# Guide to Data Transformation

In WebLogic Workshop business processes, data can be transformed using either a query or a eXtensible Stylesheet Language Transformation (XSLT). This guide describes how to use the mapper functionality of WebLogic Workshop to create a data transformation graphically. From this graphical representation of a data transformation, WebLogic Workshop generates a query. The generated query is invoked during run time by the business process to transform data. The query is written in the XQuery language—a language defined by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) that provides a vendor independent language for the query and retrieval of XML data.

This guide also describes how to import an existing eXtensible Stylesheet Language Transformation (XSLT) into WebLogic Workshop for data transformation. An XSLT is written in the eXtensible Stylesheet Language (XSL)—an older language defined by the W3C that supports the use of stylesheets for the conversion of XML data. In WebLogic Workshop, the preferred method for data transformations is to use queries in the XQuery language. Data transformations using XSL Transformations is supported primarily for legacy applications.

This guide also describes the design-time and run-time considerations for transforming non-XML data to other types of data.

## Topics Included in This Section

Transforming Data Using XQuery

Describes how to use the mapper functionality of WebLogic Workshop to create a query (written in the XQuery language) for transforming data between XML, non-XML, Java classes, and Java primitive data sources.

Examples: Manipulating and Constraining Data Using XQuery

This section provides information and examples on how to use the mapper functionality of WebLogic Workshop to constraint or manipulate data in a transformation.

Transforming Non-XML Data

Describes the design-time and run-time steps required for the transformation of data between a non-XML format and an XML format in WebLogic Integration.

Transforming Data Using XSLTs

Describes how to import a XSLT (eXtensible Stylesheet Language Transformation) into WebLogic workshop for transforming XML data (valid to one XML Schema) to XML data (valid to a different schema.)

Programming Transformations

Describes programming considerations for transformations outside the mapper functionality of WebLogic Workshop.