ASCII files

An EDI message arrives as an ASCII file. A normal ASCII file is a text format (arrangement) that cannot be read. The ASCII file must be converted into an application file that LN can read. This conversion is performed by the LN EDI software.

ASCII files consist of records, and records consist of fields that contain the actual information. Examples of fields include the customer number, customer name, and customer address.

If several files are related to each other, they are relational. Relational files occur, for example, if several addresses were recorded for one customer. In this example, the customer number is the key. In the address file, you can search for the addresses using the customer number. A key can include more than one field. If, for example, more than one telephone number is recorded for one address, the key is the customer number together with the address.

To read or create ASCII files, refer to Processing files.

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