How does Sterling Gentran:Server for iSeries know what trading partner to use for processing data?

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Many users are not sure how GENTRAN: Server finds the partner during inbound and outbound processing. Knowing the procedure GENTRAN: Server uses to locate the partner is important in understanding what partner GENTRAN: Server is using for editing, splitting, and mapping, as well as what cross references are needed. The first step for inbound or outbound processing is to find the partner in the Partner file (resolving to the Partner ID) for which the data was received from or is being created for. GENTRAN: Server locates the partner to retrieve all the necessary information to process EDI data or application data. The partner is resolved, if necessary, at various stages in the processing: by the Outbound Mapper, Outbound Editor, and Inbound Editor. For inbound and outbound processing, the Editors check the envelope identifiers (Receiver Ids for outbound processing and Sender Ids for Inbound processing) to identify the partner. Sometimes, the identifiers do not have the same value that was used to create the partner ID. In these situations GENTRAN:Server checks the Partner Cross Reference file to see if a cross reference entry was added to point the unknown identifier back to the Partner ID. The Outbound Mapper uses the Application Partner Reference field defined for the application definition to identify the partner.