Annytab Dox Exchange Standard

Annytab Dox Exchange Standard is a royalty-free and distributed system to exchange electronic documents (e-documents). An e-document is exchanged as a zip-file (attachment) in an e-mail, the zip-file contains a meta-data file and the actual file. Distribution of electronic documents through emails makes the system open and free of charges, no one owns the distribution system.

An e-document should be zipped together with a meta.json file, metadata includes information about date, encoding, language and signatures. The zip-fil should end with a dox.zip extension. The contents of the meta.json file is specified below, this specification can be updated in the future and your code must be able to handle missing values (null). We are also developing standardized e-documents that can be exchanged in this system. This project exists on GitHub (a-dox-standards) and is also available as a NuGet package.

This exchange system can be automatic or manual. A zip-file is sent as an attachment in an e-mail to one or more recepients, a recepient can pickup attachments from the inbox and process electronic documents received. Example code is provided at the end of this post, visit the project on GitHub to view all code for the example.

AnnytabDoxMeta [Model]

Signature [Model]

JSON Example

{
  "date_of_sending": "2020-04-17",
  "file_encoding": "utf-8",
  "filename": "invoice_D1005.json",
  "standard_name": "Annytab Dox Trade v1",
  "language_code": "en",
  "signatures": [
    {
      "validation_type": "eID Smart Card",
      "algorithm": "SHA-256",
      "padding": "Pkcs1",
      "data": "invoice@annytab.se,2018-10-30,8RkVQp7KTlbTLiBV6wLJag==",
      "value": "HK8Cv/KRhvffPna...=",
      "certificate": "MIIFTzCCAzegAwIBAgIQ..."
    },
    {
      "validation_type": "BankID v5",
      "algorithm": "",
      "padding": "",
      "data": "fredde@jfsbokforing.se,2018-09-13,Ar/so6msWR4av3nAfw9GcQ==",
      "value": "PD94bWwgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4wIiBlbmNvZGluZz0iVV...",
      "certificate": ""
    }
  ]
}

