Message Format Language

Message Format Language (MFL) is a BEA proprietary language to describe the layout of binary data, and defines rules to transform the binary data in typed data.

A Message Format Language (MFL) document is a specialized XML document used to describe the layout of binary data. It is a BEA proprietary language used to define rules to transform formatted binary data into XML data. An MFL document conforms to the mfl.dtd, which includes elements and attributes used to describe each field of data, as well as groupings of fields (groups), repetition, and aggregation.

When creating a business services or proxy services of Messaging Service type, MFL types can be selected as the request message type or the response message type of the service.

BEA Format Builder is used to create MFLs. When defining the hierarchy of a binary record, the layout of fields, and the grouping of fields and groups, the information is saved as an MFL document that can then be used to perform run-time translations. An MFL document can also be used in Format Builder to generate the corresponding DTD that describes its content model.

For more information visit "Using the AquaLogic Service Bus Console" on Oracle's site.

MFL can be used by the Oracle Service Bus (OSB) to assist in the creation of service types as part of Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) implementations.