Amtrix
Encyclopedia
The AMTrix System is an Enterprise application integration
software system that acts as a middleware
and enables applications
to exchange data in
standardized message formats, regardless of physical distance and hardware platforms.
In order to enable this application messaging, AMTrix performs several vital functions:
AMTrix also has two other type of logs:
Document Log – It maintains a log of all the documents that were processed through the AMTrix system in the past 10 days (including the actual documents)
Transfer Log – Maintains a log of all transfers that happened via the AMTrix system. Including details of the "Trading Partners" involved in the transfer, the time of transfer and the associated documents corresponding to each transfer.
The AMTrix System is constructed in a modular fashion, with message processing and
communication modules connecting to a central message distribution engine (the AMTrix
Router). The entire system is monitored and configured from a network
client (the
AMTrix Monitor).
AMTrix Monitor is the GUI client for the
AMTrix System, to operate, configure, and maintain the AMTrix System on the server
(or servers), manage trading partner information, and define and modify various system
parameters, for example, those affecting Event Logging.
Add on packages add extra capabilities to the Message Builder language. Examples are graphical user interface programming and socket communication.
Message Builder runs on different versions of UNIX, on Windows, and AS/400. With one exception (the AS/400), compiled Message Builder programs can be moved between different computers and executed without recompilation.
The language can be extended with Message Builder written functions and statements that can be used in the same way as built-in functions and statements. It is also possible to extend the language with C-written functions and statements (refer to the MBC Extender Guide).
A Message Builder program consists of one or more text files containing the program text. These files are compiled using a compiler that produces an executable Message Builder program. This executable program consists of instructions for an imaginary machine. An interpreter implements this imaginary machine and is used to execute the program.
Enterprise application integration
Enterprise Application Integration is defined as the use of software and computer systems architectural principles to integrate a set of enterprise computer applications.- Overview :...
software system that acts as a middleware
Middleware
Middleware is computer software that connects software components or people and their applications. The software consists of a set of services that allows multiple processes running on one or more machines to interact...
and enables applications
Application software
Application software, also known as an application or an "app", is computer software designed to help the user to perform specific tasks. Examples include enterprise software, accounting software, office suites, graphics software and media players. Many application programs deal principally with...
to exchange data in
standardized message formats, regardless of physical distance and hardware platforms.
In order to enable this application messaging, AMTrix performs several vital functions:
- Message conversion: This is usually done between an in-house format (for example, flat file or database) and an external, more standardized format (for example, EDIFACTEDIFACTUnited Nations/Electronic Data Interchange For Administration, Commerce and Transport is the international EDI standard developed under the United Nations...
or X12), although AMTrix can convert between any two message formats. Message conversion is done by programs or 'maps' which are written in the Message Builder Language (MBL). Maps are programs that map data fields in the input message (source) to data fields in the output message (destination) with or without manipulation of the data that is being mapped. Maps in AMTrix can be created using AMTrix's Datamapper which provides a user-friendly GUIGuiGui or guee is a generic term to refer to grilled dishes in Korean cuisine. These most commonly have meat or fish as their primary ingredient, but may in some cases also comprise grilled vegetables or other vegetarian ingredients. The term derives from the verb, "gupda" in Korean, which literally...
that 'links' the source and destination data fields.
- Application serverApplication serverAn application server is a software framework that provides an environment in which applications can run, no matter what the applications are or what they do...
connectors: These are a complete solution packages for the efficient implementation and integration of specific applications into an enterprise infrastructure. The first application connector for SAP R/3SAP R/3SAP R/3 is the former name of the main enterprise resource planning software produced by SAP AG. It is an enterprise-wide information system designed to coordinate all the resources, information, and activities needed to complete business processes such as order fulfillment or billing.- History of...
and fully certified as compliant was launched in October 1997. It acts as the interface with SAP R/3SAP R/3SAP R/3 is the former name of the main enterprise resource planning software produced by SAP AG. It is an enterprise-wide information system designed to coordinate all the resources, information, and activities needed to complete business processes such as order fulfillment or billing.- History of...
systems, using either IDocIdocIDoc, short for Intermediate Document, is a SAP document format for transferring the data for a business transaction.IDoc is similar to XML in purpose, but differs in syntax...
or ALEAleAle is a type of beer brewed from malted barley using a warm fermentation with a strain of brewers' yeast. The yeast will ferment the beer quickly, giving it a sweet, full bodied and fruity taste...
. This makes AMTrix a powerful support during SAP implementations, as it provides a unified method for integrating all non-SAP environments.
- Intelligent processing of messages: In addition to conversion between different message formats, AMTrix can validate data and make decisions based on the contents of a message.
- Message logging: AMTrix monitors the system and creates message logs so that users can see what is going on at present and what has happened in the past—enabling the retransmission of messages and retrieval of message information for report generation.
AMTrix also has two other type of logs:
Document Log – It maintains a log of all the documents that were processed through the AMTrix system in the past 10 days (including the actual documents)
Transfer Log – Maintains a log of all transfers that happened via the AMTrix system. Including details of the "Trading Partners" involved in the transfer, the time of transfer and the associated documents corresponding to each transfer.
- Message transportation: In order to be able to reach applications located on other hardware platforms and/or retrieve data to construct messages, AMTrix features a number of different communication protocols and interfacesInterface (computer science)In the field of computer science, an interface is a tool and concept that refers to a point of interaction between components, and is applicable at the level of both hardware and software...
, for example, X.400X.400X.400 is a suite of ITU-T Recommendations that define standards for Data Communication Networks for Message Handling Systems — more commonly known as "email"....
, FTP, EMAILEmailElectronic mail, commonly known as email or e-mail, is a method of exchanging digital messages from an author to one or more recipients. Modern email operates across the Internet or other computer networks. Some early email systems required that the author and the recipient both be online at the...
, OFTPOFTPThe Odette File Transfer Protocol is a protocol used for EDI between two communications business partners. It comes from the Odette-Organisation ....
, WWW, and asynchronous.
The AMTrix System is constructed in a modular fashion, with message processing and
communication modules connecting to a central message distribution engine (the AMTrix
Router). The entire system is monitored and configured from a network
Computer network
A computer network, often simply referred to as a network, is a collection of hardware components and computers interconnected by communication channels that allow sharing of resources and information....
client (the
AMTrix Monitor).
AMTrix Monitor is the GUI client for the
AMTrix System, to operate, configure, and maintain the AMTrix System on the server
(or servers), manage trading partner information, and define and modify various system
parameters, for example, those affecting Event Logging.
Message Builder
Message Builder is a general purpose programming language. Among other things, it contains special constructs to access SQL databases and to handle EDI messages. Large parts of the Integrator are written using Message Builder.Add on packages add extra capabilities to the Message Builder language. Examples are graphical user interface programming and socket communication.
Message Builder runs on different versions of UNIX, on Windows, and AS/400. With one exception (the AS/400), compiled Message Builder programs can be moved between different computers and executed without recompilation.
The language can be extended with Message Builder written functions and statements that can be used in the same way as built-in functions and statements. It is also possible to extend the language with C-written functions and statements (refer to the MBC Extender Guide).
A Message Builder program consists of one or more text files containing the program text. These files are compiled using a compiler that produces an executable Message Builder program. This executable program consists of instructions for an imaginary machine. An interpreter implements this imaginary machine and is used to execute the program.