Mike, where are the resources I need to get a start on CICA? All I have is (1) a draft of X12.7 from April 2004 -R 0.32 - "Technical Specification AND XML Syntax Representation" and (2) the X12C XML Design Reference Model from Oct. 2002. Do I need to buy the 005020 CD to get the newest stuff?
Is there one consolidated (and free) place I can go in order to find everything I need to learn the basics of CICA? There is such a place for UBL, at http://docs.oasis-open.org/ubl/cd-UBL-1.0/. I'm delighted to find UML'ish looking data diagrams that I can actually interpret. And not one stupid diagram with little stick figures representing actors! By looking at the UML diagrams for the assembly models and component packages, I can actually vaguely tell ahead of time how a message will be organized; this is confirmed by inspecting the actual (albeit, contrived) example PO, Order change, Dispatch Advice, etc. This just might be the eureka moment I've been looking for when trying to understand XML e-business documents based on core components - sort of like the time I learned EDI by looking at PIDX and VICS implementation guidelines. And without even knowing any details of ISO 11179, by looking at the document spreadsheets, I can see the rational and hierarchical naming structure imposed upon the XML elements within the messages. I certainly don't know this stuff in enough detail to implement anything, yet - but at least I see a semblance of plausibility with UBL - and that it could be used to build a PO. I don't have that same confidence with CICA, unless there's something I'm missing. Armed with inexpensive or even free stuff like XMLSpy, Xalan, Java SAX, a browser, stylesheets and a little Perl, I think I can see how I might actually build and exchange UBL e-business documents. This is stuff that I use all the time now, so there are practically no start-up costs. It's not to say that a full-functioned and expensive translator/mapper wouldn't be of benefit, but at least it's not necessary (as it would be with EDI). William J. Kammerer Novannet, LLC. Columbus, OH 43221-3859 . USA +1 (614) 487-0320 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Rawlins" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "EDI-L Mailing List" <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, 25 January, 2005 04:35 PM Subject: Re: [EDI-L] X12 CICA: Is it the future? Does anyone really "model"? OK, based on this public and some other private correspondence, I will relent to a point. If people on this list have specific technical questions about how X12.7 (aka CICA) works and would like to see the answers on this list, I would be glad to try to answer them. However, I don't really care to address the politics, decisions, or several of the "whys" of the current state of affairs, or to make value comparisons with the work of other standards bodies. The lack of alignment is, for me personally, somewhat of a sore spot. I tried a few years ago to get ANSI ASC X12 and the UBL TC interested in joint XML development, and my efforts were met with, at best, indifference in both organizations. So, forgive me if I am more than a bit annoyed by anyone in either camp who now complains about lack of alignment or who wants to make negative comparisons in either direction. As disappointing as is the state of affairs with X12 and the UBL TC, the history of X12 and UN/CEFACT is infinitely longer and more tortuous. Be assured that there are some of us who are working in different ways to achieve convergence, or at least minimize some problems in key areas due to lack of convergence. But, don't expect miracles either. At some point the standards wars becomes a religious issue more than a technical issue, and I challenge anyone to name a major religion that hasn't been splintered into two or more sects. Cheers, Mike . Please use the following Message Identifiers as your subject prefix: <SALES>, <JOBS>, <LIST>, <TECH>, <MISC>, <EVENT>, <OFF-TOPIC> Access the list online at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EDI-L Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EDI-L/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
