What an FA does/doesn't do

[lincoln@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Just to clarify the purpose of an FA:

Generally speaking, an EDI translator will check an entire functional group 
and then create an FA. (I've never heard of a translator that only checks the 
first two lines and sends back an FA.)  The FA reports on:

  - whether the group was compliant or not compliant, according to X12.5 
    syntax rules (mandatory segments, mandatory fields, correct order, 
    lengths, etc.)
  - optionally reports the error reason if not compliant, and
  - states whether the functional group was accepted or rejected.

The acceptance/rejection is at the EDI syntax level, not the application 
level. So, it's possible that the EDI translator via an FA could accept a 
functional group, but the downstream Order Entry application could reject the 
PO based on business rules (we are not able to ship by requested date). In 
that case, a negative PO Acknowledgment would be returned (or a different 
request by date could be proposed).

Regards,

Lincoln Yarbrough          lincoln@geis.geis.com
Product Mktg Mgr,          tel: (615) 371-6047
Internet Services          fax: (615) 371-6284
GE Information Services