Using BizTalk flat file parsing engine outside of Biztalk

Question

I need to build a custom .net app to parse flat files and extract data based on positions.

Is there a way to do this, using Biztalk dll's and XSD schema's .

Or is there another solution?

Answer 1

Technically, sure. There are some class instances you would have to fake and methods to override but it can be done.

You will still require a valid BizTalk license anywhere you would run this.

Answer 2

You could use MapForce from Altova. They support flat file mapping. https://www.altova.com/mapforce/flat-file-mapping.html

The annoying thing is the flat file schema / XSD that BizTalk supports does not seem to be usable by any other system. Indeed my XSDs have what seem like BizTalk-specific things:

<schemaEditorExtension:schemaInfo namespaceAlias="b" extensionClass="Microsoft.BizTalk.FlatFileExtension.FlatFileExtension" standardName="Flat File" xmlns:schemaEditorExtension="http://schemas.microsoft.com/BizTalk/2003/SchemaEditorExtensions" />

On the plus side, MapForce is fairly easy to use, and can generate code for the mapping.

MapForce is not free, but they do have a trial available.