Creating a Screen Entry Form

The first task in creating a new form is to define the type of form and EDI standard, version, and message/transaction set (document). In this tutorial, you are creating a screen entry form so that your data entry users can enter EDI data in an invoice translation object in Sterling Gentran:Server®. Instead of defining the message/transaction set yourself, you want Sterling Gentran:Server to use the standards database on your system to build the invoice according to the standard.

Before you begin this procedure, verify that you have installed the Sterling Gentran® Standards Database for EDI.

Use this procedure to create a screen entry form.

  1. Select File > New to display the New Form Wizard.
  2. From the "What kind of form are you creating" list, select Screen Entry.
  3. In the "What is the name of the form" box, enter Screen Invoice Pet Zone. This description allows you to differentiate it from similar translation objects in Sterling Gentran:Server.
  4. Click Next.
  5. Select Delimited EDI as the data format syntax.
  6. Click Customize.

    The New Delimited EDI Wizard is displayed.

  7. Click Next.
  8. From the Data Source list, select Gentran Standards as the ODBC data.
  9. Click Next.
  10. From the Agency list, select one of the following as the EDI standard:
    • [X] X12
    • [E] Edifact
    • [A] Tradacoms
  11. From the Version list, select one of the following for the version of the standard:
    • [003040] ANSI X 12 VERSION 3 RELEASE 4
    • [092001] EDIFACT 1992 RELEASE 1
    • [ANA001] (for Tradacoms)
  12. From the Transaction list, select one of the following for the transaction set (document/message) for this translation object:
    • [810] INVOICE (for ANSI X12)
    • [INVOIC] INVOICE MESSAGE (for EDIFACT)
    • [INVOIC] INVOICE DETAILS (for TRADACOMS)
  13. For TRADACOMS: From the Release drop-down list box, select 9. This is the message version for this translation object.
  14. Click Next.
  15. Click Finish to create the EDI file This may take a few seconds.

    The form should look similar to the following. (This is an ANSI X12 example; some details may be different for EDIFACT and TRADACOMS.)

  16. Select Edit > Details.

    The Translation Object Details box is displayed.

  17. Verify that Screen Entry is selected in the Translation Object Function list.
  18. In the Major version box, enter 1 to designate the version number for this translation object.
  19. In the Minor version box, accept the default value 0 to designate the release number for this translation object.
    Note: When you make a major change to this form, increase the version to the next higher sequential number (for example, 2.0, 3.0). If you make a minor change to the form, increase the release to the next higher sequential number (for example, 2.1, 2.2).
  20. The Input and Output boxes (Agency, Version, Transaction, Release, and F Group) contain information only if the Input and/or Output sides of the form are of EDI format. For this tutorial, do not change the information in these boxes.
    Note: The system allows you to change the information in the Input and Output boxes, but modifying this information does not alter the content of the form. An example of when you might want to alter these boxes is when you want the form to reflect a standard version that is not loaded on your system. You can change the version in this dialog and then physically alter the form to be compliant with that version.
  21. Click OK to save the translation object details.
  22. Select File > Save. If necessary, navigate to the folder where Sterling Gentran:Server is installed.
    Note: If you have performed any function that invalidates the current format of the translation object, you cannot save until you regenerate the layout.
  23. Enter one of the following to replace the default file name:
    • pet_810s.stp (for ANSI X12)
    • peteinvs.stp (for EDIFACT)
    • pettinvs.stp (for TRADACOMS)
  24. Click Save.