NIST GCR 11-945 

Messaging Work Bench Instructions

Edmond Scientific Company 
NIST GCR 11-945

Messaging Work Bench Instructions

Prepared for 

 National Institute of Standards and Technology

Gaithersburg Md 20899-8202

By

Edmond Scientific Company

July 1 2011 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

John E. Bryson, Secretary

National Institute of Standards and Technology 

Patrick D. Gallagher, Under Secretary for Standards and Technology and Director

This publication was produced as part of contract SB1341-10-CN-0085 with the National Institute of

Standards and Technology. The contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the views or

policies of the National Institute of Standards and Technology or the US Government.
Messaging Workbench

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Messaging Work Bench:

Summary and Guide

Written by Ioana Singureanu

Submitted March 30, 2011

Revised July 1st, 2011

4000 Legato Road, Suite 1100

Fairfax, Virginia 22033
Messaging Workbench

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Document Version Control

Version Date Name Change(s)

1.0 03/30/20

11

Ioana Singureanu Initial Draft

2.0 4/12/20

11

Ioana

Singureanu

Final Version

3.0 7/1/201

1

Ioana

Singureanu

Added NCPDP

SCRIPT

References

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Table of Contents

 I.READ ME ................................................................................................................... 5

 Pre-Requisites .......................................................................................................... 5

 How to edit the ELR Profile using the Messaging Workbench .................................... 6

 II.OPTIONAL INFORMATION .......................................................................................... 9

How to create new data type profiles

 ................................................................................................................................ 9

 Open existing library ............................................................................................. 9

 1.Clone data type ................................................................................................ 11

 2.Edit data type ................................................................................................... 12

 3.Saving data type ............................................................................................... 13

 4.Create a new segment library ........................................................................... 14

 5.Attach a data type file to the library .................................................................. 14

 6.Add new library file to the list of conformance files ........................................... 14

Figure 1: Messaging Workbench Installation download page........................................5

Figure 2: Datatypes extended for HL7 ELR and NCPDP SCRIPT......................................6

Figure 3: Display Reports tab....................................................................................... 7

Figure 4: Redundant error dialog................................................................................. 7

Figure 5: Registration dialog........................................................................................ 8

Figure 6: "Add/Edit Datatype file".................................................................................9

Figure 7: Open Data type File..................................................................................... 10

Figure 8: Select HL7 2.5.1 Data types......................................................................... 10

Figure 9: Save as dialog............................................................................................. 11

Figure 10: Create from an existing data type 

................................................................................................................................. 11

Figure 11: Enter the new data type name ..........................................................12

Figure 12: Select the data type to edit........................................................................ 12

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Figure 13: Data type structure in edit mode............................................................... 13

Figure 14: Save the new datatype

................................................................................................................................. 13

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I. READ ME 

Please read the following instructions before attempting to use the Messaging

Workbench (MWB) to edit the profile created for the “NCPDP SCRIPT Implementation

Guide: Version 10.6” NEWRX (“New Prescription”) and RXHRES(“Prescription History

Response”) message structures

Pre-Requisites

Before proceeding, you must install the Messaging Workbench from the “Documents

and Presentations” page of the HL7 Implementation/Conformance Work Group web

site.

Figure 1: Messaging Workbench Installation download page

Using the Messaging Work Bench (MWB) to Maintain Profiles and Libraries

The “NCPDP SCRIPT Implementation Guide: Version 10.6” describes the

content and business rules regarding electronic prescribing and medication

reconciliation. 

In order to support automatic testing and to create a consolidated description of

the message structures requested, our team used the Messaging Work Bench

(MWB) to create message profiles and made them available in native Messaging

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Messaging Workbench

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Workbench MWB format as well as a Detailed Analysis Report. The files

supporting NCPDP SCRIPT are:

1. script-newrx.mwb. This file contains the message profile for the NEWRX

structure in the native MWB format.

2. script-rxhres.mwbThis file contains the message profile for the RXHRES

structure in the native MWB format.

3. DT2-5-1_ELR.mdf. This new library file contains the constrained data types specified

by the ERL Implementation Guide along with the unconstrained HL7 Version 2.5.1

default use cases. Both data types are used throughout the ELR Implementation Guide.

It also specifies the additional datatypes required to support the composite fields

specified in NCPDP SCRIPT guide.

FIGURE 2: DATATYPES EXTENDED FOR HL7 ELR AND NCPDP SCRIPT

How to edit the ELR Profile using the Messaging Workbench 

If you need to make adjustments to the profile, proceed using the following steps.

