This topic describes how to configure the XML Converter tool in SOAtest and Virtualize. This tool converts the input from a native format to XML or from XML to a native format. The native formats supported include EDI, JSON, Fixed Length, CSV, and any custom message formats you have added via the Extension Framework (for example, mainframe message formats, binary formats, or any other kind of proprietary custom message format).
This tool changes names depending on the format and direction—for instance, to Convert Fixed Length to XML, Convert XML to Fixed Length, Convert EDI to XML, Convert XML to EDI.
Sections include:
About XML Converter
The XML Converter can convert native formats to XML and to convert XML to native formats. It can be used in concert with the following tools (including all derivative tools):
Supported formats include CSV, JSON, EDI, Fixed Length, Lines, Plain Text, and any custom message formats defined via the Parasoft Extension Framework.
For example, you might create an XML Converter configured to use the Plain Text format and the conversion direction "From text to XML". If the tool receives the input "alpha", then any tools attached to the XML Converter will receive the value "<root>alpha</root>".
Or, you might have an XML Converter configured to use the Plain Text format and the conversion direction "From XML to text". If the tool receives the input "<root>alpha</root>", it provides the value "alpha" to its attached tools.
You can use the XML Converter to easily create XML for use with the XML Assertor, XML Data Bank, or any other XML tool. For example, you can create an XML Converter that gets its input by reading an EDIFACT file from disk. You can also attach an XML Assertor to verify the contents of the EDIFACT file.
Additionally, you can use the Plain Text format to convert any value into something that you can use in an XML tool.
Converting from XML to Native Formats
The primary purpose of the XML Converter tool is to convert from native formats to XML so that the native format content can be consumed by XML-based tools. Converting from XML to a native format is valid only when chaining a tool to the XML output provided by another tool—for instance, Payload Modeled as XML and Payload Converted to XML outputs.
Conversion Options
The conversion options here are the same as those available in responder or client tools (e.g., EDI, CSV, Fixed Length, Custom). For example, options for a custom FIX format might look like this:
