XML/EDI Overview West Chester Electronic Commerce Resource Center (ECRC)

Topics u XML Background u XML/EDI u XML/EDI Initiatives u XML/EDI Tools u XML/EDI Vision u Next Steps

BackgroundBackground u Proprietary Markup Languages ä Word Processors u Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML) ä ISO defines a generic document definition and data markup language ä Separate structure & content u Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) ä Application of SGML (HTML DTD) ä Predefined set of tags ä Defines the format of a document

Background Background (cont’d) u Extensible Markup Language (XML) ä Describes a class of data objects called XML documents which are stored on computers & partially describes the behavior of programs which process these objects ä Restricted Form of SGML – 80% of functionality – 20% of complexity ä XML provides a mechanism to impose constraints on the storage layout & logical structure of documents

Why Use XML? u Create your own tags to describe content u Easy to create structured documents u To describe, deliver, & exchange structured data between applications u Hardware/software independent u More powerful than HTML u Less complicated than SGML Background

XML Benefits u More meaningful searches u Separation of content and format u Development of flexible web applications u Open standards u Flexible format for different use ä Wire format for web delivery ä Transfer format for sharing data ä Persistent data format for disk storage Background

XML Components u XML family of standards ä XML ä XML Link Language (XLL) ä XML Stylesheet Language (XSL) ä Document Object Model (DOM) ä XML Query Language (XML-QL/XQL) ä Namespaces ä Document Content Description (DCD) ä XML Repositories

Background XML Usage u Presentation-Oriented Publishing (POP) ä POP documents are chiefly written by humans for other humans to read ä Browser - Browser u Message-Oriented Middleware ä MOM documents are documents mainly generated from computer systems for use by other computer systems ä Application to Application ä Application to Human/Human to Application

Background XML Documents u Consist of character data and markup u Allowed markup ä Elements ä Entity references ä Comments ä Processing instructions ä Marked sections ä Document type declarations

Prolog Document Type Declaration Root Element Element Epilog Background XML Document Structure

Two Classes of XML Documents Well Formed XML Documents Valid XML Documents Background

123456</PONumber) 12/3/1998 ……….. ………… Example XML Document Background

What’s on the Horizon for XML u Intelligent agents u Structured records u Objects with methods and data u Metacontent for Web sites u Query results u Graphical user interface u Persistent storage formats u Online procedures documentation u Interactive parts catalogs u Electronic service manuals u Electronic Data Interchange

XML/EDI XML/EDI Goals u To deliver unambiguous and durable business transactions via electronic means u Utilize existing systems and processes u Protect investment in traditional EC/EDI u Provide a migration path to next generation XML/EDI systems u Use existing business processes as implemented u Facilitate direct interoperation in an open environment

XML/EDI The Five Technologies 0f XML/EDI

XML/EDI Layers of an XML/EDI System

XML/EDI Future Based on XML/EDI

XML/EDI Typical EDI Scenario Request for Quote (840) Response to RFQ (843) Purchase Order (850) P.O. Acknowledgment (855) Purchase Order Change (860) P.O. Change Acknowledgment (865) Invoice (810)/Advance Ship Notice (856) FRT Bill (210) Receiving Advice (861) Payment Order/Remittance Advice (820) Electronic Funds Transfer Your Customer Purchasing Receiving Financial You Sales Order Entry Shipping Financial Technical Specifications (841)

XML/EDI EDI Processes u Data Entry/Data Collection u Application Extract u Outbound EDI Processing u Communications Processing u Inbound EDI Processing u Application Import u Error Handling

XML/EDI XML/EDI Scenario u Company A extracts PO data from purchasing system ä UDF ä XML Document(s)/XML Objects u Map extracted PO data to XML/EDI or EDI format ä Validate XML/EDI against repository DTD/DCD IC u Transmit XML/EDI to Company B ä Via VAN ä Via Internet – http, ftp, smtp

XML/EDI XML/EDI Scenario (cont’d) u Company B receives/retrieves XML/EDI PO u Access repository ä Appropriate XSL stylesheet(s) for processing ä DTD ä DCD u Process XML/EDI PO ä Import into order entry system ä Print order

XML/EDI Why Use XML for EDI? u XML bridges the gap between traditional EDI & Web-based applications u Most of software industry has embraced XML ä Microsoft, IBM, Netscape, Oracle, SAP, etc. u XML could make EC/EDI more available to SMEs & other non-traditional EDI users