1. Copy the DT2-5-1_ELR.mdf and the HL7TableFile251_ELR.mwt files to the

<MWB_Installation_Directory>/Lib directory (e.g. C:\Program

Files\Messaging Workbench\Lib).

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2. Rename “DT2-5-1.mdf” to “DT2-5-1.bak”.

3. Rename “HL7TableFile251.mwt” to “HL7TableFile251.bak”.

4. Rename “DT2-5-1_ELR.mdf” to “DT2-5-1.mdf”.

5. Rename “HL7TableFile251_ELR.mwt” to “HL7TableFile251.mwt”.

6. Open the ELR_ORU_R01.mwb file and edit its contents.

7. When your changes are completed, the XML file is regenerated as follows:

• Select the “Display Reports” tab

• From the drop down list, select “Spec XML”

FIGURE 3: DISPLAY REPORTS TAB

• Once the Spec XML generator it display an error message (Fig. 3) . Ignore

the error and proceed.

FIGURE 4: REDUNDANT ERROR DIALOG

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• Select “Generate HL7 Profile” button then select “No” when prompted to

register the profile.

FIGURE 5: REGISTRATION DIALOG

• Select the “Save” button to save the generated XML.

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II. OPTIONAL INFORMATION

The following information is intended to fill in gaps in the current MWB. It specifies

how to enhance the tools by adding constrained data types and new segment libraries.

NOTE: this information is not required to create new libraries and it is not required to

use the libraries identified in this document.

How to create new data type profiles

The Data Types library must be created before the message profile can use it.

Therefore if you need to create data type profiles you should start by editing the data

type library that is associated with the HL7 version required by the implementation

guide. 

Open existing library

• SELECT MaintDatatypesAdd/Edit Datatype file

 

FIGURE 6: "ADD/EDIT DATATYPE FILE"

• SELECT File Open 

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FIGURE 7: OPEN DATA TYPE FILE

• SELECTFile OpenDT2-5-1.mdf 

FIGURE 8: SELECT HL7 2.5.1 DATA TYPES

• Save ASDT2-5-1Biosurveillance.mdf 

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FIGURE 9: SAVE AS DIALOG

Notes:

a. You will see the resulting (.mdf) file in the library folder

1. Clone data type

• SELECT Data TypeClone to constrain an existing datatype

 

FIGURE 10: CREATE FROM AN EXISTING DATA TYPE

• Enter Mnemonic for new data type

• Enter clone from which data type originates

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FIGURE 11: ENTER THE NEW DATA TYPE NAME 

Note: In order to group constrained data types use the same first letter for all

cloned data types (e.g. B_original name = B_CNN). This will facilitate finding the

data types more easily when choosing the constrained data type in the specification

profile (MWB file).

2. Edit data type

• Select Data Type Edit

The structure in Fig. 12 will be available for edit. You may select each

component you wish to edit.

 

FIGURE 12: SELECT THE DATA TYPE TO EDIT

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FIGURE 13: DATA TYPE STRUCTURE IN EDIT MODE

Note: For simple data types, it is recommended that you do not create profiles but

modify the default profile.

3. Saving data type

To save the datatype incrementally use the button shown in fig.11. After that you need

to save the file before closing the datatype maintenance tool.

FIGURE 14: SAVE THE NEW DATATYPE

Notes:

a. Saving of data types occurs on three levels, 

• The second button from the right is Save Data Type. be careful as the

button beside it is ‘Clear definition. This allows you to ou can

continue cloning. Note: be careful as the button beside it is ‘Clear

definition.

• Before closing the MWB Datatype Maintenance, click File Save

• Before closing the Messaging Workbench, click File Save

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4. Create a new segment library

• Select Maint/Libraries/New Library File. Click the Add Spec button, then navigate to the

application library Projects directory /Projects and select the ‘ELR_ORU_R01.mwb’ file. The

selected file appears on the Source Specifications list.

5. Attach a data type file to the library

• Click on the ‘Attach DT’ button, then navigate to the ‘DT2-5-1mdf ‘ file and select it

• Click on the ‘Compile’ button to create the new library

• Click on the Save As button. Name the File ‘HL7 2-5-1.mcf ‘and save into the application library

directory /Lib. Click the ‘Done’ key after the file is saved. 

6. Add new library file to the list of conformance files

• Click on the Books icon, and in the dialog that appears; add the ‘HL7 2-5-1.mcf’ file to the list

right under the HL72-5-1.mcf. Click OK when done.

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