OSI/MHS Gateway Programmatic Interface (GPI) Programming Guide

OSI/MHS Gateway Programmatic Interface (GPI) Programming Guide—424822-001
D-1
D
EDI Concepts
This appendix summarizes key electronic data interchange (EDI) concepts. It provides a
conceptual framework for reference information in the GPI Reference Manual.
The topics covered are:
•
EDI and EDI messaging
•
The EDI message structure
•
EDI notifications, forwarding, and responsibility
•
EDI extensions
What Is Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)?
EDI is the electronic exchange of business data, such as invoices and purchase orders.
In electronic form, the data is structured as an EDI interchange. EDI interchanges are
transferred through an X.400 network in the form of EDI messages (EDIMs).
Currently three formats of EDI interchange are used widely: EDIFACT, ANSI12, and
UNTDI. Of these formats, EDIFACT is generally accepted worldwide as the de facto
standard. EDIFACT is an acronym for Electronic Data Interchange for Administration,
Commerce, and Transport. The format was developed in 1988 by the United Nations
Economic Commission of Europe (UNECE).
EDI Messaging System (EDIMS)
EDIMS is the means by which EDI messaging users communicate with one another.
The EDIMS can be viewed as functional objects that interact (Figure D-1). The central
object, or core, of the EDIMS is the X.400 message transfer system (MTS). The
EDIMS uses MTS as an infrastructure for exchange of EDIMs. As described in
Appendix C, Review of X.400 and OSI/MHS
, the MTS is composed of message transfer
agents (MTAs). OSI/MHS is the Compaq implementation of an X.400 MTA.