United Nations Directories  for Electronic Data Interchange for
Administration, Commerce and Transport



UN/EDIFACT






                                           Message Type : DIRDEF
                                           Version      : D
                                           Release      : 01C
                                           Contr. Agency: UN

                                           Revision     : 6
                                           Date         : 2001-11-07






SOURCE: G5 Secretariats (SWG)



                               CONTENTS

                     Directory definition message

0.     INTRODUCTION

1.     SCOPE

       1.1   Functional definition

       1.2   Field of application

       1.3   Principles

2.     REFERENCES

3.     TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

       3.1   Standard terms and definitions

4.     MESSAGE DEFINITION

       4.1   Segment clarification

       4.2   Segment index (alphabetical sequence by tag)

       4.3   Message structure
             4.3.1 Segment table













----------------------------------------------------------------------
For general information on UN standard message types see UN Trade Data
Interchange Directory, UNTDID, Part 4, Section 2.3, UN/ECE UNSM
General Introduction
----------------------------------------------------------------------



0.     INTRODUCTION

       This specification provides the definition of the Directory
       definition message (DIRDEF) to be used in Electronic Data
       Interchange (EDI) between trading partners involved in
       administration, commerce and transport.

1.     SCOPE

1.1    Functional definition

       This Directory definition message (DIRDEF) permits the transfer
       of the contents of a UN/EDIFACT or American National Standards
       Institute (ANSI) Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) X12
       Directory set or parts thereof.

1.2    Field of application

       The Directory definition message may be used for both national
       and international applications. It is based on universal
       practice related to administration, commerce and transport, and
       is not dependent on the type of business or industry.

1.3    Principles

       The Message allows the transmission of a UN/EDIFACT or X12
       Directory set, or parts thereof. A UN/EDIFACT or ANSI ASC X12
       Directory Set comprises:
       
       -Message type or Transaction Set directory 
       -Segment directory 
       -Composite data element directory 
       -Simple data element directory 
       -Code list directory
       
       One occurrence of the message can contain only one version of a
       UN/EDIFACT or ANSI ASC X12 Directory set, or parts thereof.

2.     REFERENCES

       See UNTDID, Part 4, Chapter 2.3 UN/ECE UNSM - General
       Introduction, Section 1.

3.     TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

3.1    Standard terms and definitions

       See UNTDID, Part 4, Chapter 2.3 UN/ECE UNSM - General
       Introduction, Section 2.

4.     MESSAGE DEFINITION

4.1    Segment clarification

       This section should be read in conjunction with the segment
       table which indicates mandatory, conditional and repeating
       requirements.

0010   UNH, Message header
       A service segment starting and uniquely identifying a message.
       The message type code for the Directory definition message is
       DIRDEF.

       Note: Directory definition messages conforming to this document
       must contain the following data in segment UNH, composite S009:

       Data element  0065 DIRDEF
                     0052 D
                     0054 01C
                     0051 UN

0020   BGM, Beginning of message
       A segment to indicate the beginning of the message and to
       transmit function, type and number of the message.

0030   DII, Directory identification
       A segment specifying the identity of the directory set and
       giving its language and maintenance operation.

0040   DTM, Date/time/period
       A segment specifying dates related to the directory set, such
       as date of approval, date of submission or WP.4 acceptance
       date.

0050   FTX, Free text
       A segment providing free text information related to the
       directory set.


0060   Segment group 1:  NAD-SG2
       A group of segments identifying the parties involved in the
       transaction with associated information.

0070      NAD, Name and address
          A segment identifying the parties involved in the
          transaction, e.g. originator, requestor or secretariat.


0080      Segment group 2:  CTA-COM
          A group of segments identifying a person or a department and
          identifying communication type(s) and number(s).

0090         CTA, Contact information
             A segment identifying a person or a department for the
             party specified in the leading NAD segment to whom the
             communication should be directed.

0100         COM, Communication contact
             A segment identifying communication type(s) and number(s)
             of person(s) or department(s) specified in the associated
             CTA segment.


0110   Segment group 3:  MSG-ATT-FTX-DTM-SG4-SG6
       A group of segments providing a message type directory.

0120      MSG, Message type identification
          A segment identifying a message type to be specified.

0130      ATT, Attribute
          A segment used to specify an attribute related to a message
          type. It may indicate whether the message is a batch or an
          interactive message, or may indicate the specific type of
          maintenance applied to the message in the current release of
          the message type directory.

0140      FTX, Free text
          A segment providing textual information related to the
          message type, namely: message type name, Introduction,
          Scope, Functional definition, Principles, References and
          Terms and definitions.

0150      DTM, Date/time/period
          This segment is used to indicate the release date of a
          message, as indicated on the cover page of the boilerplate.


0160      Segment group 4:  SGU-ATT-FTX-SG5
          A group of segments specifying a message type structure and
          its related functional definition.