XML/EDI Problems using XML for EDI u Data Typing ä Currently XML has no facility to show data types u Exposed Semantics ä Currently XML has no method to show relationships between data elements & other structures u Repeat Counts ä Currently XML has no method to designate segment or loop counts u Minimum/Maximum Lengths ä Currently XML has no method to specify minimum and maximum lengths

XML/EDI XML/EDI Example 1 N1*SH*ABC Systems*1* *07*SH SH ABC Systems SH

XML/EDI XML/EDI Example 2 N1*SH*ABC Systems*1* *07*SH SH ABC Systems SH

XML/EDI XML/EDI Example 3 N1*SH*ABC Systems*1* *07*SH SH ABC Systems SH

XML/EDI XML/EDI Example 4 N1*SH*ABC Systems*1* *07*SH SH ABC Systems SH

XML/EDI XML/EDI Example 5 N1*SH*ABC Systems*1* *07*SH ABC Systems SH

XML/EDI Initiatives XML/EDI Players u ANSI ASC X12 u UN/EDIFACT u XML/EDI Group u CommerceNet u W3C u Graphics Communications Association (GCA) u Software Vendors

XML/EDI Initiatives ANSI ASC X12 u “ASC X12 on the Brink of Completing X12 Technical Report” - 3/11/99 ä Final stages of X12-XML methodology ä X12C Approval June 99/Publication in October 99 u Goals ä Define a method to expose the semantic content of X12 standards as well-formed XML documents ä Ensure X12/XML is interoperable with native X12 syntax u Future Efforts ä Validation, Acknowledgments, & Error Handling

XML/EDI Initiatives ANSI ASC X12 (cont’d) u 2/98 Meeting - Los Angeles ä Informational Session on XML/EDI u 6/98 Meeting - Columbus ä Ad Hoc XML/EDI Committee u 8/98 ä Preliminary Findings & Recommendations on the Representation of X12 Data Elements and Structures in XML u 10/98 Meeting - Miami ä Near & Long Term Goals ä X12C TG3

XML/EDI Initiatives ANSI ASC X12 (cont’d) u 2/99 Meeting - Dallas ä Development of X12/XML Matrix ä Objectives for Technical Report ä Proposals u Approach Proposals ä Freeform Attribute Identified ä Discrete Field Group by Semantic Relationship ä Promotional Multi-Part ä Freeform Attribute Identified REFID Tags ä A Methodology for Semantic Tags

XML/EDI InitiativesUN/EDIFACT u European XML/EDI Pilot Project ä Will test XML for EDI between business & other organizations ä SIMPL-EDI DTDs – Orders – Invoices – Despatch Advices – Value Chain Planning & Performance Reports – International Payment Orders – Order Responses ä xml.html

XML/EDI Initiatives UN/EDIFACT (cont’d) u XML/EDI Repository Proposal ä Global repository for XML tags ä Functionality of Repository – Creating/Requesting Tags – Browsing/Searching for Tags – Downloading a subset of repository – Automatic Update by Subscription

XML/EDI InitiativesCommerceNet u eCo Framework Project ä Goal is to develop a common framework for interoperability among XML-based application standards and key EC environments ä Focus Areas – Architectural Framework – Interoperable Transaction Framework – Content Names and Definitions – Common Software Framework – eRegistry Submission Process

XML/EDI Initiatives Other Initiatives u The Center for the Study of EC in the Daniel's College of Business at the University of Denver ä Formed a research team to prototype an XML/EDI operating environment in order to explore it’s feasibility u RosettaNet ä Investigating the use of XML as an alternative to EDI ä Catalog Information Specification u EDIFECS Commerce ä Guideline XML (gXML)

XML Tools u XML Editors - XML/EDI Editors u XML Parsers - XML/EDI Parsers u Browsers - XML/EDI Aware Browsers u DTD Editors/Tools - XML/EDI DTD Editors/Tools u APIs - XML/EDI specific APIs u XLink/XPointer Tools - TBD u XSL Editors - XML/EDI XSL Forms u Transaction/Publishing Systems/Databases u Conversion Tools u Specialized XML Software XML/EDI Tools

u EDI Software Vendors ä TSI ä GEIS ä Sterling ä St. Paul Software ä Harbinger ä IBM ä IPNet ä PaperFree

XML/EDI Vision Internet NGI NII GII Extranet POTS XML Repository Trading Partner Service Providers VANs Trading Partner Trading Partner Trading Partner Trading Partner Trading Partner XML/EDI Vision

Next Steps u Formalized Business Case u Standardization ä Approach ä Naming Conventions u Infrastructure ä Repository Development ä Usage Guidelines u XML Version 1.0 Extensions u XML/EDI Software Tools u Industry Adoption

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