way. Just run the below sql script in your Biztalk DB and delete your assembly from GAC manually.

-------------------
use BiztalkMgmtDB
go
declare @iAssemblyID int
select @iAssemblyID=nID from bts_assembly where nvcName = 'yourAssemblyName'
delete from bt_mapspec where assemblyid = @iAssemblyID
delete from bt_documentspec where assemblyid = @iAssemblyID
delete from bts_item where assemblyid = @iAssemblyID
delete from bt_properties where nassemblyid = @iAssemblyID
delete from bt_sensitiveproperties where assemblyid = @iAssemblyID
delete from bts_assembly where nID = @iAssemblyID
--------------------

..... and finally

2004-08-20T16:41:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my blog. The goal of this site is to share some of my BizTalk development experiences with you all. You can find useful tips, code snippets and other useful articles in my blog. Please feel free to add comments on my blogs.

Oh.. How can my first blog be without any techie additions.... here you go..

Windows XP SP2 can be pushed to 'Automatic Update' anytime soon... ready to install these hot fixes if you have BizTalk2004 on your machines....

1) BizTalk Server 2004 will stop functioning after the installation ofWindows XP SP2 due to changes in the DCOM security model. Windows XP SP2 isavailable for download now and will be pushed through WindowsUpdate in lateAugust.Modify the registry with the instructions below to resolve this issue:http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;841893

2) The BizTalk Server 2004 Rules Engine component will stop functioning after the installation of the .NET FW 1.1 SP1 (is part of WindowsXP SP2) due to issues in ourimplementation. It is expected that all other existing user-level codewritten in the .NET FW 1.1 will continue to work in the .NET FW 1.1 SP1.The .NET Framework 1.1 SP1 is not yet publically available but will becomeavailable shortly.Download the hotfix for the rules engine component to resolve this issue:http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;875540

N.B. This hotfix is supported both on the .NET FW 1.1 and the .NET FW 1.1SP1 so you can install it today if you like.