EDIMatrix Ltd 1997 DMX Overview SEMA Infodata Nov 1997

EDIMatrix Ltd 1997 Introduction DMX Modular EDI System A series of self-standing programs which can be used individually or combined seamlessly to make the EDI system which suits your needs

EDIMatrix Ltd 1997 Important Modules 4 DMXCONST - construction 4 DMXTRANS - translation 4 DMXERRAN - session report 4 DMXSCHED - scheduler 4 DMXGWAY - traffic analyser 4 WINTASKS - batch file processor 4 DMXPRINT - flat file re-formatter 4 DMXREFRM - relational file re-formatter

EDIMatrix Ltd 1997 EDIFACT Interchange Structure

EDIMatrix Ltd 1997 Segments & Groups 4 A segment has structure: TAG+element+element:element+ ….. ’ 4 Within a message sequences of segments can be marked as repeatable. They are then said to form a GROUP.

EDIMatrix Ltd 1997 Data Element 4 Has properties such as: 4 Fixed/Variable length 4 Maximum Length 4 Alphanumeric/Alphabetic/Numeric content 4 Mandatory/Conditional e.g. A6 AN..35 N..14

EDIMatrix Ltd 1997 Separators (Syntax Characters) 4 Components : 4 Data Elements + 4 Segments ’ 4 Escape Character ? 4 BUT - can be re-specified by a UNA segment before the UNB

EDIMatrix Ltd 1997 Compression - remove 4 Trailing blanks 4 Leading zeroes 4 Trailing decimal zeroes 4 +element::+ becomes +element+ 4 +element++’ becomes +element’ 4 NOTE +element::element+ unchanged 4 Sigh! These rules are often broken

EDIMatrix Ltd 1997 Mandatory / Conditional 4 A Group, Segment, Composite or Data Element may be Mandatory or Conditional 4 The status of a composite structure is independent of the individual statuses of its components 4 Violations of these statuses are probably the most common fault in EDIFACT messages 4 SO - you need to understand them!

EDIMatrix Ltd 1997 A Simple EDI System

EDIMatrix Ltd 1997 An Even Simpler System

EDIMatrix Ltd 1997 Management Information Flow C onverters Session Log Error Analyser Gateway Network I/F Database Renames

EDIMatrix Ltd 1997 Outgoing DATA Flow Application Re-formatter DmxConst

EDIMatrix Ltd 1997 Incoming DATA Flow DMXTRANS DMXPRINT A P P Interchange Files Inhouse Files

EDIMatrix Ltd 1997 DMXGWAY 4 Most of the operational functionality of a conventional EDI Gateway lies in the DMX converters themselves. The DMX Gateway is therefore primarily a Traffic Analyser whose function is to show you what has been happening in your system, and to tie together the various information sources available to you.

EDIMatrix Ltd 1997 DMXGWAY 4 View EDI traffic using a query generator 4 Update the traffic database 4 Create and view archives 4 Edit and maintain the database 4 Easy links to all EDI system information

EDIMatrix Ltd 1997 Information Sources Session Log Gateway Log Net I/F Log Control Log Gateway Reports Data Files Net Reports Gateway View

EDIMatrix Ltd 1997 Profiles 4 Switch the operational environment of the converter according to contents of the incoming data stream. 4 Based on Trading Partner 4 Based on Message Type 4 Based on Test status 4 (?based on User?)

EDIMatrix Ltd 1997 Profiles You only need two profiles to cover all your EDI processing; one for construction (DMXOUT.PRO) and one for translation (DMXIN.PRO). Once operating under a profile the converter becomes data-driven, and switches its environment automatically to respond to the changing requirements made of it

EDIMatrix Ltd 1997 Profile Logic ? Use DEFAULT

EDIMatrix Ltd 1997 Table Generation Table Source DMXTCOMPDMXTDUMP DMXTEDIT DMXSCOMP DMXMKTRN

EDIMatrix Ltd 1997 DMXTEDIT 4 Interactive 4 Direct 4 Quick 4 Automation 4 Edits, not creates 4 Full sets of UNSM’s 4 Intuitive ? 4 EDI knowledge helps

EDIMatrix Ltd 1997 Control of Conversion Converter Profile Includes Codes CharConv Control File Command Line Parms

EDIMatrix Ltd 1997 Control File Contents 4 Table 4 Input File(s) 4 Output File(s) 4 Flags 4 Moves 4 Profile 4 Semaphores 4 Data 4 Errorlevels 4 Codes 4 Links 4 Logging 4 Seeds 4 Includes 4 Local Variables 4 ….. More!

EDIMatrix Ltd 1997 Flags 4 Format... 4 Error behaviour... 4 Residence... 4 Fast/Thorough 4 Debug 4 Imp/Exp Nesting 4 Decimal Separator 4 Buffering 4 Cache 4 Sizes 4 Profile Triggers 4 Convert Characters 4 Timeslicing 4 Empty File Removal

EDIMatrix Ltd 1997 Network Interfaces 4 Export - identify files to be sent 4 Connect - call and monitor the network program 4 Import - register incoming files and net reports 4 Update traffic database

EDIMatrix Ltd 1997 Network Interface 4 Desirable, but not essential! 4 Needed for status recording in traffic database 4 All DMX network interfaces are modifications of a single generic model 4 The requirements of the network may need to be considered at converter control file level

EDIMatrix Ltd 1997 Network Communications 4 Program to dial a network, establish a session, and perform file transfers as dictated by the Network Interface program 4 Network specific. 4 DMXCOMMS often used, with a script for the particular network being accessed 4 Network determines facilities available

EDIMatrix Ltd 1997 Compiled Tables 4 Several programs in the DMX range operate using compiled tables; the information for them is prepared as a text file which is then compiled to a binary form more suitable for active processing by the program involved. 4 This is done to separate activities which can be performed off-line from those which are part of the ‘real’ processing.

EDIMatrix Ltd 1997 DMX Compilers

EDIMatrix Ltd 1997 Application Interface 4 Intermediary file(s) - Inhouse files 4 DMX can create and accept most formats, providing they are not too crazy! 4 Convenience for Application decides form 4 Semaphores used to prevent conflicts 4 Hierarchical tagged (flat) file often used 4 Relational filesets also popular

EDIMatrix Ltd 1997 Hierarchical Tagged Files 4 The most common interface file for applications consists of a hierarchy of different records, each identified by a unique tag. 4 The hierarchical structure tends to be very similar to that of the EDIFACT interchange 4 BUT - where the number of iterations of an entity is limited it can often be folded into the level above it.

EDIMatrix Ltd 1997 Relational Files 4 Essentially equivalent to database tables 4 Each repeating entity has its own file with a discrete record structure 4 Records in different files are linked by Keys 4 Once again, if an entity has a limited number of repetitions it is often folded into an existing file

EDIMatrix Ltd 1997 DMX Converter Inhouse Files 4 Are hierarchical tagged files 4 Re-formatting to and from relational files can be achieved by the DMXPRINT and DMXREFRM programs 4 These programs have many other uses! 4 The hierarchical tagged file is, in theory, inferior to a relational fileset but is, in practice, normally better!