[NTLUG:Discuss] Open Source EDI recommendation needed.

[Chris Cox]

David Camm wrote:
> "The term I hear alot is AS1..only I can't find AS1 on freshmeat. I don't
> know
> yet if AS1 is a requirement...but I'm still googling for options."
> 
> i think what you're REALLY hearing is ASN1.
> 
> ASN1 is a datastream definition which was defined back in the late 
> 70s/eraly 80s by the ITU (International Telegrpahic Union) which is part 
> of the UN. ITU is the international standards body for communication 
> protocols of all types. ASN1 was used to define the elements of EDI, 
> X.400 mail and other X. applications.
> 
> compliant EDI applications pass ASN1-encoded datastreams to each other.
> 
> and keep in mind that EDI is generally used by enterprises to pass 
> supplychain info (orders, invoices, letters of credit, etc.) to trading 
> partners and these applications generally run on mainframes.
> 
> EDI is NOT ftp.
> 
> hope this helps.....
> 

ASN1 is like XDR and even XML... just binary way of representing
data in a standard way (low level data, not application formats).

I don't know of any open source edi projects... but you would
think that something might exist.  My company supports Linux...
if you don't mind paying for software: http://www.stercomm.com
Just tell them Chris Cox sent you... when they reply "Who?"
that's the code word that your "in like Flynn!"
:)