The Standard Exchange Format (SEF)

The Standard Exchange Format (SEF) is an open-standard, computer readable, text format that contains the schematic information of an  EDI document.  SEF files are used to convey the EDI implementation guidelines of trading partners.

The purpose of SEF is to standardize the format of EDI implementation guidelines, so that it can be programmatically read; and thus making it possible to create EDI applications that can directly import and read the SEF files to obtain the rules and instructions contained in them for constructing, translating and validating EDI documents. 

The advantages of SEF over other file formats (e.g. pdf, doc, html, and paper) are:

• It is an open standard, which allows you to create your own SEF files and distribute them without any permission or having to pay any royalty fees.
• SEF files are immediately useable by both users and computers.
• SEF files are small electronic files that can be transmitted easily over the Internet.
• SEF files can be edited with  a text editor or with our SEF Manager, and can be read with the SEF reader.

For documentation on how to create SEF files go to www.foresightcorp.com, (select support, then download), or download the following SEF.pdf file.

FREE Click here to download sample SEF files

Other sites that lists their SEF files:

• Secretariat for Federal EDI  (implementation convention)

• Department of Defense (implementation convention)

Click here to purchase SEF files     

 

Other Topics

• Creating an Implementation Guideline
• SEF Manager
• SEF Reader
• EDI to Database
• Overcoming EDI problems
• EDI Validation

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