EDI Files Structure: Header and Trailer Segments
EDI Files Structure is given today regarding to Delhaize EDI documents that are sent from one to another business partners. EDI Files Structure description will cover the explanation of Header and Trailer Segments of an EDI file.
EDI transmissions can contain a single document or multiple documents, commonly referred to as “Transaction Sets”. These transaction sets are enclosed by “Header” segments and “Trailer” segments. These header and trailer segments make up the EDI “Envelope” for addressing the documents to and from trading partners. The records between the header and trailer segments are called “Data Segments”. The Data Segments contain small units of information called “Elements”. An element can be made up of alpha or numeric values that can be a single character or multiple characters in length. The length of these elements and type of element is determined by the standards committee and is defined in the appropriate EDI Standard Manual. Elements within a data segment will have a relative value to the segment. For example, a segment named DTM is a date segment; thus all elements will have a relationship to a date.
EDI Files Structure – Header Segments
The “Header” is made up of the following 3 segments:
- ISA segment
- GS segment
- ST segment.
The ISA segment identifies the sender and receiver of the EDI transmission. The ISA is used to begin an “Interchange” of one or more GS segments, also known as “Functional Groups”.
The GS segment identifies the application type for the interchange for both sender and receiver. This segment can be used to route EDI data to various systems or locations by trading partners (ex: different A/P systems, different physical locations). The GS segment is also the beginning of a functional group. This segment is also used to provide control information.
The ST segment identifies the type of document you are sending or receiving. This segment is the beginning of the dcoument, or transaction set. For ANSI X.12 documents, the document is identified by the 3 digit numeric value assigned by the ANSI standards committee (ex: 997).
EDI Files Structure – Trailer Segments
The “Trailer” is made up of the following 3 segments:
- SE segment
- GE segment
- IEA segment.
The SE segment identifies the end of the document or transaction. This segment will include a total quantity of “data segments” transmitted, including the ST and SE segments. This quantity can be used to verify all EDI data transmitted is received by the trading partner.
The GE segment indicates the end of the data provided under a GS segment, or functional group. Multiple GS segments can be included in an EDI transmission, so this segment can indicate the end of a document type or application type.
The IEA segment is the last segment sent or received in an EDI transmission. The IEA indicates this is the end of the current transmission.