Using TRADACOMS

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TRADACOMS (Trading Data Communications Standard) is the international EDI standard developed by the UK ANA (Article Numbering Association, also called GS1 UK). The TRADACOMS standard provides a set of syntax rules to structure data, an interactive exchange protocol (I-EDI), and standard messages which allow multiple countries or regions and industries to exchange documents.

This table describes how Sterling B2B Integrator supports TRADACOMS:

Functionality Details Action You Need to Take to Implement TRADACOMS
Services
  • Generic Envelope service translates messages, determines which business processes need to run to apply EDI envelopes, and starts those business processes.
  • Generic Deenvelope service removes the envelopes from inbound messages.
 Configure the services in Sterling B2B Integrator.
Note: As a way to help reduce the number of envelopes you need to create and use, the Generic Envelope and Generic Deenvelope services support use of an asterisk (*) as a wildcard character in mandatory envelope fields for TRADACOMS. By using wildcards, you can set up one set of envelopes that can be used for multiple trading partners. If certain trading partners have specific requirements, you can still have envelopes that pertain just to them, and the EDI Enveloping service chooses the envelope that is the best match. In other words, the envelope that has the most matches to specific fields in the data (for example Receiver ID, Receiver ID Qualifier), is the one selected.
Envelopes
  • Inbound TRADACOMS envelope wizard to implement inbound TRADACOMS.
  • Outbound TRADACOMS envelope wizard to implement outbound TRADACOMS.
  • Create the appropriate TRADACOMS envelopes for the TRADACOMS messages you are sending and receiving.
Predefined business processes
  • TRADACOMSDeenvelope extracts EDI documents from a TRADACOMS interchange and locates an associated contract, according to the content of the envelopes. TRADACOMSDeenvelope then starts the appropriate business process.
  • TRADACOMSEnvelope applies a TRADACOMS envelope to one or more TRADACOMS messages and then uses the envelope data to translate and process them.
 Configure the predefined business processes and create new ones as necessary.
IBM® Sterling B2B Integrator Map Editor
  • Sterling B2B Integrator Map Editor wizard enables you to generate a file layout for you using the TRADACOMS message that you select. Included in the TRADACOMS map are groups, segments, composite elements, and elements that are defined by TRADACOMS.
  • Properties dialog boxes enable you to define and modify EDI map components for TRADACOMS.
  • Autolink function automatically creates links between input and output fields that have the same name or business name. This function can be used with any data format.
  • Additional mapping operations as needed.
  • Download Sterling B2B Integrator Map Editor.
  • Create a map or maps to translate your TRADACOMS messages.
  • Create code lists, if necessary.
Correlation Search Search by TRADACOMS information. Use the EDI Correlation search functionality to search for TRADACOMS correlation information.
Reports Report by TRADACOMS standard. Use the EDI Translation Detail report to search for details of inbound and outbound TRADACOMS messages and easily create useful reports on your inbound and outbound TRADACOMS messaging.

Prerequisite for Using TRADACOMS

The audience using this software should be familiar with Sterling B2B Integrator and the TRADACOMS standard.

Note: This documentation is not intended to explain the TRADACOMS standard.