IT25173: ENHANCEMENT REQUIRED TO VALIDATE AND REPORT FAILURES FOR MANDATORY EDI FIELDS CONTAINING ONLY WHITESPACES

Media_IM_5020603_6
Media_IM_5020603_6
iSeries_Media_5020603_6.zip
iSeries_Media_5020603_6

APAR status

• Closed as new function.

Error description

• WTX X12 compliance check does not allow the mandatory EDI fields
  to contain only whitespace.
  However, IBM Sterling B2B Integrator compliance checking does
  not flag this condition as an error.
  
  
  You cannot change the default behavior of the IBM Sterling B2B
  Integrator translator. But, you can enhance the
  translator to allow this validation globally. Or, vaidate on a
  per-map basis.
  

Local fix

• RTC: 569536
  

Problem summary

• Users Affected:
  Customers validating EDI data where mandatory fields have only
  whitespace.
  
  Problem Description:
  WTX X12 compliance check does not allow the mandatory EDI fields
  to contain only whitespace.
  However, IBM Sterling B2B Integrator compliance checking does
  not flag this condition as an error.
  
  
  You cannot change the default behavior of the IBM Sterling B2B
  Integrator translator. But, you can enhance the
  translator to allow this validation globally. Or, vaidate on a
  per-map basis.
  
  Platforms Affected:
  All
  

Problem conclusion

• Resolution Summary:
  
  A code fix is provided.
  
  Added new translator properties allowing
  either global validation or on a per-map basis for mandatory
  fields containing only whitespace.
  Global flag - setting this entry will turn on the mandatory
  blanks validation.
  allowBlankMandatoryStringFields=false
  <mapDescription>.input.allowBlankMandatoryStringFields=false
  ...or...
  <mapDescription>.output.allowBlankMandatoryStringFields=false
  <mapDescription> must match the "Map Description" in the map
  itself; set the Map Description using the Map Editor.  When
  setting these properties you must also set "input" and/or
  "output" depending on which side of the map the mandatory
  blanks validation setting should be applied to.
  It is also possible to add tags and specific fields to the
  filter where the validation is not applied:
  Example where XXX is a tag to add to the filter.
  allowBlankMandatoryStringFields.blockTagsFilter=ISA,GS,XXX
  Example where mmmm and nnnn are specific element fields of XXX
  to add to the filter. By default, all element fields of a tag
  specified in the filter are included.
  allowBlankMandatoryStringFields.blockTagsFilter.XXX=mmmm,nnnn
  
  Note:
  
  In the process of implementing and testing this translator
  enhancement, a pre-existing gap in validation logic is
  encountered and resolved.
  
  The data passing validation is an empty string assigned to
  elements that are subsequently mapped to the mandatory fields
  (minimum length of 1) on the output side of the map.
  
  An empty string represents content, but it does not meet the
  minimum length requirement, and should have been reported as a
  "Code: 111 Data Too Short" error.
  
  Customers encountering previously unreported "Data Too Short"
  errors need to update the extended rules to resolve any
  issues surrounding assigning an empty string to mandatory field
  elements.
  
  Delivered In:
  5020603_6
  

Temporary fix

Comments

APAR Information

• APAR is sysrouted FROM one or more of the following:

• APAR is sysrouted TO one or more of the following:

Modules/Macros

• EDICMPCK
  

Fix information

• Fixed component name

  STR B2B INTEGRA

• Fixed component ID

  5725D0600

Applicable component levels