EDIFACT Sample Converted to XML

This shows a sample EDIFACT document before and after conversion to XML, displaying markup and full automatically-generated internal documentation.

Sample EDIFACT Document

UNA:+.? '
UNB+UNOA:3+STYLUSSTUDIO:1+DATADIRECT:1+20051107:1159+6002'
UNH+SSDD1+ORDERS:D:03B:UN:EAN008'
BGM+220+BKOD99+9'
DTM+137:20051107:102'
NAD+BY+5412345000176::9'
NAD+SU+4012345000094::9'
LIN+1+1+0764569104:IB'
QTY+1:25'
FTX+AFM+1++XPath 2.0 Programmer?'s Reference'
LIN+2+1+0764569090:IB'
QTY+1:25'
FTX+AFM+1++XSLT 2.0 Programmer?'s Reference'
LIN+3+1+1861004656:IB'
QTY+1:16'
FTX+AFM+1++Java Server Programming'
LIN+4+1+0596006756:IB'
QTY+1:10'
FTX+AFM+1++Enterprise Service Bus'
UNS+S'
CNT+2:4'
UNT+22+SSDD1'
UNZ+1+6002'

(The original raw EDIFACT sample file edifact-sample.txt is here).

Equivalent EDIFACT XML Document as Converted by Stylus Studio®

Why is the XML so much bigger than the EDI?

The EDI omits almost all of the markup, so that an independent processor doesn't know the meaning of each element. XML includes that, so engines like XSLT and XQuery can do their magic. What you don't see in the EDI is the megabytes of dictionary information you need to decode it, and the megabytes of code necessary to alter in case on little element is inserted or removed. That is where XML shines. And you can use it in your own programs, thanks to the data conversion API.