0170         SGU, Segment usage details
             A segment specifying the usage of a segment in a message
             type structure.

0180         ATT, Attribute
             A segment used to specify an attribute related to the
             usage of a segment in a message type structure. It may
             indicate the specific type of maintenance applied to the
             segment within the message structure in the current
             release of the message type directory.

0190         FTX, Free text
             A segment providing textual information about segment
             usage. This information comprises part of the 'Data
             segment clarification' section.


0200         Segment group 5:  GRU-ATT-FTX
             A group of segments identifying a segment group and
             providing details about segment group usage.

0210            GRU, Segment group usage details
                A segment specifying the usage of a segment group in a
                message type structure.

0220            ATT, Attribute
                A segment used to specify an attribute related to the
                usage of a segment group in a message type structure.
                It may indicate the specific type of maintenance
                applied to the segment group within the message
                structure in the current release of the message type
                directory.

0230            FTX, Free text
                A segment providing the textual information about
                segment group usage. This information comprises part
                of the 'Data Segment Clarification' section.


0240      Segment group 6:  FNT-REL-GIR-ATT-FTX
          A group of segments used to specify dependency notes or
          other notes about the usage of segments and/or segment
          groups in a message type structure.

0250         FNT, Footnote
             A segment to provide the footnote identification for a
             dependency note or other note that is applicable to one
             or more segments and/or segment groups in the message
             type structure.

0260         REL, Relationship
             A segment to provide the type of dependency relationship,
             where one exists.

0270         GIR, Related identification numbers
             A segment to provide the position number(s) for segments
             and/or segment groups to which a dependency note or other
             note applies.

0280         ATT, Attribute
             A segment to provide the change indicators at the note
             level.

0290         FTX, Free text
             A segment to provide a free text description of the
             dependency note or other note.


0300   Segment group 7:  SEG-ATT-FTX-ELU-SG8
       A group of segments providing a segment directory.

0310      SEG, Segment identification
          A segment identifying a segment type and specifying its
          class and maintenance operation.

0320      ATT, Attribute
          A segment used to specify an attribute related to a segment
          type. It may indicate whether the segment is a batch or an
          interactive segment, or may indicate the specific type of
          maintenance applied to the segment in the current release of
          the segment directory.

0330      FTX, Free text
          A segment specifying the name and functional definition of a
          segment type.

0340      ELU, Data element usage details
          A segment specifying the contents of data elements in a
          segment type.


0350      Segment group 8:  FNT-REL-GIR-ATT-FTX
          A group of segments used to specify dependency notes or
          other notes about the usage of data elements in a segment
          type.

0360         FNT, Footnote
             A segment to provide the footnote identification for a
             dependency note or other note that is applicable to one
             or more data elements in a segment type.

0370         REL, Relationship
             A segment to provide the type of dependency relationship,
             where one exists.

0380         GIR, Related identification numbers
             A segment to provide the position number(s) for a data
             element to which a dependency note or other note applies.

0390         ATT, Attribute
             A segment to provide the change indicators at the note
             level.

0400         FTX, Free text
             A segment to provide a free text description of the
             dependency note or other note.


0410   Segment group 9:  CMP-ATT-FTX-ELU-SG10
       A group of segments providing a composite data element
       directory.

0420      CMP, Composite data element identification
          A segment identifying a composite data element and
          specifying its class and maintenance operation.

0430      ATT, Attribute
          A segment used to specify an attribute related to a
          composite data element type. It may indicate whether the
          composite data element is a batch or an interactive
          composite data element, or may indicate the specific type of
          maintenance applied to the composite data element in the
          current release of the composite data element directory.

0440      FTX, Free text
          A segment specifying the name and functional definition of a
          composite data element type.

0450      ELU, Data element usage details
          A segment specifying component data elements in a composite
          data element and its related information.


0460      Segment group 10: FNT-REL-GIR-ATT-FTX
          A group of segments used to specify dependency notes or
          other notes about the usage of component data elements in a
          composite data element type.

0470         FNT, Footnote
             A segment to provide the footnote identification for a
             dependency note or other note that is applicable to one
             or more component data elements in a composite data
             element type.

0480         REL, Relationship
             A segment to provide the type of dependency relationship,
             where one exists.

0490         GIR, Related identification numbers
             A segment to provide the position number(s) for a data
             element to which a dependency note or other note applies.

0500         ATT, Attribute
             A segment to provide the change indicators at the note
             level.

0510         FTX, Free text
             A segment to provide a free text description of the
             dependency note or other note.


0520   Segment group 11: ELM-ATT-FTX
       A group of segments providing a data element directory.

0530      ELM, Simple data element details
          A segment identifying a simple data element and giving
          related information.

