Converting MS Word into an EDI Reader

This is an example of a Visual Basic Script using the Framework EDI component in MS Word macro to translate and validate EDI files.  

WordEdiTran.zip

Application 
A practical application for this translator is for anyone wanting to read or validate EDI files without the complexity of a comprehensive EDI system.

How it Works

• Open the WordEdiTran.doc document with MS Word, 

• Run the ReadEdiFile macro by going to Tools, then Macro.  Select the file from the list of Macros, then click on Run.  

• Enter a SEF file when prompted.

• Enter an EDI file you wish to read when prompted.  

After the translation is complete, the data of the EDI file will be displayed along with its descriptions, which makes the EDI file easier to read and understand as shown below.

You can change the description of the segments and elements in the SEF file with our SEF Manager utility to make their descriptions even more detailed and specific so that it can be more fully understood.  For example, an N1 segment's generic description of Name can be changed to Ship-To Name.  

(For more details about editing a SEF file with our SEF Manager, please visit http://www.edidev.com/articles/createIG/HowToCreateIG.html)

After the translation, any errors found in the EDI file will be reported at the end of the document.  The Segment Index is the segment count location where the particular error occurred.

 The Visual Basic Script 
The VB Script source code of the ReadEDIfile macro can be accessed by going to Tools, Macro, then Visual Basic Editor.  It uses the Framework EDI component, which can be downloaded for evaluation from http://www.edidev.com/ediregis.htm

Sub ReadEDIfile()
'
' ReadEDIfile Macro
' Macro created 5/3/2009 by edidev
'
    Dim oEdiDoc As ediDocument
    Dim oSegment As ediDataSegment
    Dim oElement As ediDataElement
    Dim oElements As ediDataElements
    Dim oSubElement As ediDataElement
    Dim oWarnings As ediWarnings
    Dim oWarning As ediWarning
    Dim oSchemas As ediSchemas
    
    Dim sPath As String
    Dim i As Integer
    Dim ii As Integer
    Dim sSefFile As String
    Dim sEdifile As String
    Dim nErrCount As Integer
    
    Set oEdiDoc = New ediDocument
    
    Set oSchemas = oEdiDoc.GetSchemas
    
    'enable read of modified description in SEF file
    oSchemas.Option(OptSchemas_IncludeText) = 1
    
    oEdiDoc.CursorType = Cursor_ForwardOnly
    
    sPath = Application.ActiveDocument.Path & "\"
    
    'get and load SEF file
    sSefFile = InputBox("Enter SEF filename", "SEF File", "810_4010_modified.SEF")
    oEdiDoc.LoadSchema sPath & sSefFile, Schema_Standard_Exchange_Format
    
    'get and load EDI file
    sEdifile = InputBox("Enter EDI filename", "EDI File", "810.X12")
    oEdiDoc.LoadEdi sPath & sEdifile
    
    'traverse EDI file
    Set oSegment = oEdiDoc.FirstDataSegment
    Do While Not oSegment Is Nothing
    
        Selection.Font.Bold = wdToggle
        Selection.TypeText oSegment.ID & " - " & UCase(oSegment.Description) & vbCrLf
        Selection.Font.Size = 8
        Selection.TypeText oSegment.SegmentBuffer + vbCrLf
        Selection.Font.Bold = wdToggle
        Selection.Font.Reset
        
        nElemCount = oSegment.Count
        For i = 1 To nElemCount
            
            Set oElement = oSegment.DataElement(i)
            Set oElements = oElement.DataElements
            nSubElemCount = oElements.Count
            If nSubElemCount > 1 Then 'Composite Element
                For ii = 1 To nSubElemCount
                    If Len(Trim(oSegment.DataElementValue(i, ii))) > 0 Then
                        Set oSubElement = oElements.DataElement(ii)
                        Selection.TypeText oSubElement.Description & ": "
                        Selection.Font.Italic = wdToggle
                        Selection.TypeText oSegment.DataElementValue(i, ii) & vbCrLf
                        Selection.Font.Italic = wdToggle

                    End If
                Next
            Else    'Not a composite element
                If Len(Trim(oSegment.DataElementValue(i))) > 0 Then
                    Selection.TypeText oElement.Description & ": "
                    Selection.Font.Italic = wdToggle
                    Selection.TypeText oSegment.DataElementValue(i) & vbCrLf
                    Selection.Font.Italic = wdToggle
                End If
            End If
        Next
        
        Selection.TypeText "" + vbCrLf
        
        'get next segment
        Set oSegment = oSegment.Next
        
    Loop
    
    Selection.TypeText "" & vbCrLf
    Selection.TypeText "" & vbCrLf
    Selection.TypeText "" & vbCrLf
    Selection.Font.Bold = wdToggle
    Selection.TypeText "Error messages" & vbCrLf
    Selection.Font.Bold = wdToggle
    
    'check for errors
    Set oWarnings = oEdiDoc.GetWarnings
    nErrCount = oWarnings.Count
    If nErrCount > 0 Then
        For i = 1 To nErrCount
            Set oWarning = oWarnings.Warning(i)
            Selection.TypeText oWarning.Description & " "
            Selection.Font.Bold = wdToggle
            Selection.TypeText "Segment Index:" & oWarning.SegmentIndex & vbCrLf
            Selection.Font.Bold = wdToggle
            Selection.TypeText "" & vbCrLf
        Next
    Else
        Selection.TypeText "No errors found"
    End If
    Selection.Font.Reset

End Sub

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