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Sample EDI documents
The documents a distributor trades every day, from the 850 purchase order to the 820 payment, each with a note on what it does. Read them in the EDI Viewer or download the file.
- 14 annotated samples
- Valid X12 4010 and EDIFACT
- Download as .edi
Order to cash · Customer → you
EDI 850 Purchase Order
Your customer orders goods. BEG carries the PO number and date, N1 loops name the buyer and the ship-to (here by GLN), and each PO1 line gives quantity, unit, price and item numbers; CTT counts the lines.
The raw file (706 characters, as it arrives)
ISA*00* *00* *ZZ*CONTOSOSUPPLY *ZZ*FABRIKAMIND *261027*0915*U*00401*000850001*0*P*>~GS*PO*CONTOSOSUPPLY*FABRIKAMIND*20261027*0915*85001*X*004010~ST*850*0001~BEG*00*SA*PO-48213**20261027~CUR*BY*USD~REF*DP*042~PER*BD*Dana Ruiz*TE*6125550147~FOB*PP~ITD*01*3*2**10**30~DTM*002*20261103~N1*BY*Contoso Supply Co*92*0042~N1*ST*Contoso Supply DC 3*UL*5412345000013~N3*1200 Harbor Way~N4*Springfield*IL*62701*US~PO1*1*24*EA*18.75*PE*VN*FB-2201*UP*012345678905~PID*F****Hex bolt 1/2-13 x 2 in, zinc~PO1*2*10*CA*42.00*PE*VN*FB-7710~PID*F****Nitrile gloves, large, 100 count~PO1*3*6*BX*9.40*PE*VN*FB-3005~PID*F****Cable ties, 8 in, black, 100 count~CTT*3*40~SE*20*0001~GE*1*85001~IEA*1*000850001~
Sample 850
X12 · 1 transaction · 24 segments
- Sender
- CONTOSOSUPPLY (qualifier ZZ)
- Receiver
- FABRIKAMIND (qualifier ZZ)
- Sent
- 2026-10-27 09:15
- Interchange control number
- 000850001
- Version
- 4010
- Usage
- Production
- Delimiters
- element * · component > · segment ~
- Size
- 706 characters
Envelope checks passed: control numbers and segment counts all match (6 checks)
- Interchange control number 000850001 matches IEA.
- IEA counts 1 group, as found.
- Group control number 85001 matches GE.
- GE counts 1 transaction, as found.
- 850 0001: SE counts 20 segments, as found.
- 850 0001: control number matches SE.
Interchange envelope
- ISAInterchange Control Header#1
- ISA01
- Authorization Information Qualifier: 00No authorization information present
- ISA02
- Authorization Information: Blank (10 spaces)
- ISA03
- Security Information Qualifier: 00No security information present
- ISA04
- Security Information: Blank (10 spaces)
- ISA05
- Interchange Sender ID Qualifier: ZZMutually defined
- ISA06
- Interchange Sender ID: CONTOSOSUPPLY
- ISA07
- Interchange Receiver ID Qualifier: ZZMutually defined
- ISA08
- Interchange Receiver ID: FABRIKAMIND
- ISA09
- Interchange Date: 2610272026-10-27
- ISA10
- Interchange Time: 091509:15
- ISA11
- Repetition Separator / Standards Identifier: U
- ISA12
- Interchange Control Version Number: 00401Version 4010
- ISA13
- Interchange Control Number: 000850001
- ISA14
- Acknowledgment Requested: 0No interchange acknowledgment requested
- ISA15
- Usage Indicator: PProduction data
- ISA16
- Component Element Separator: >
Group envelope
- GSFunctional Group Header#2
- GS01
- Functional Identifier Code: POPurchase Order (850)
- GS02
- Application Sender's Code: CONTOSOSUPPLY
- GS03
- Application Receiver's Code: FABRIKAMIND
- GS04
- Date: 202610272026-10-27
- GS05
- Time: 091509:15
- GS06
- Group Control Number: 85001
- GS07
- Responsible Agency Code: XASC X12
- GS08
- Version / Release / Industry Identifier Code: 004010Version 4010
EDI 850 Purchase Ordercontrol 0001 · 20 segments
About the EDI 850 →- STTransaction Set Header#3
- ST01
- Transaction Set Identifier Code: 850Purchase Order
- ST02
- Transaction Set Control Number: 0001
- BEGBeginning Segment for Purchase Order#4
- BEG01
- Transaction Set Purpose Code: 00Original
- BEG02
- Purchase Order Type Code: SAStand-alone order
- BEG03
- Purchase Order Number: PO-48213
- BEG05
- Purchase Order Date: 202610272026-10-27
- CURCurrency#5
- CUR01
- Entity Identifier Code: BYBuying party
- CUR02
- Currency Code: USD
- REFReference Identification#6
- REF01
- Reference Identification Qualifier: DPDepartment number
- REF02
- Reference Identification: 042
- PERAdministrative Communications Contact#7
- PER01
- Contact Function Code: BDBuyer name or department
- PER02
- Name: Dana Ruiz
- PER03
- Communication Number Qualifier: TETelephone
- PER04
- Communication Number: 6125550147
- FOBF.O.B. Related Instructions#8
- FOB01
- Shipment Method of Payment: PPPrepaid by seller
- ITDTerms of Sale/Deferred Terms of Sale#9
- ITD01
- Terms Type Code: 01Basic
- ITD02
- Terms Basis Date Code: 3
- ITD03
- Terms Discount Percent: 2
- ITD05
- Terms Discount Days Due: 10
- ITD07
- Terms Net Days: 30
- DTMDate/Time Reference#10
- DTM01
- Date/Time Qualifier: 002Delivery requested
- DTM02
- Date: 202611032026-11-03
- N1Name#11
- N101
- Entity Identifier Code: BYBuying party
- N102
- Name: Contoso Supply Co
- N103
- Identification Code Qualifier: 92Assigned by buyer
- N104
- Identification Code: 0042
- N1Name#12
- N101
- Entity Identifier Code: STShip to
- N102
- Name: Contoso Supply DC 3
- N103
- Identification Code Qualifier: ULGlobal Location Number (GLN)
