Verify EDI Delimiters

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About this task

If you are using an EDI standard that contains composite elements or subelements, you must verify that Sterling B2B Integrator Map Editor is specifying the correct delimiters. Delimiters are flags that you define to separate specific EDI components.

Delimiters are necessary for all variable field-length standards, because the data is compressed (and the leading zeros and trailing blanks are removed). The fields vary in length, so a flag is necessary to determine where one element ends and another begins. For example, an element delimiter marks the beginning of a new element.

Verifying EDI delimiters is required only if you are using a standard with composite elements or subelements. However, it is a good practice to verify EDI delimiters for any standard you use.

To verify EDI delimiters:

Procedure

  1. In the Sterling B2B Integrator Map Editor, right-click the EDI file icon. From the shortcut menu, select Properties.
  2. Select the Delimiters tab to access delimiter options.
  3. Verify that the Specify defaults check box is selected.
  4. Verify the required delimiters for the EDI standard you are using.
    Note: If the delimiters differ from the defaults specified, type either the character or the hexadecimal value in the correct box.

    Also, if you are mapping delimited data and the setup outside the map does not enable you to specify the release character, type the value you expect in the Release Character box.
  5. Are you using an X12, EDIFACT, or TRADACOMS standard on the output side of a map and you want to suppress leading zeros for the EDI elements that use an R-format numeric (including decimal values less than one)?
    • If Yes, select the Suppress leading zero on Numeric R* format values (e.g., 0.25--- > .25) option.
    • If No, continue with Step 6.
  6. Are you using an X12, EDIFACT, or TRADACOMS standard on the output side of a map and you want to pad numeric values (regardless of format) for the EDI elements with leading zeros?
    • If Yes, select the Pad with leading zero on Numeric values (e.g., 25--- > 000025) option. When you select this option, Numeric values (regardless of format) are padded with leading zeros out to the maximum length of the field.
    • If No, continue with Step 7.
  7. Click OK to exit the File Properties dialog box.