How do you debug your EDI software?

1 Know your EDI standards

One of the first steps to debug your EDI software is to understand the EDI standards and specifications that you and your trading partners are using. EDI standards define the structure, syntax, and content of the EDI messages, such as invoices, purchase orders, or shipping notices. There are different EDI standards, such as ANSI X12, EDIFACT, or XML, and each one has its own versions, subsets, and segments. You need to know the exact EDI standard, version, and document type that your EDI software is supposed to handle, and compare it with the actual EDI files that you receive or send. This will help you identify any discrepancies, errors, or missing data that may cause your EDI software to malfunction.

2 Use EDI validation tools

Another step to debug your EDI software is to use EDI validation tools that can check the integrity, compliance, and quality of your EDI messages. EDI validation tools can verify the syntax, semantics, and business rules of your EDI files, and report any errors, warnings, or suggestions. For example, an EDI validation tool can detect if your EDI file has an invalid segment delimiter, a missing mandatory element, or a mismatched value. You can use EDI validation tools to test your EDI files before sending them to your trading partners, or to analyze the EDI files that you receive from them. This will help you prevent or fix any issues that may affect your EDI software's performance.

3 Use EDI debugging tools

A third step to debug your EDI software is to use EDI debugging tools that can help you trace, monitor, and debug your EDI processes and transactions. EDI debugging tools can provide you with a graphical interface, a log file, or a message queue that can show you the details of your EDI operations, such as the source, destination, status, and errors of your EDI messages. You can use EDI debugging tools to track the flow of your EDI data, to identify the root cause of any problems, and to test and modify your EDI software's settings and parameters. For example, an EDI debugging tool can show you if your EDI software failed to connect to your trading partner's server, if it translated your EDI file correctly, or if it generated an acknowledgment message.

4 Use EDI testing tools

A fourth step to debug your EDI software is to use EDI testing tools that can help you simulate and validate your EDI scenarios and outcomes. EDI testing tools can allow you to create and send mock EDI messages to your trading partners, or to receive and process dummy EDI messages from them. You can use EDI testing tools to verify the functionality, compatibility, and reliability of your EDI software, and to ensure that it meets your trading partners' requirements and expectations. For example, an EDI testing tool can help you check if your EDI software can handle different EDI formats and standards, if it can generate the correct responses and actions, or if it can handle various errors and exceptions.

5 Use EDI documentation and support

A fifth step to debug your EDI software is to use EDI documentation and support resources that can provide you with guidance, information, and assistance. EDI documentation and support resources can include manuals, tutorials, FAQs, forums, blogs, videos, or webinars that can explain how your EDI software works, how to use its features and functions, and how to troubleshoot and resolve common EDI issues. You can also contact your EDI software vendor, your trading partners, or other EDI experts for technical support, advice, or feedback. You can use EDI documentation and support resources to learn more about your EDI software, to find solutions to your EDI problems, and to improve your EDI skills and knowledge.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?