EDI in linux

[Brad De Vries]

Kevin, EDI is how companies send data back and forth. 
Rather than using faxes, mail or phone calls, they
electronically package a sales order, purchase order,
shipment notification, invoice, etc. and send it to a
supplier or customer.  There are many industries that
rely on it heavily, even on a minute by minute basis,
such as automotive, consumer products, industrial,
etc.

There has been a couple of "standards" used in
the U.S. over the last 15-20 years, including ANSI
X-12 and the United Nations' EDIFACT, which dictate
how the documents are represented.  There have been
other "standards" outside the U.S., including
VDA and Odette.  Unfortunately all the
"standards" are different then each other.

XML is the "new kid on the block" and if it
does replace all the current "standards" it
won't be in my lifetime.  I think it will only be yet
another option.

Regarding tools for handling EDI, I thought I've seen
some Perl modules that will handle XML to/from
EDIFACT.  I would like to see some more tools, maybe
even a simple translator/mapper.  Marvin, if you do
decide to start something, keep me posted, I would be
willing to help where I can.

Brad.

--- Kevin O'Gorman <kevin at kosmanor.com> wrote:
> On Thu, 12 Sep 2002, Marvin P. Dickens wrote:
> 
> > Hello!
> > 
> > I am toying with the idea of starting a
project to
> create an
> > open sourced EDI utility suite. Currently,
there
> are no EDI
> > tools that are open sourced.
> > 
> > My reasoning behind this is that EDI is a
*must
> have* for 99%
> > of all large and medium sized businesses and
> further, the
> > importance of EDI to small businesses grows
> exponentionally
> > every day: EDI has become a barrier to
market
> entry for
> > many small businesses.
> > 
> > 
> > Any thoughts or interests...?
> 
> Merely a curiosity.  What's EDI?
> 
> > 
> > 
> > Best
> > 
> > Peck


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