Reasons for using Framework EDI
Framework EDI is an EDI software tool that facilitates development of EDI solutions. It enables you to create EDI applications quicker and more accurately. This page explains how in some detail.
Framework EDI component
Framework EDI includes a FREDI-COM and FREDI-NET component that can be referenced by your programming language furnishing it with hundreds of well tested, built-in functions for creating EDI applications.
The Framework EDI component shields the programmer from the intricate and overwhelming details of the EDI standard, and only exposes the basics structure to allow for business mapping logic. For example:
Creating an EDI file
To create a data segment, you would only need to call a command line to create a segment, and then assign values to its data elements by writing the following code:
Set oSegment = oTransactionset.CreateDataSegment("SEG")
oSegment.DataElementValue(1) = var_dataelement1
oSegment.DataElementValue(2) = var_dataelement2
oSegment.DataElementValue(4) = var_dataelement3
Note that you do not even have to know the details of the data elements such as its minimum length, nor do you have to spend development time trying to correctly align data values into the standard file format since that will all be done automatically for you.
Reading an EDI file
To translate an EDI file, you simply look for the data segment, and then interrogate its data elements to obtain their values by writing the following code:
If sSegmentID = "SEG" Then
var_dataelement1 = oSegment.DataElementValue(1)
var_dataelement3 = oSegment.DataElementValue(3)
End If
So you need not have to bother about the exact positioning of the data values in the file layout - where they start and where they end - because the component automatically extracts the values for you.
Validating an EDI file
To validate an EDI file with the Framework EDI component, you simply load the SEF and EDI files, and then interrogate the component objects for errors by
doing the following:
'load sef file.
oEdiDoc.LoadSchema sSefFile, 0
'Load EDI file
oEdiDoc.LoadEdi sEdiFile
'display errors
Set oWarnings = oEdiDoc.GetWarnings
nWarningCount = oWarnings.Count
For i = 1 To nWarningCount
Set oWarning = oWarnings.Warning(i)
ListBox.AddItem oWarning.Description
Next
Therefore, the component enables you to create a powerful EDI validation program without the incredible task of having to know all the EDI standard specifications. Basically, the only thing you need to know is what version of the implementation guideline in the SEF is required to use against the EDI file.
Acknowledging an EDI file
To acknowledge an EDI file, you simply enable a property of the component, and then save the acknowledgment file as shown below:
Set oAck = oEdiDoc.GetAcknowledgment
oAck.EnableFunctionalAcknowledgment = True
oEdiDoc.LoadSchema sSefFile, 0
oEdiDoc.LoadEdi sEdiFile
oAck.Save sAckfile
The component will automatically create the EDI acknowledgment file (997 or CONTRL) so that you do not need to bother having to create it yourself.
The Framework EDI Utilities
The utilities packaged with the Framework EDI can help you troubleshoot and maintain your EDI solution. The Framework EDI Utilities are:
The SEF Manager
The SEF Manager allows you to view and edit SEF files. A SEF file is the best method of deploying an implementation guideline because its data can be
parsed and used by a program (unlike pdf format); and it is small, manageable and readable (unlike a database).
The eFileManager
The eFileManager allows you to view EDI files in a more readable format. Descriptions of segments, codes and data values that are not
normally included in an EDI file are displayed next to those units making the EDI file more understandable.
The eAnalyzer
The eAnalyzer validates EDI files of any size, and generates a report that pin-points to errors in the EDI file. This utility can help you
troubleshoot problems in an EDI file, and can help you create a more accurate EDI program that adheres to the standard.
A brief description of the Framework EDI component, and its utilities.
Click here to evaluate the Framework EDI
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