BizTalk newbie here...
I have a flat file output schema which consists of 4 child records, and for each input record, the map needs to write each of the child records. The issue that I am having is that the output is coming out in this order:
Rec 1 Rec 1 Rec 2 Rec 2 Rec 3 Rec 3 Rec 4 Rec 4
The specs call for the file in this order:
Rec 1 Rec 2 Rec 3 Rec 4 Rec 1 Rec 2 etc
I have tried creating the schema in several different ways, I have asked coworkers with more BizTalk experience, and I have googled 'til my eyes are crossed, but I have yet to find a solution.
I have considered, but not yet tried, using XSLT to sort the output, but the difficulty that I foresee in that method is that each of the child records is a different length and some of the child records have additional key fields.
Hoping someone has prior experience with this situation.
1/2/14 update:
Here's the current output schema:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?>
<xs:schema xmlns="http://SonomaCounty.BizTalk.EFS.APImport.Schemas.PSSinglePayVoucherFF" xmlns:b="http://schemas.microsoft.com/BizTalk/2003" targetNamespace="http://SonomaCounty.BizTalk.EFS.APImport.Schemas.PSSinglePayVoucherFF" xmlns:xs="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema">
<xs:element name="SinglePayVoucher">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:recordInfo structure="delimited" child_delimiter_type="hex" child_delimiter="0xD 0xA" child_order="postfix" sequence_number="1" preserve_delimiter_for_empty_data="true" suppress_trailing_delimiters="false" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
<xs:complexType>
<xs:sequence>
<xs:element maxOccurs="unbounded" name="VoucherHeader">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:recordInfo structure="delimited" child_delimiter_type="char" child_delimiter="," child_order="infix" sequence_number="1" preserve_delimiter_for_empty_data="true" suppress_trailing_delimiters="false" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
<xs:complexType>
<xs:sequence>
<xs:element name="RowID" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="1" wrap_char_type="char" wrap_char=""" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="BusinessUnit" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="2" wrap_char_type="char" wrap_char=""" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="VchrBldKeyC1" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="3" wrap_char_type="char" wrap_char=""" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="VchrBldKeyN1" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="4" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="VoucherID" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="5" wrap_char_type="char" wrap_char=""" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="VoucherStyle" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="6" wrap_char_type="char" wrap_char=""" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="InvoiceID" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="7" wrap_char_type="char" wrap_char=""" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="InvoiceDt" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="8" wrap_char_type="char" wrap_char=""" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="VendorSetID" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="9" wrap_char_type="char" wrap_char=""" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="VendorID" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="10" wrap_char_type="char" wrap_char=""" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="Origin" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="11" wrap_char_type="char" wrap_char=""" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="GrossAmt" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="12" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="MatchAction" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="13" wrap_char_type="char" wrap_char=""" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="VchrApprvlFlg" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="14" wrap_char_type="char" wrap_char=""" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="VchrSrc" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="15" wrap_char_type="char" wrap_char=""" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
</xs:sequence>
</xs:complexType>
</xs:element>
<xs:element maxOccurs="unbounded" name="VoucherLine">
<xs:complexType>
<xs:sequence>
<xs:element name="RowID" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="1" wrap_char_type="char" wrap_char=""" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="BusinessUnit" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="2" wrap_char_type="char" wrap_char=""" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="VchrBldKeyC1" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="3" wrap_char_type="char" wrap_char=""" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="VchrBldKeyN1" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="4" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="VoucherID" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="5" wrap_char_type="char" wrap_char=""" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="VoucherLineNbr" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="6" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="Descr" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="7" wrap_char_type="char" wrap_char=""" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="QtyVchr" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="8" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="UnitOfMeasure" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="9" wrap_char_type="char" wrap_char=""" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="ShipToID" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="10" wrap_char_type="char" wrap_char=""" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
</xs:sequence>
</xs:complexType>
</xs:element>
<xs:element maxOccurs="unbounded" name="VoucherDist">
<xs:complexType>
<xs:sequence>
