Original publication date: September, 2006

Map and Model Migration using Softshare Delta

Typically, the Accredited Standards Committee X12 publishes one or two new ASC X12 versions each year. UN/CEFACT, the organization that develops new EDIFACT versions (i.e. directories) is no less busy, also publishing one to two new directories a year.

Each new version brings improvements to the standard. Some companies may find a new version's improvements insignificant and not worth adopting while other companies may find those same improvements very compelling. Or, as in the case of the 004010 ASC X12 release, which addressed Y2K compliance, some new versions are important to everyone.

Whatever the reasons, it's likely that your company will someday find itself migrating to new versions of EDI documents. When this day comes, you'll want to remember Softshare Delta's map and model migration feature. This convenient feature lets you change the version of an EDI model without having to recreate the model—or the maps associated with it. Delta warns you if there are any significant discrepancies between the two EDI versions so that you can go into the model's associated maps and make any necessary rule changes.

You can learn more about the map and model migration feature in chapter 16 of the Softshare Delta Reference Manual, titled "Working with Maps."

© 2007 Softshare, Inc. All rights reserved. This article is part of an archive of Softshare newsletter articles dating back several years. Some of the screenshots, procedures, or information contained within this article may no longer be 100% accurate or relevant, as Softshare's software and services are very fluid. Thank you for your understanding.