Introducing Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)

Abstract

Many BizTalk implementations are done purely to enable the exchange of EDI transactions with trading partners. Although EDI includes exchanging XML and flat files such as comma-separated variable files, when we speak of EDI in the context of this book, we refer to standardized formats such as those defined by ANSI X12 or EDIFACT. Many BizTalk experts know little or nothing about EDI and have difficulty understanding some of the business rules that affect mapping. This chapter provides a brief introduction to EDI and EDI transactions. If you are familiar with these subjects, you may skip this chapter.