- N104
- Identification Code: 5412345000013
- N3Address Information#13
- N301
- Address Information: 1200 Harbor Way
- N4Geographic Location#14
- N401
- City Name: Springfield
- N402
- State or Province Code: IL
- N403
- Postal Code: 62701
- N404
- Country Code: US
- PO1Baseline Item Data#15
- PO101
- Line Number: 1
- PO102
- Quantity Ordered: 24
- PO103
- Unit of Measure: EAEach
- PO104
- Unit Price: 18.75
- PO105
- Basis of Unit Price Code: PEPrice per each
- PO106
- Product/Service ID Qualifier: VNVendor's item number
- PO107
- Product/Service ID: FB-2201
- PO108
- Product/Service ID Qualifier: UPUPC consumer package code
- PO109
- Product/Service ID: 012345678905
- PIDProduct/Item Description#16
- PID01
- Item Description Type: FFree-form
- PID05
- Description: Hex bolt 1/2-13 x 2 in, zinc
- PO1Baseline Item Data#17
- PO101
- Line Number: 2
- PO102
- Quantity Ordered: 10
- PO103
- Unit of Measure: CACase
- PO104
- Unit Price: 42.00
- PO105
- Basis of Unit Price Code: PEPrice per each
- PO106
- Product/Service ID Qualifier: VNVendor's item number
- PO107
- Product/Service ID: FB-7710
- PIDProduct/Item Description#18
- PID01
- Item Description Type: FFree-form
- PID05
- Description: Nitrile gloves, large, 100 count
- PO1Baseline Item Data#19
- PO101
- Line Number: 3
- PO102
- Quantity Ordered: 6
- PO103
- Unit of Measure: BXBox
- PO104
- Unit Price: 9.40
- PO105
- Basis of Unit Price Code: PEPrice per each
- PO106
- Product/Service ID Qualifier: VNVendor's item number
- PO107
- Product/Service ID: FB-3005
- PIDProduct/Item Description#20
- PID01
- Item Description Type: FFree-form
- PID05
- Description: Cable ties, 8 in, black, 100 count
- CTTTransaction Totals#21
- CTT01
- Number of Line Items: 3
- CTT02
- Hash Total: 40
- SETransaction Set Trailer#22
- SE01
- Number of Included Segments: 20
- SE02
- Transaction Set Control Number: 0001
Group trailer
- GEFunctional Group Trailer#23
- GE01
- Number of Transaction Sets Included: 1
- GE02
- Group Control Number: 85001
Interchange trailer
- IEAInterchange Control Trailer#24
- IEA01
- Number of Included Functional Groups: 1
- IEA02
- Interchange Control Number: 000850001
Reference
Who sends which document
| Document | Name | Sent | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| EDI 850 | Purchase Order | Customer → you | EDI 850 guide |
| EDI 855 | Purchase Order Acknowledgment | You → customer | EDI 855 guide |
| EDI 860 | Purchase Order Change Request – Buyer Initiated | Customer → you | EDI 860 guide |
| EDI 856 | Ship Notice/Manifest (ASN) | You → customer | EDI 856 guide |
| EDI 810 | Invoice | You → customer | EDI 810 guide |
| EDI 820 | Payment Order/Remittance Advice | Customer → you | EDI 820 guide |
| EDI 997 | Functional Acknowledgment | Both ways | EDI 997 guide |
| EDI 846 | Inventory Inquiry/Advice | You → customer | EDI 846 guide |
| EDI 832 | Price/Sales Catalog | You → customer | EDI 832 guide |
| EDI 830 | Planning Schedule with Release Capability | Customer → you | EDI 830 guide |
| EDI 940 | Warehouse Shipping Order | You → 3PL warehouse | EDI 940 guide |
| EDI 945 | Warehouse Shipping Advice | 3PL warehouse → you | EDI 945 guide |
| EDI 180 | Return Merchandise Authorization and Notification | Customer ↔ you | EDI 180 guide |
| EDIFACT ORDERS | Purchase Order (EDIFACT) | Customer → you | EDI 850 (X12 equivalent) |
“You” is the distributor. Most documents are answered with a 997 functional acknowledgment.
FAQ
Sample EDI file questions
Are these real EDI files?
They are real in structure: each one is valid X12 4010 (or EDIFACT) with a correct ISA header, matching control numbers and segment counts, and it opens without errors in any EDI translator. The companies, people and numbers are fictional.
Will my trading partner’s documents look exactly like these?
No. Every retailer, distributor and manufacturer publishes an implementation guide that picks which segments and codes it uses, and many still add their own. These samples show the common core; your partner’s guide decides the rest.
Can I use the samples to test my own system?
Yes, for a first check that your software reads the format. Download the .edi file and import it. Testing against a real partner means using their guide and their test data; Comparatio does that for every partner it sets up.
Why are the samples X12 4010 and not 5010?
4010 is still the version most distributors exchange with their customers and suppliers. A 5010 file of the same document looks almost the same: the version in ISA12 and GS08 changes and ISA11 becomes a repetition separator.
What is the difference between the 856 and the 945?
The 856 ship notice goes from you to your customer and tells them what is arriving. The 945 goes from a third-party warehouse to you and confirms what it shipped on your behalf, so you can invoice and send the 856.
Your partners’ documents, mapped and monitored
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