The two biggest problems I have found with EDI are.. If you coded it...it does not have the flexibility of a translator (especially when someone sends segments out of whack) and It is a pain to tweak for 1 or 2 oddballs
It's better to leave it to someone else to keep the standards up to date. I have enough to do Debra A. Fedchin ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ H: 732.698.0499 C: 732.233.3088 www.infinite-systems.net "Anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm". -Syrus Publilius -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]on Behalf Of George Gallen Sent: Friday, June 12, 2009 9:50 AM To: U2 Users List Subject: Re: [U2] How do you do EDI? Our EDI usage is fairly simple (850,855 and 810) right now. We are using a provider, where we receive and transmit XML files, who then converts them into edi and drops them on the network. Whenever a new 850 comes in, the provider sends an email. we are running UV on unix, so the email is aliased/forwarded (appended) to a file. In UV we have a process that monitors that file for changes. This triggers a program that then goes out to their ftp site, and reads any new XML files. The XML is then converted into an internal format (From the 850). This record then becomes the master record for that edi transaction. as it passes through our edi system, it's updated. Once everything is approved, an internal 855 format is created, as well as an internal 810 format is created when the order is processed/invoiced. I have a file of providers, which has in which format the 850 will be in, the 855 and 810 needs to be (EDI or XML), depending on that value, I have subroutines that convert to/from the internal format to either EDI or XML, and then if 855/810, the file is then uploaded to the providers ftp site. also in the file, is the ftp site name, password any special ftp commands that have to be executed, and the drop folder name. This way if there is more than one trading partner that needs to use different providers, the program will automatically adjust to the format and/or the ftp site. The base programs are consistent, since they all work off the internal format, then depending on the provider or the format, will run subroutines specific to each. This way if we add a new provider or trading partner that needs something unique, it's just a matter of creating a new subroutine just for them, and the base edi works the same. I'm fairly new to edi, and this was my first attempt at a "system" , my next add-on will be to check the site every hour and download any 997's that have come in, and update the edi record with that information as well. Since we are starting this from the ground up, it was fairly easy to integrate it into our order entry, shipping fulfillment and accounts receivable systems. One thing I just don't understand..Why is it so freakin expensive to transmit EDI transactions? in today's age of the internet and transmission speeds. If RECORD contains the EDI-formatted-data.. CONVERT "~" TO CHAR(254) IN RECORD CONVERT "*" TO CHAR(253) IN RECORD So if RECORD<1,1>="ST" then RECORD<1,2>="ST01", RECORD<1,3>="ST02" .etc you now have a mulitvalued record of the edidata (to some extent, doesn't format loops). From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Norman Bauer Sent: Friday, June 12, 2009 9:25 AM To: U2 Users List Subject: [U2] How do you do EDI? We have a very painful, labor intensive way that we do EDI. >From the way we create the X12 documents to our users inputing information to be sent in an EDI message. I would like to start evaluating alternative methods to our current practices. All suggestions welcome. Norm _______________________________________________ U2-Users mailing list [email protected] http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users
