Course description: XML and DataStage: Convert Relational and XML Data - Web Based Training

Note: This is a self-paced online course in which the Guided Tour Product Simulation requires no installations: Everything is through your IE 5.0+ browser. Please DO NOT make travel arrangements for this course. After you receive confirmation that you are registered, just follow the instructions to access the course.

This browser-based product simulation let's you "learn-by-doing" in a case-study scenario in which you solve a 'real-life' business problem - no installations needed just a browser and a passion to learn.

By the end of this training you'll have a better understanding of this InfoSphere product's terminology, an overview of its architecture, and a better understanding of how it can be implemented.

You can learn more about the FlexLearning library:

http://www-304.ibm.com/jct03001c/services/learning/ites.wss/us/en?pageType=page&c=a0011797

USA IBM Training Registrar:

• Phone: (978) 899-2188
• Fax: (978) 899-2188
• e-mail: iiseduc@us.ibm.com

Before you enter the Guided Tour Product Simulation, the course starts out by introducing you to DataStage's XML Pack (the functionality that allows DataStage to work with XML data and convert relational data to XML, vice versa (convert XML data to relational data), and to work with XML-to-XML tranformations. We'll look at the XML PACK at a high level and discuss its contents. Since the XML PACK has four primary components, we'll continue our discussion by talking about the first of the four components; the metadata importer and how it works with sources. It can work with sources such as a COBOL Copybook, a relational database, a flat file, or a Web Service. XML is just another type of data source that you are accessing.

We'll also talk about how DataStage uses XPath which will essentially serve as a query method to traverse through the hierarchy of the XML file. We'll see how DataStage, during this import, will automatically create the appropriate XPath expressions and will populate the description field of the table definition with this expression. We'll see how the importer can import an XSD (built outside of DataStage) file as well. DataStage does not give you the ability to alter schemas. Instead, it can read an XML file (based upon an existing XSD). Also DataStage can create an XML file based on a given XSD schema, or even do transformations based on XSLT. After each discussion in the tutorial, you will go through an exercise (A Guided Tour Product Simulation). For example, after this first discussion, you'll do a simulation on how to import metadata from an XSD file (A file that contains metadata for your XML file).

Then, we'll take a look at the three remaining components of the XML PACK found in DataStage's palette. We'll talk about the how to extract data from an XML by using the XML Input Stage as a source within our data flow. We'll talk about how to transform XML-to-XML by configuring the XML Transformer Stage to work with an XSLT file, and finally we'll see how data can be loaded into an XML file from a relational file or how XML can be created using the XML Output Stage.

As mentioned, you will go through a Guided Tour Product Simulation for each of the four components including the XML Metadata Importer utility and the three Stages; XML Input Stage (XML to relational data), XML Output Stage (relational to XML), and XML Transformer Stage (XML-to-XML).

View this course in other countries

Training Paths that reference this course are:

• DataStage Integration Developer - New to Information Server
• DataStage Integration Developer - New to DataStage Parallel Jobs
• Information Analysis – Data Integration Architect

Back to top

IBM Education Advantage Program Eligibility

• Yes - IBM Education Pack - Online account

Back to top

This basic course is for:

• People interested in integrating XML either as either a data source and/or as a target
• People interested in writing data in real-time through Web Services and similar technologies
• Those who want to learn to:
• Convert relational data to XML
• XML to relational
• XML-to-XML format changes
• ETL and DataStage Developers
• Technical Architects
• Integration Developers
• Data Integration Technical Leads
• QualityStage Developers using version 8.x
• Technical Project Managers

Back to top

You should have:

• Some familiarity with DataStage or completion of "DataStage Essentials" classroom training
• Understanding of XML (For instance, XML structures, XPath, XSD, stylesheets, etc.)
• Knowledge of related real-time, messaging, and other technologies is not required but may be helpful depending on how you may apply knowledge gained from this FlexLearning course.

Likewise, some understanding of the types of enterprise systems that organizations have put into place and the challenges that organizations face when trying to integrate data will enable you to get more from this course.

Back to top

• Import an XML file or an XSD schema file containing metadata for XML into DataStage
• Understand the capabilities of XML PACK
• Effectively leverage imported table definitions or metadata in this environment
• Use XML Input Stage, XML Output Stage, and XML Transformer Stage to:
• Go from XML to tabular data
• Go from tabular to XML format
• Go from XML to XML format data
• Understand how to use the Stages and their features with the XML PACK

Back to top

• Overview - Components
• The XML Input Stage
• The XML Output Stage
• The XML Transformer Stage
• Overview - Architecture
• XML Metadata Importer Importer's Basic Features
• File Menu Features
• Edit Menu Features
• View Menu Features
• Components - Tree View
• Components - Table/Parser Panes
• Components - Node Properties Pane
• Metadata Importer Simulation
• XML Input Stage Use Case - Table Definition
• Use Case - Job Layout
• Use Case - Results
• Setting the Repetition Element
• Advanced - NULLs and Empty Values
• Input Stage Simulation
• XML Output Stage Use Case - Table Definition
• Use Case - Job Layout
• Properties - Document Settings
• Properties - Transformation Settings
• Properties - Options
• Controlling the Repetition
• Controlling the Order
• Controlling the Number of Rows
• Output Stage Simulation A Quick Review
• The Output Mode
• XML Transformer Stage
• Transformer Stage Simulation

Back to top

Mandatory: Learners must have a screen resolution set to a minimum of 1024 x 768 (1200 x 1400 recommended) and an IE 5.0+ browser

Back to top