Using XML with Legacy Business Applications

Sample Input and Output: Invoice

For our sample CSV file in this chapter we use a document commonly exported in electronic commerce situations from small businesses to larger customers that mandate that documents be exchanged electronically. We use a simple invoice. In this example, each row exported from a desktop bookkeeping and order management system has the same format. Each row represents one item to be invoiced, and we want all the rows for a specific invoice number to be grouped together into one invoice document. In addition, we want the invoices destined for different trading partners to be separated from each other, based on the customer ID column.

Our sample business is Big Daddy's Gourmet Cocoa, a specialty manufacturer of instant ...