0540      ATT, Attribute
          A segment used to specify an attribute related to a simple
          data element type. It may indicate whether the data element
          is a batch, or an interactive, or both a batch and an
          interactive simple data element. It may indicate the
          specific type of maintenance applied to the data element in
          the current release of the simple data element directory.

0550      FTX, Free text
          A segment specifying the name and functional definition of a
          simple data element.


0560   Segment group 12: CDS-FTX-SG13
       A group of segments providing a code list directory.

0570      CDS, Code set identification
          A segment specifying a code set. In DIRDEF data element 9434
          shall not be used.

0580      FTX, Free text
          A segment providing textual information related to the code
          list.


0590      Segment group 13: CDV-ATT-FTX
          A group of segments specifying a code value and its
          functional definition.

0600         CDV, Code value definition
             A segment specifying a code value.

0610         ATT, Attribute
             A segment used to specify an attribute related to a code
             value. It may indicate the specific type of maintenance
             applied to the code value in the current release of the
             code list directory.

0620         FTX, Free text
             A segment specifying the name and functional definition
             of a code value.

0630   UNT, Message trailer
       A service segment ending a message, giving the total number of
       segments in the message (including the UNH & UNT) and the
       control reference number of the message.

4.2    Segment index (alphabetical sequence by tag)

          ATT Attribute
          BGM Beginning of message
          CDS Code set identification
          CDV Code value definition
          CMP Composite data element identification
          COM Communication contact
          CTA Contact information
          DII Directory identification
          DTM Date/time/period
          ELM Simple data element details
          ELU Data element usage details
          FNT Footnote
          FTX Free text
          GIR Related identification numbers
          GRU Segment group usage details
          MSG Message type identification
          NAD Name and address
          REL Relationship
          SEG Segment identification
          SGU Segment usage details
          UNH Message header
          UNT Message trailer

4.3 Message structure 4.3.1 Segment table Pos Tag Name S R 0010 UNH Message header M 1 0020 BGM Beginning of message M 1 0030 DII Directory identification M 1 0040 DTM Date/time/period C 9 0050 FTX Free text C 9 0060 ----- Segment group 1 ------------------ C 9-----------+ 0070 NAD Name and address M 1 | | 0080 ----- Segment group 2 ------------------ C 9----------+| 0090 CTA Contact information M 1 || 0100 COM Communication contact C 9----------++ 0110 ----- Segment group 3 ------------------ C 9999--------+ 0120 MSG Message type identification M 1 | 0130 ATT Attribute C 99 | 0140 FTX Free text C 999 | 0150 DTM Date/time/period M 1 | | 0160 ----- Segment group 4 ------------------ C 999--------+| 0170 SGU Segment usage details M 1 || 0180 ATT Attribute C 9 || 0190 FTX Free text C 99 || || 0200 ----- Segment group 5 ------------------ C 1---------+|| 0210 GRU Segment group usage details M 1 ||| 0220 ATT Attribute C 9 ||| 0230 FTX Free text C 99--------++| | 0240 ----- Segment group 6 ------------------ C 99---------+| 0250 FNT Footnote M 1 || 0260 REL Relationship C 1 || 0270 GIR Related identification numbers C 9 || 0280 ATT Attribute C 9 || 0290 FTX Free text C 9----------++ 0300 ----- Segment group 7 ------------------ C 9999--------+ 0310 SEG Segment identification M 1 | 0320 ATT Attribute C 9 | 0330 FTX Free text C 9 | 0340 ELU Data element usage details C 99 | | 0350 ----- Segment group 8 ------------------ C 99---------+| 0360 FNT Footnote M 1 || 0370 REL Relationship C 1 || 0380 GIR Related identification numbers C 9 || 0390 ATT Attribute C 9 || 0400 FTX Free text C 9----------++ 0410 ----- Segment group 9 ------------------ C 9999--------+ 0420 CMP Composite data element identification M 1 | 0430 ATT Attribute C 9 | 0440 FTX Free text C 9 | 0450 ELU Data element usage details C 99 | | 0460 ----- Segment group 10 ------------------ C 99---------+| 0470 FNT Footnote M 1 || 0480 REL Relationship C 1 || 0490 GIR Related identification numbers C 9 || 0500 ATT Attribute C 9 || 0510 FTX Free text C 9----------++ 0520 ----- Segment group 11 ------------------ C 9999--------+ 0530 ELM Simple data element details M 1 | 0540 ATT Attribute C 9 | 0550 FTX Free text C 9-----------+ 0560 ----- Segment group 12 ------------------ C 9999--------+ 0570 CDS Code set identification M 1 | 0580 FTX Free text C 9 | | 0590 ----- Segment group 13 ------------------ C 9999-------+| 0600 CDV Code value definition M 1 || 0610 ATT Attribute C 9 || 0620 FTX Free text C 9----------++ 0630 UNT Message trailer M 1

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