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Building a Mercator Type Tree is the first step in developing a Mercator system. It is the data definition file for your data. This document includes instructions for standard best practices for development and naming practices. Some projects need a more robust use of the tool, in which case you will need to change the standards for things such as Subclass, Range, and Initiators/Terminators.


1. Open Mercator Type Designer.

2. Choose “Create a new type tree file” and name it using a project, team, and application identifier.
3. Under the root level insert

• A Category named “Field”.
• A Category named “Message”.
• A Group named to describe the application.

5. Under the Field level insert Items for each data field. All of the fields should be formatted as follows:

•  Item Subclass = Text
•  Interpret as = Character
• Pad = Yes
• Value =
• Padded to = Fixed Size
• Justify = Left

6. The Size parameter should have Min = 0 and Max = the length specified in the copybook of the input file. When you enter the Max length, the Padded to Length should fill in automatically to be the same.

Note: If you ever change the Max field, you must manually change the Padded to Length field.

7. Double-click the Record Group and drag each Field into the table. Make sure they appear in the same order as the copybook of the input file.

8. The Range = 1:1 on all Fields.

Note: If you do not have the Range displayed, click the Tools menu then select Options. Choose Group Window. Select “Show range column” and “Show component number”. Click OK.

9. Under the Message level insert a group called Generic.

10. The Partitioned parameter for Generic = Yes.

11. Under the Generic level insert a group called File.

12. Double-click File and drag the Record Group to the table.

13. The Range = s.

Note: There are no Terminators or Initiators on any of the objects.

14. Save the type tree using the name in Step 2 above.