Using content assist (Mapping syntax)

Use content assist to find the variable names for input and output objects, database elements, and paths.

Press Ctrl+Spacebar to display content assist, and use it to help you build your XPath statements and mapping expressions. Content assist provides the variable names that you need to use to reference elements in your XPath statements and expressions. The variable name assigned for the same element can vary between uses in different transforms, so always use content assist to obtain the correct variable name. Avoid copying and pasting expressions that include variable names.

You can use content assist for the following tasks:
  • Making comparisons
  • Performing arithmetic
  • Creating complex conditions
The comparison operators are:
  • = (equals)
  • != (not equals)
  • > (greater than)
  • >= (greater than or equal)
  • < (less than)
  • <= (less than or equals)
The arithmetic operators are:
  • + (plus)
  • - (minus)
  • * (multiply)
  • div (divide)

For information about XPath syntax, see W3C XML Path Language (XPath) 2.0.

Conditional operators (or and and) are supported; these are case-sensitive.

The following objects can be mapped:
  • Message elements (defined in the schema for the input and output)
  • Message assembly, comprising the properties tree and optionally the LocalEnvironment and transport headers
  • Data from database tables

Database objects with names that do not conform to the XML NCName format

Some database objects have names that do not conform to the XML NCName format (for example, the name contains characters like #, or $). If the database object name is used in SQL (for example, in the where clause of the Select transform), no action is required. If the database object is used in XPath (for example, in a Custom transform or a condition), use content assist, which adds the appropriate XPath-compliant expression.