Modifying Segment Properties

You can modify the properties of any segment, including the minimum and maximum number of times the segment can repeat, whether the segment is mandatory or conditional, and whether it is a loop start or loop end segment.

See About Loop Start and Loop End Segments for more information.

Use this procedure to modify the properties of a segment.

  1. Right-click the segment you want to modify and select Properties.

    The system displays the EDI Segment Properties dialog box.

  2. If you need to modify the name of the segment, type the segment name in the first box on the Name tab.
    Note: If a segment occurs more than once in a map it is identified by its name <ID>. The second and subsequent occurrences are identified by <ID>:n, where n is the number of the occurrence in the map.
  3. If you want to modify the description of the segment, type a new description in the second box on the Name tab.

    This box is used to provide a brief explanation of the segment that allows you to differentiate it from similar segments.

  4. Select the Tag tab only if you want to access tag information.
  5. If you want to modify the segment tag, type the segment identification code <TAG> in the Tag box.

    The segment tag for each segment enables the system to recognize that segment. For example, a record is recognized by the system as:

    <TAG>[Delimeter]<DATA>[Delimeter]
<DATA>.......<DATA>[Segment Terminator]
  6. Select the Key Field tab only if you want to use a key field.

    The key field function enables you to specify a second qualification in selecting a segment (the segment name is the first qualification). Data must be provided in the order designated through the use of key fields.

  7. Select the Special tab only if you want to specify floating (the segment does not have a fixed position in the file) or wildcard (generally only used with build or break maps) options, or if you want to flag this segment as containing binary data. Otherwise, accept the defaults.
    • Floating - The record does not have a fixed position in the file.
    • Wildcard - Generally only used with build or break maps.
    Notes:

    If you select Binary, you must define an element of data type Bin Length and another element of data type Bin Data. The Bin Length element must precede the Bin Data element.

    See Modifying Element Properties for more information about defining an element data type.

  8. If this is segment is a looping structure, on the Looping tab, enter the minimum and maximum number of times the record can repeat. Type 1 to make the header record mandatory.
  9. To indicate where this segment is in the loop, select one of the following options:
    • Loop Start - beginning of the loop
    • Loop End - end of the loop
    • Normal - in the loop but not the beginning or ending segment
  10. Click OK to save changes to the segment.