Mapping binary data

The ASC-X12 Specifications/Technical Information transaction set (841) defines a way for trading partners to exchange technical information the same way they exchange EDI transactions. This technical information, which can be graphic, image, or audio, can contain binary data. The binary data can assume any value in the range X'00' through X'FF'.

In the syntax of X12 transaction sets, data elements that are separated by delimiters are combined into a segment that is identified by a segment ID and terminated with a segment delimiter. The binary data introduced by the 841 transaction set causes problems for this syntax because the binary data may contain a value that matches a segment delimiter. Translators and networks that support the 841 transaction set must have a way to identify binary data and determine its length so that it does not interfere with parsing the rest of the envelope. Special care must be taken if you want to send and receive files between WebSphere Partner Gateway and translators on other platforms. Not all operating systems support the record types z/OS uses.

Copyright IBM Corp. 2003, 2005