AS2 Transport Protocol

Classic Servoy
1

Hi

I have to send some data to DHL and their preferred data transport system is AS2. Does anyone use this approach and/or have any idea how to make Servoy send what are relatively simple CSV files using AS2. I guess fundamentally is it possible for Servoy to do this ???

Thanks in advance

2

Hi Gordon

As far as i understand you problem with DHL, it seems that AS2 is based on HTTP for transport
=> so http client plugin should be ok for that (Servoy 6 version has a lot of option for adding header request etc…)
For the csv file that you need to send: do you need to post it (as a simple file post ) or encrypt it with certificate ?
you can study the vbscript (send.vbs) source code of babelas2 (see the bottom of your wikipedia link) Google Code Archive - Long-term storage for Google Code Project Hosting.
If you need to encrypt few data, the it2be cryptor plugin could help you.
then after you have filled your http post ans sent your request, you should get a response object from dhl
of course you need to know all the parameters needed to post during you transaction and what you will get in your response

other stuff that could help, is asking DHL if they have a kind of ressource kit or documentation for partner (customer or Isv)

Hope this helps

3

Hi Fabrice

Thanks for the reply, yes DHL do have docs but they are a generic version for everything from flight info to truck management, so I was rather hoping to shortcut the reading. You have answered exactly what I wanted essentially Servoy can do it and the http plugin is the way. I will give this a go and see how I get on.

Many thanks for your reply
Gordon

4

AS2, while based on HTTP is a whole other beast to work with, the http plugin will be of no help here.

For just simple transfer of documents with a trading partner via AS2, you should take a look at the Java based project OpenAS2[1]. You can run it as a headless server where you configure it with an ‘in’ and ‘out’ directory for your trading partner (DHL in this case), when the trading partner sends you a document it will appear in your ‘in’ directory and when you need to send something to them, you put in in your ‘out’ directory, just like a mail bin on your work desk.

[1] OpenAS2 download | SourceForge.net

5

Thanks Ryan, I think I might make this even simpler initially and see if they can do FTP of SFTP in the short term. As you say there is and in and out box which we need to post CSVs too. Ideally I want to use AS2 which is there preferred method so will look at the server as you suggest.

Thanks again
Gordon