<EDIFACT>
    <UNB>
        <UNB01>
            <UNB0101><!--0001: Syntax identifier-->UNOA<!--UN/ECE level A--></UNB0101>
            <UNB0102><!--0002: Syntax version number-->4<!--Version 4--></UNB0102>
        </UNB01>
        <UNB02>
            <UNB0201><!--0004: Interchange sender identification-->STYLUSSTUDIO</UNB0201>
            <UNB0202><!--0007: Identification code qualifier-->1<!--DUNS (Data Universal Numbering System)--></UNB0202>
        </UNB02>
        <UNB03>
            <UNB0301><!--0010: Interchange recipient identification-->DATADIRECT</UNB0301>
            <UNB0302><!--0007: Identification code qualifier-->1<!--DUNS (Data Universal Numbering System)--></UNB0302>
        </UNB03>
        <UNB04>
            <UNB0401><!--0017: Date-->20051107</UNB0401>
            <UNB0402><!--0019: Time-->1159</UNB0402>
        </UNB04>
        <UNB05><!--0020: INTERCHANGE CONTROL REFERENCE-->6002</UNB05>
    </UNB>
    <ORDERS>
        <UNH>
            <UNH01><!--0062: MESSAGE REFERENCE NUMBER-->SSDD1</UNH01>
            <UNH02>
                <UNH0201><!--0065: Message type-->ORDERS</UNH0201>
                <UNH0202><!--0052: Message version number-->D</UNH0202>
                <UNH0203><!--0054: Message release number-->03B</UNH0203>
                <UNH0204><!--0051: Controlling agency, coded-->UN</UNH0204>
                <UNH0205><!--0057: Association assigned code-->EAN008</UNH0205>
            </UNH02>
        </UNH>
        <BGM>
            <BGM01>
                <BGM0101><!--1001: Document name code-->220<!--Order--></BGM0101>
            </BGM01>
            <BGM02>
                <BGM0201><!--1004: Document identifier-->BKOD99</BGM0201>
            </BGM02>
            <BGM03><!--1225: Message function code-->9<!--Original--></BGM03>
        </BGM>
        <DTM>
            <DTM01>
                <DTM0101><!--2005: Date or time or period function code qualifier-->137<!--Document/message date/time--></DTM0101>
                <DTM0102><!--2380: Date or time or period text-->20051107</DTM0102>
                <DTM0103><!--2379: Date or time or period format code-->102<!--CCYYMMDD--></DTM0103>
            </DTM01>
        </DTM>
        <GROUP_2>
            <NAD>
                <NAD01><!--3035: Party function code qualifier-->BY<!--Buyer--></NAD01>
                <NAD02>
                    <NAD0201><!--3039: Party identifier-->5412345000176</NAD0201>
                    <NAD0203><!--3055: Code list responsible agency code-->9<!--GS1--></NAD0203>
                </NAD02>
            </NAD>
        </GROUP_2>
        <GROUP_2>
            <NAD>
                <NAD01><!--3035: Party function code qualifier-->SU<!--Supplier--></NAD01>
                <NAD02>
                    <NAD0201><!--3039: Party identifier-->4012345000094</NAD0201>
                    <NAD0203><!--3055: Code list responsible agency code-->9<!--GS1--></NAD0203>
                </NAD02>
            </NAD>
        </GROUP_2>
        <GROUP_28>
            <LIN>
                <LIN01><!--1082: LINE ITEM IDENTIFIER-->1</LIN01>
                <LIN02><!--1229: ACTION REQUEST/NOTIFICATION DESCRIPTION CODE-->1<!--Added--></LIN02>
                <LIN03>
                    <LIN0301><!--7140: Item identifier-->0764569104</LIN0301>
                    <LIN0302><!--7143: Item type identification code-->IB<!--ISBN (International Standard Book Number)--></LIN0302>
                </LIN03>
            </LIN>
            <QTY>
                <QTY01>
                    <QTY0101><!--6063: Quantity type code qualifier-->1<!--Discrete quantity--></QTY0101>
                    <QTY0102><!--6060: Quantity-->25</QTY0102>
                </QTY01>
            </QTY>
            <FTX>
                <FTX01><!--4451: TEXT SUBJECT CODE QUALIFIER-->AFM<!--Title--></FTX01>
                <FTX02><!--4453: FREE TEXT FUNCTION CODE-->1<!--Text for subsequent use--></FTX02>
                <FTX04>
                    <FTX0401><!--4440: Free text-->XPath 2.0 Programmer's Reference</FTX0401>
                </FTX04>
            </FTX>
        </GROUP_28>
        <GROUP_28>
            <LIN>
                <LIN01><!--1082: LINE ITEM IDENTIFIER-->2</LIN01>
                <LIN02><!--1229: ACTION REQUEST/NOTIFICATION DESCRIPTION CODE-->1<!--Added--></LIN02>
                <LIN03>
                    <LIN0301><!--7140: Item identifier-->0764569090</LIN0301>
                    <LIN0302><!--7143: Item type identification code-->IB<!--ISBN (International Standard Book Number)--></LIN0302>
                </LIN03>
            </LIN>
            <QTY>
                <QTY01>
                    <QTY0101><!--6063: Quantity type code qualifier-->1<!--Discrete quantity--></QTY0101>
                    <QTY0102><!--6060: Quantity-->25</QTY0102>
                </QTY01>
            </QTY>
            <FTX>
                <FTX01><!--4451: TEXT SUBJECT CODE QUALIFIER-->AFM<!--Title--></FTX01>
                <FTX02><!--4453: FREE TEXT FUNCTION CODE-->1<!--Text for subsequent use--></FTX02>
                <FTX04>
                    <FTX0401><!--4440: Free text-->XSLT 2.0 Programmer's Reference</FTX0401>
                </FTX04>
            </FTX>
        </GROUP_28>
        <GROUP_28>
            <LIN>
                <LIN01><!--1082: LINE ITEM IDENTIFIER-->3</LIN01>
                <LIN02><!--1229: ACTION REQUEST/NOTIFICATION DESCRIPTION CODE-->1<!--Added--></LIN02>
                <LIN03>
                    <LIN0301><!--7140: Item identifier-->1861004656</LIN0301>
                    <LIN0302><!--7143: Item type identification code-->IB<!--ISBN (International Standard Book Number)--></LIN0302>
                </LIN03>
            </LIN>
            <QTY>
                <QTY01>
                    <QTY0101><!--6063: Quantity type code qualifier-->1<!--Discrete quantity--></QTY0101>
                    <QTY0102><!--6060: Quantity-->16</QTY0102>
                </QTY01>
            </QTY>
            <FTX>
                <FTX01><!--4451: TEXT SUBJECT CODE QUALIFIER-->AFM<!--Title--></FTX01>
                <FTX02><!--4453: FREE TEXT FUNCTION CODE-->1<!--Text for subsequent use--></FTX02>
                <FTX04>
                    <FTX0401><!--4440: Free text-->Java Server Programming</FTX0401>
                </FTX04>
            </FTX>
        </GROUP_28>
        <GROUP_28>
            <LIN>
                <LIN01><!--1082: LINE ITEM IDENTIFIER-->4</LIN01>
                <LIN02><!--1229: ACTION REQUEST/NOTIFICATION DESCRIPTION CODE-->1<!--Added--></LIN02>
                <LIN03>
                    <LIN0301><!--7140: Item identifier-->0596006756</LIN0301>
                    <LIN0302><!--7143: Item type identification code-->IB<!--ISBN (International Standard Book Number)--></LIN0302>
                </LIN03>
            </LIN>
            <QTY>
                <QTY01>
                    <QTY0101><!--6063: Quantity type code qualifier-->1<!--Discrete quantity--></QTY0101>
                    <QTY0102><!--6060: Quantity-->10</QTY0102>
                </QTY01>
            </QTY>
            <FTX>
                <FTX01><!--4451: TEXT SUBJECT CODE QUALIFIER-->AFM<!--Title--></FTX01>
                <FTX02><!--4453: FREE TEXT FUNCTION CODE-->1<!--Text for subsequent use--></FTX02>
                <FTX04>
                    <FTX0401><!--4440: Free text-->Enterprise Service Bus</FTX0401>
                </FTX04>
            </FTX>
        </GROUP_28>
        <UNS>
            <UNS01><!--0081: SECTION IDENTIFICATION-->S</UNS01>
        </UNS>
        <CNT>
            <CNT01>
                <CNT0101><!--6069: Control total type code qualifier-->2<!--Number of line items in message--></CNT0101>
                <CNT0102><!--6066: Control total quantity-->4</CNT0102>
            </CNT01>
        </CNT>
        <UNT>
            <UNT01><!--0074: NUMBER OF SEGMENTS IN A MESSAGE-->22</UNT01>
            <UNT02><!--0062: MESSAGE REFERENCE NUMBER-->SSDD1</UNT02>
        </UNT>
    </ORDERS>
    <UNZ>
        <UNZ01><!--0036: INTERCHANGE CONTROL COUNT-->1</UNZ01>
        <UNZ02><!--0020: INTERCHANGE CONTROL REFERENCE-->6002</UNZ02>
    </UNZ>
</EDIFACT>

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