The whole point of sub-element separators is to separate values that are part of the same composite element. EDIFACT and X12 both use composite elements as a way of grouping related data components. Sub-elements are also known as component elements of the composite element. There are not too many composite elements in X12, but there are plenty in EDIFACT.
>From a design standpoint, the composite element/sub-element concept provides the advantage of showing quite explicitly the relationship between elements that go together. From a transmission standpoint, the benefits are less obvious. Having said that, if the standard defines the structure using composite elements, then it is absolutely necessary to use the appropriate separators for the sub-elements to ensure that a translator can tell elements from sub-elements. One need go no farther in the real world than the UNB segment (interchange envelope header) in EDIFACT to see sub-elements (and their separators) in action. Take the following example: UNB+UNOA:2+SENDER:Z1+RECEIVER:Z1+970814:1503+200302' The first thing you notice is that there are four composite elements within the segment. UNB01 is a composite made up of two sub-elements: "UNOA" and "2". These two sub-elements work together, the former is the "syntax level" and the latter is the "syntax version". The combination of the two determine what are the default separators for the interchange. The UNB02 is a composite which, in this case, contains two sub-elements: the sender ID and its corresponding qualifier...which seems a natural enough grouping (to me, at least). The UNB03 serves the same purpose for the receiver ID and its qualifier. The UNB04 is a composite element, the first of which, "970814", is the transmission date, the second of which is the time (again a reasonable grouping). Similar usages can be found throughout EDIFACT. Again, X12 has some composite elements but not as many. I think it's safe to say X12 and EDIFACT syntax definitions overlap greatly, but they came from different environments and philosophies. Whether it's better or not really is immaterial. It is what it is and works how it works. Hope that's helpful. Best regards, Bill Chessman Inovis(tm) -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Eileen Roach - IQMS Sent: Tuesday, October 23, 2007 9:23 AM To: Steven Santillo; [email protected] Subject: RE: [EDI-L] sub element separator [html][heur] The EDIFACT standard actually uses sub-element separators for values like address1 and address2 - they are in the same element with a sub-element separator in between. I don't see any real advantage over using separate elements. HTH, Eileen ________________________________ From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Steven Santillo Sent: Tuesday, October 23, 2007 9:20 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [EDI-L] sub element separator [html][heur] Importance: Low Can someone give me a short answer on "what is the purpose of the sub-element separator" and how it would apply in a real world EDI situation? thank you __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com <http://mail.yahoo.com> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ... Please use the following Message Identifiers as your subject prefix: <SALES>, <JOBS>, <LIST>, <TECH>, <MISC>, <EVENT>, <OFF-TOPIC> Job postings are welcome, but for job postings or requests for work: <JOBS> IS REQUIRED in the subject line as a prefix. Yahoo! Groups Links ... Please use the following Message Identifiers as your subject prefix: <SALES>, <JOBS>, <LIST>, <TECH>, <MISC>, <EVENT>, <OFF-TOPIC> Job postings are welcome, but for job postings or requests for work: <JOBS> IS REQUIRED in the subject line as a prefix. Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EDI-L/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EDI-L/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> 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/