Code Example

using System;
using System.IO;
using System.IO.Compression;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Text;
using System.Net;
using System.Net.Mail;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration;
using Microsoft.Extensions.Logging;
using Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection;
using Microsoft.VisualStudio.TestTools.UnitTesting;
using Newtonsoft.Json;
using Annytab.Dox.Standards.V1;
namespace TestProgram
{
    [TestClass]
    public class FilesTest
    {
        #region Variables
        private IConfigurationRoot configuration { get; set; }
        private ILogger logger { get; set; }
        private EmailOptions options { get; set; }
        #endregion
        #region Constructors
        /// <summary>
        /// Create a new test instance
        /// </summary>
        public FilesTest()
        {
            // Add configuration settings
            ConfigurationBuilder builder = new ConfigurationBuilder();
            builder.SetBasePath(Directory.GetCurrentDirectory());
            builder.AddJsonFile("appsettings.json", optional: false, reloadOnChange: true);
            builder.AddJsonFile($"appsettings.Development.json", optional: true);
            this.configuration = builder.Build();
            // Create a service collection
            IServiceCollection services = new ServiceCollection();
            // Add logging and options as services
            services.AddLogging(logging => {
                logging.AddConfiguration(configuration.GetSection("Logging"));
                logging.AddConsole();
                logging.AddDebug();
            });
            services.AddOptions();
            // Get options
            this.options = configuration.GetSection("EmailOptions").Get<EmailOptions>();
            // Build a service provider
            IServiceProvider serviceProvider = services.BuildServiceProvider();
            // Configure file logging
            ILoggerFactory loggerFactory = serviceProvider.GetService<ILoggerFactory>();
            loggerFactory.AddFile("C:\\DATA\\home\\AnnytabDoxStandards\\Logs\\log-{Date}.txt");
            // Get references
            this.logger = loggerFactory.CreateLogger<FilesTest>();
        } // End of the constructor
        #endregion
        [TestMethod]
        public void SaveToDisk()
        {
            // Create a file path
            string path = "C:\\DATA\\home\\AnnytabDoxStandards\\" + Guid.NewGuid().ToString() + ".dox.zip";
            // Create documents
            IDictionary<string, byte[]> files = new Dictionary<string, byte[]>();
            files.Add("meta.json", Documents.CreateAnnytabDoxMeta());
            files.Add("file.json", Documents.CreateAnnytabDoxInvoice());
            // Create and use a new file stream
            using(FileStream zip = new FileStream(path, FileMode.Create))
            {
                // Create and use a new zip archive
                using (ZipArchive archive = new ZipArchive(zip, ZipArchiveMode.Create, true))
                {
                    // Add files to archive
                    foreach (KeyValuePair<string, byte[]> file in files)
                    {
                        // Add the file to the zip
                        ZipArchiveEntry entry = archive.CreateEntry(file.Key, CompressionLevel.Fastest);
                        using (Stream stream = entry.Open())
                        {
                            stream.Write(file.Value, 0, file.Value.Length);
                        }
                    }
                }
            }
        } // End of the SaveToDisk method
        [TestMethod]
        public void ReadFromDisk()
        {
            // Create a file path
            string directory = "C:\\DATA\\home\\AnnytabDoxStandards";
            // Variables
            AnnytabDoxMeta meta = null;
            byte[] file_array = null;
            // Get all files
            string[] files = System.IO.Directory.GetFiles(directory + "\\Open");
            // Loop files
            foreach (string path in files)
            {
                // Create and use an archive
                using (ZipArchive archive = ZipFile.OpenRead(path))
                {
                    // Loop files in zip
                    foreach (ZipArchiveEntry entry in archive.Entries)
                    {
                        // Check if a file is meta or file
                        if (entry.FullName.StartsWith("meta", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
                        {
                            using (MemoryStream stream = new MemoryStream())
                            {
                                entry.Open().CopyTo(stream);
                                byte[] array = stream.ToArray();
                                meta = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<AnnytabDoxMeta>(Encoding.UTF8.GetString(array, 0, array.Length));
                            }
                        }
                        else
                        {
                            using (MemoryStream stream = new MemoryStream())
                            {
                                entry.Open().CopyTo(stream);
                                file_array = stream.ToArray();
                            }
                        }
                    }
                    // Log standard name
                    this.logger.LogInformation($"Fetching: {meta.standard_name} from open folder.", null);
                    // Get file contents depending on standard name
                    if (meta.standard_name.Equals("Annytab Dox Trade v1", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
                    {
                        AnnytabDoxTrade doc = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<AnnytabDoxTrade>(Encoding.UTF8.GetString(file_array, 0, file_array.Length));
                    }
                    else if (meta.standard_name.Equals("Annytab Dox Contract v1", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
                    {
                        AnnytabDoxContract doc = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<AnnytabDoxContract>(Encoding.UTF8.GetString(file_array, 0, file_array.Length));
                    }
                    else if (meta.standard_name.Equals("Annytab Dox Drive Log v1", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
                    {
                        AnnytabDoxDriveLog doc = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<AnnytabDoxDriveLog>(Encoding.UTF8.GetString(file_array, 0, file_array.Length));
