Microsoft has announced the development of a BizTalk Server 2000 CIDX Software Development Kit (SDK) which "extends the library of document schemas shipped with BizTalk Server to include support for the documents most commonly requested by chemical industry customers, implementing support for CIDX Chem eStandards. The BizTalk SDK is to provide chemical companies with a powerful solution enabling rapid integration of applications, platforms and businesses within and across organizational boundaries, using the chemical industry's core XML protocols developed by the Chemical Industry Data Exchange (CIDX)." The CIDX eStandards are "uniform standards for data exchange developed specifically for the buying, selling and delivery of chemicals based upon XML and RosettaNet specifications. The RosettaNet components used and applied in the Chem eStandards are the RosettaNet Implementation Framework (RNIF) and general guidelines regarding XML message and common data dictionary design; the Chem eStandards thus leverage the transport, envelope and security aspects of RINF. Chem eStandards DTDs developed so far deal with envelope and security, customer, catalog and RFQ, purchase order, logistics, financials, forecasting, and exchange interactions." According to the Microsoft announcement, the CIDX SDK "provides Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformation (XSLT) mapping documents that will enable customers to quickly map from CIDX transactions to SAP intermediate documents. Also included are a sample utility demonstrating an approach for automating the configuration of BizTalk and a step-by-step tutorial explaining how to implement support for a CIDX OrderCreate transaction. A prototype of the CIDX SDK was originally developed by Microsoft Consulting Services for Air Products and Chemicals Inc." The CIDX Standards Development teams are finalizing the Chem eStandards version 2.0.2 for publication. The 1363-page specification for version 2.0 is available online, together with a separate distribution for the forty-seven (47) XML DTDs.

From the announcement: "CIDX Chem eStandards grew out of broad standards for high-tech manufacturing developed by the multi-industry consortium RosettaNet. A founding member of RosettaNet, Microsoft announced the Microsoft BizTalk Server Accelerator for RosettaNet in April 2001, providing the software adapters and server platform needed to use RosettaNet standards and thereby integrate applications and supply chain partners and enable orchestration of complex, collaborative business processes."

From the CIDX technical FAQ: "A primary objective of the Chem eStandards is to meet the Chemical Industry need for a broadly accepted, XML-based data exchange standard while, at the same time, providing an opportunity for potential cross-industry convergence. The Chem eStandards project team decided the best way to do this was to leverage the work of a well-established initiative in the development of XML-based specifications, one that has specifications in active use and has strong potential to influence the evolution of XML standards. The organization selected was RosettaNet. The RosettaNet components used and applied in the Chem eStandards are the RosettaNet Implementation Framework (RNIF) and general guidelines regarding XML message and common data dictionary design. The Chem eStandards leverage the transport, envelope and security aspects of RINF version 1.1, as defined on the RosettaNet website. RNIF was chosen as the basis for the Chem eStandards because it includes specifications to ensure the secure and reliable delivery of transaction data. Specifically, RNIF requires use of digital certificates within an HTTPS framework, which is the mechanism by which credit card and other personal information is transmitted in the Internet today..."