Understanding XML for EDI experts

Similarities between XML and EDI structure

XML and EDI documents have some similarities. An EDI document starts with envelope which is ISA, similar to that XML document also starts with root element.

Envelope

EDI

ISA*...
    GS*...
        ST*...
                ...
                ...
                ...
        SE*....
    GE*...

IEA*...

• In the EDI document, the very first segment is Interchange. Each EDI document starts with ISA and ends with IEA.
• Interchange contains Group envelope. Group envelope start with GS and ends with GE. 
• Group contains Transaction set.
  

XML

<order>

    <item>

        ...

        ...

    </item>

    <item>

        ...

        ...

    </item>

    <item>

        ...

        ...

    </item>

</order>

• Any XML document start with root node. Like <order> above. It starts with <order> and ends with </order>
  
• There is no restriction on root node name. 

Segment Info

Each segment in EDI document contains information about that segment, similar to that XML document uses attributes to provide information about node.

Like Interchange contains information about sender, receiver, date, time, version etc.

ISA*00*          *00*          *ZZ*BIGRETAIL      *ZZ*ACME           *131209*1906*U*00501*000700001*0*P*>~