EDI - Assist

[Lior78]

Hi,

I'm doing my first step with EDI files and I need assistance with understanding the segments.

Here's an example

ST*601*1BA1*N**A*BE*2221273***CA**SWO**SWISS WORLD CARGO
YNQ*QQ*N
YNQ*RZ*N
DTM*274*160130
P5*L*D*2720
N1*EX*ELAI JEWELRY AND STONES*24*95-1111111**B2
N2*Bernadette Roque*213-627-1103
N3*6040 MAIN DRIVE
N4*LOS ANGELES*CA*90210*US
N1*CN*LIOR BELGIUM****B2
N3*HOVENIERSTRAAT 50
N4*ANTWERP***BE
L13*B*8882399999*CAR*666*10*4165477****K*1*ENVELOPS*OS*F
SE*15*1

Please help,

thanks,
Lior

 

[tdacquisto]

Each segment has different elements and each element is separated by an asterisk.

The elements are numbered.. First element is 01, second is 02, etc. Don't count the segment name as an element when you do this.

So N102 refers to N1 segment, 2nd element, which is 'ELAI JEWELRY AND STONES' in your first N1 segment.

When you see multiple asterisks like in this N4 segment, that means those elements are blank.

N4*ANTWERP***BE

N401 = ANTWERP
N402 = BLANK
N403 = BLANK
N404 = BE

ST segment is the start of the document and tells you what kind of document it is. In your example, this is a EDI 601 U.S. Customs Export Shipment Information document (ST01 is 601)
SE segment is the end of the document.

Each document has certain segments that are required and within that segment are required elements. Your trading partners will provide you with document specifications that will guide you in reading what they will be sending you in their documents. Conversely, you will need to provide specs to your trading partners for documents that originate from you.

Certain segments are embedded in loops, like the N1 loop, which contains N1 thru N4. See how there are two N1 loops? you'd refer to the first one as the N1 EX loop and the 2nd as the N1 CN loop.

You can google "EDI 601 document" and see some specs from different trading partners, which will help you understand the structure of your documents. Also, your translator may also have features which alert you to required elements in segments..

Hope this helps.. Welcome to the wonderful world of EDI.

Tom.