                    }
                    else if (meta.standard_name.Equals("Annytab Dox Travel Expense Claim v1", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
                    {
                        AnnytabDoxTravelExpenseClaim doc = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<AnnytabDoxTravelExpenseClaim>(Encoding.UTF8.GetString(file_array, 0, file_array.Length));
                    }
                }
                // Move file from open to closed
                System.IO.Directory.Move(path, directory + "\\Closed\\" + Path.GetFileName(path));
            }
        } // End of the ReadFromDisk method
        [TestMethod]
        public async Task SendEmail()
        {
            // Create documents
            IDictionary<string, byte[]> files = new Dictionary<string, byte[]>();
            files.Add("meta.json", Documents.CreateAnnytabDoxMeta());
            files.Add("file.json", Documents.CreateAnnytabDoxInvoice());
            // Create and use a new memory stream
            using (MemoryStream zip = new MemoryStream())
            {
                // Create and use a new zip archive
                using (ZipArchive archive = new ZipArchive(zip, ZipArchiveMode.Create, true))
                {
                    // Add files to archive
                    foreach (KeyValuePair<string, byte[]> file in files)
                    {
                        // Add the file to zip
                        ZipArchiveEntry entry = archive.CreateEntry(file.Key, CompressionLevel.Fastest);
                        using (Stream stream = entry.Open())
                        {
                            stream.Write(file.Value, 0, file.Value.Length);
                        }
                    }
                }
                // Move the pointer to the start of the stream
                zip.Seek(0, SeekOrigin.Begin);
                // Create an smtp client
                SmtpClient smtp = new SmtpClient(this.options.Host, this.options.Port.GetValueOrDefault());
                smtp.Credentials = new NetworkCredential(this.options.Email, this.options.Password);
                smtp.EnableSsl = true;
                // Try to send the email message
                try
                {
                    // Create a mail message
                    MailMessage message = new MailMessage(this.options.Email, this.options.Pickup);
                    // Create the mail message
                    message.Subject = "Sending file";
                    message.Body = "File is attached.";
                    message.IsBodyHtml = true;
                    // Add an attachment
                    if (zip != null)
                    {
                        Attachment attach = new Attachment(zip, new System.Net.Mime.ContentType("application/zip"));
                        attach.ContentDisposition.FileName = Guid.NewGuid().ToString() + ".dox.zip";
                        message.Attachments.Add(attach);
                    }
                    // Send the mail message
                    await smtp.SendMailAsync(message);
                }
                catch (Exception ex)
                {
                    // Log the exception
                    this.logger.LogError(ex, $"Send email to: {this.options.Pickup}", null);
                }
            }
        } // End of the SendEmail method
        [TestMethod]
        public void PickupEmails()
        {
            // Reference to a directory
            string directory = "C:\\DATA\\home\\AnnytabDoxStandards\\Open\\";
            // Create and use an imap client
            using (var client = new MailKit.Net.Imap.ImapClient())
            {
                // Add credentials
                client.Connect(this.options.Host, 993, true);
                client.Authenticate(this.options.Pickup, this.options.Password);
                // Get inbox folder
                MailKit.IMailFolder inbox = client.Inbox;
                inbox.Open(MailKit.FolderAccess.ReadWrite);
                // Write information about the inbox
                Console.WriteLine("Total messages: {0}", inbox.Count);
                Console.WriteLine("Recent messages: {0}", inbox.Recent);
                // Create a query
                MailKit.Search.SearchQuery query = MailKit.Search.SearchQuery.NotDeleted.And(MailKit.Search.SearchQuery.NotSeen);
                // Loop messages
                foreach(MailKit.UniqueId uid in inbox.Search(query))
                {
                    // Get the message
                    var message = inbox.GetMessage(uid);
                    // Print subject
                    Console.WriteLine("Subject: {0}", message.Subject);
                    // Get attachments
                    foreach (var attachment in message.Attachments)
                    {
                        // Get information about the attachment
                        var file_name = attachment.ContentDisposition?.FileName;
                        file_name = string.IsNullOrEmpty(file_name) ? Guid.NewGuid().ToString() + ".noname" : Guid.NewGuid().ToString() + Tools.GetExtensions(file_name);
                        var content_type = attachment.ContentType;
                        // Only accept files that ends with dox.zip
                        if(file_name.EndsWith(".dox.zip") == true)
                        {
                            // Save the attachment to disk
                            using (FileStream stream = new FileStream(directory + file_name, FileMode.Create))
                            {
                                if (attachment is MimeKit.MessagePart)
                                {
                                    var part = (MimeKit.MessagePart)attachment;
                                    part.Message.WriteTo(stream);
                                }
                                else
                                {
                                    var part = (MimeKit.MimePart)attachment;
                                    part.Content.DecodeTo(stream);
                                }
                            }
                        }               
                    }
                    // Flag email as seen
                    inbox.AddFlags(uid, MailKit.MessageFlags.Seen, true);
                    //inbox.AddFlags(uid, MailKit.MessageFlags.Deleted, true);
                }
                // Disconnect client
                client.Disconnect(true);
            }
        } // End of the PickupEmails method
    } // End of the class
} // End of the namespace