<xs:element name="RowID" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="1" wrap_char_type="char" wrap_char=""" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="BusinessUnit" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="2" wrap_char_type="char" wrap_char=""" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="VchrBldKeyC1" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="3" wrap_char_type="char" wrap_char=""" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="VchrBldKeyN1" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="4" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="VoucherID" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="5" wrap_char_type="char" wrap_char=""" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="VoucherLineNum" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="6" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="DistribLineNum" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="7" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="GLBusUnit" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="8" wrap_char_type="char" wrap_char=""" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="Account" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="9" wrap_char_type="char" wrap_char=""" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="DeptID" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="10" wrap_char_type="char" wrap_char=""" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="FundCode" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="11" wrap_char_type="char" wrap_char=""" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="QtyVchr" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="12" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="MerchAmt" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="13" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
</xs:sequence>
</xs:complexType>
</xs:element>
<xs:element maxOccurs="unbounded" name="VoucherVendor">
<xs:complexType>
<xs:sequence>
<xs:element name="RowID" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="1" wrap_char_type="char" wrap_char=""" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="BusinessUnit" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="2" wrap_char_type="char" wrap_char=""" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="VchrBldKeyC1" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="3" wrap_char_type="char" wrap_char=""" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="VchrBldKeyN1" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="4" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="VoucherID" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="5" wrap_char_type="char" wrap_char=""" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="Name1" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="6" wrap_char_type="char" wrap_char=""" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="Name2" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="7" wrap_char_type="char" wrap_char=""" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="Address1" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="8" wrap_char_type="char" wrap_char=""" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="Address2" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="9" wrap_char_type="char" wrap_char=""" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="City" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="10" wrap_char_type="char" wrap_char=""" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="State" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="11" wrap_char_type="char" wrap_char=""" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="Zip" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="12" wrap_char_type="char" wrap_char=""" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
</xs:sequence>
</xs:complexType>
</xs:element>
</xs:sequence>
</xs:complexType>
</xs:element>
</xs:schema>
Here's is a sample input schema:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?>
<xs:schema xmlns="http://SonomaCounty.BizTalk.EFS.APImport.Schemas.ProbationRestitutionFF" xmlns:b="http://schemas.microsoft.com/BizTalk/2003" targetNamespace="http://SonomaCounty.BizTalk.EFS.APImport.Schemas.ProbationRestitutionFF" xmlns:xs="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema">
<xs:element name="RestitutionPayment">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:recordInfo structure="delimited" child_delimiter_type="hex" child_delimiter="0xD 0xA" child_order="postfix" sequence_number="1" preserve_delimiter_for_empty_data="true" suppress_trailing_delimiters="false" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
<xs:complexType>
<xs:sequence>
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<groupInfo sequence_number="0" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/BizTalk/2003" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
<xs:element maxOccurs="unbounded" name="Detail">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:recordInfo structure="delimited" child_order="infix" sequence_number="2" preserve_delimiter_for_empty_data="true" suppress_trailing_delimiters="false" child_delimiter_type="hex" child_delimiter="0x09" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
<xs:complexType>
<xs:sequence>
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<groupInfo sequence_number="0" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/BizTalk/2003" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
<xs:element name="VNum" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="1" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="Name" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="2" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="Address1" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="3" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="Address2" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="4" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="CityStateZip" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="5" wrap_char_type="char" wrap_char=""" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="AcctName" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="6" wrap_char_type="char" wrap_char=""" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="Cat" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="7" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="Ref" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="8" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
<xs:element name="DisbAmt" type="xs:string">
<xs:annotation>
<xs:appinfo>
<b:fieldInfo justification="left" sequence_number="9" />
</xs:appinfo>
</xs:annotation>
</xs:element>
</xs:sequence>
</xs:complexType>
</xs:element>
</xs:sequence>
</xs:complexType>
</xs:element>
</xs:schema>
Your situation is fairly common and the solution an be pretty eash depending on home much control you have over the two schemas.
For your flat file, Rec 1-4 must be children of the same Parent:
RecordsParent should be maxOccurs=unbounded.
Then, from the source schema, use a Looping Functoid to connect the parent of Rec 1-4 sources to RecordsElement.
This will cause the Mapper to add an additional for-each around the parent elements which in most cases will give you the output you want.