BTS 2006 BTSService.odx Missing File

While Installing BizTalk Server 2006, I got one error message about one missing file; that file is :

G:\Msi\Program Files\Developer Tools\BizTalkProjectItems\BTSService.odx,

then I found out that this file is not existent in my CD, I pressed ignore, and resumed installation, however after few days I was developing one BizTalk Application, and I tried to add a new orchestration file, but every time I try to do it I find the left pane empty when I select Orchestrations from the left pane, this error aroused my anger, especially I searched on the Internet to resolve this problem, but it seems no one else got it but me, however I remembered that file I missed while installing BizTalk Server 2006, and fortunately I have another machine where I installed BTS 2006 before and I could add orchestration files, I got this file from the path above, and surprisingly the file size was ZERO !, I think that’s why I couldn’t find it on the ISO image I installed BTS from, I think the ISO creator I have used is not including zero files, I copied the file to the first machine, and luckily it has worked, but the question is that as long as this is a zero sized file, and it’s completely empty, why VS.NET 2005, recreates it upon startup when it’s missing from the BTS developer tools?

HTTP Receive Adapter Configuration in IIS 5.1

BizTalk 2006 Receive Adapter lets your application accepts XML messages over HTTP protocol, definitely you will need to use the HTTP Receive adapter to use the HTTP channel, for this purpose you will need to create a web application that constructs and posts an XML message to a receive location, if you have gone through consuming the HTTP Receive adapter you would know that you should host the adapter at one web application, basically this application is the main web application that’s posting the XML message to be dispatched by the receive adapter, and this web application will often be an ASP.NET application, for this purpose you will need to use the BizTalkServerIsolatedHost , as the web application or the ASP.NET application, that’s hosting the HTTP Receive adapter, is running in different process other than the BizTalk Process, so the isolated host will be used to give this out-of-process adapter an access to the BizTalk management database, but at the same time the web application should have the enough privileges to be provided to the isolated host to access the BizTalk management database, noting that all other adapters like FILE adapter are running under the BizTalk runtime except SOAP and HTTP adapters, so to be able to post XML messages to the HTTP receive adapter you need to grant your web application the proper identity to access the BizTalk management database.

I suppose that you copied the HTTP Receive adapter BTSHTTPReceive.dll DLL under your web application, this configurations are meant to Windows XP platform and Internet Information Server 5.1, so now you need to set permissions for your web application right from IIS manager MMC snap-in, run -> inetmgr, then spot your target web application, right click, select Properties, then from the Virtual Directory tab, set Execute Permissions to Scripts and Executables, and Application Protection to High (Isolated).

One more step is left; you need to configure the HTTP Receive Adapter from Component Services console, open the Component Services Console from Administrative Tools -> Component Services, from the left tree browse to Component Services -> Computers -> My Computer -> COM+ Applications -> IIS-{Default Web Site//Root/WebApplication, WebApplication is just a placeholder for your web application, right click this application, click Properties, select Identity tab, from Account group select System Account, and Interactive user – The current logged on user.

If you don’t set the HTTP Receive Adapter correctly; you will get an error message both in your web application, in case you handle errors, and in Event Log, this is the error message written to the Application Event Log:

The BizTalk HTTP receive adapter failed to initialize itself. Possible reasons:

1) Receive location URL is not created/configured correctly.

2) Receive location is not enabled.

3) HTTP receive adapter is not running under a user that has access to management and message databases.

4) Isolated host instance is not created for HTTP Receive adapter.

As you can see the error you will get most is number 3, and that’s we’ve resolved above.

BizTalk Server 2006 MCTS

Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist, is a new certificate that is focusing on one technology, which makes the path to get a certificate shorter and smarter, the core objective of MCTS is to let you prove your skills and knowledge at one Microsoft Technology, and BizTalk Server 2006 is not an exception.

The BizTalk 2006 MCTS holder, will have a good understanding about how to design and develop BizTalk applications, creating Messaging architecture including schemas, maps, pipelines, adapters, and last but not least Orchestrations, also the holder will be aware of BRE (Business Rule Engine) usage, Human workflow, short and long term transactions, that was about the design and development of applications.

About the applications management and deployment, you will be aware of how to manage business processes, and how to deploy your applications.

The good news is that it’s only one exam, once you pass it; you become a BizTalk Server Certified, which is a good evidence to your knowledge and implementation, the roadmap to BizTalk MCTS is mentioned below ( as per Microsoft site )

Required Exams for MCTS: BizTalk Server 2006 (One Exam Required)	Courses	Books
Exam 70–235: TS: Developing Business Process and Integration Solutions Using BizTalk Server 2006 (available early 2006)	2933: Developing Business Process and Integration Solutions Using Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006 (available as five-day classroom training in early 2006)2934: Deploying and Managing Business Process and Integration Solutions Using Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006 (available as two-day classroom training in early 2006)	Programming Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006 Core Reference (available early 2006)