Key takeaways
- Test files are flagged with a
TinISA15; production files carry aP. Partners route them differently. - Retailers usually test each document you will exchange, often with a few scenarios each, and sign you off before the first real order.
- Validating your files against the partner’s guide before sending them is the fastest way to fewer test rounds.
Test files and production files
The last element of the ISA envelope, ISA15, says whether a file is a test (T) or real business (P). Your partner’s system uses it to keep test orders away from its warehouses and accounts payable. Some retailers also give you different identifiers, or a different connection, for testing. Check both before you switch to production. (More on envelopes in the X12 file format, explained.)
ISA*00* *00* *ZZ*NORTHWIND *ZZ*RETAILERX *261009*1430*U*00401*000000107*0*T*>~ ISA*00* *00* *ZZ*NORTHWIND *ZZ*RETAILERX *261020*0915*U*00401*000000131*0*P*>~
What a retailer usually tests
| Document | Scenarios worth testing |
|---|---|
850 received | A normal order, a multi-line order, an order for several stores |
855 sent | Accept everything, change a quantity, reject a line |
856 sent | One carton, several cartons, a partial shipment |
810 sent | A full invoice, an invoice for a partial shipment |
997 | Sent for every file received, and read for every file sent |
The list for your partner is in its testing instructions or implementation guide. The 7-day onboarding plan shows where testing fits.
How to pass in fewer rounds
- Ask for the partner’s test calendar and contact before you build anything.
- Validate every test file against the partner’s guide before sending it. The free validator on each published guide does this, and can load the partner’s own sample for comparison.
- Send all your test documents in the first round, not one at a time.
- Print and scan a real carton label for your first test shipment.
- Get the sign-off in writing, then switch identifiers and flags to production.
Testing with Weredi
When your partner sends a test order, the 855, 856 and 810 you build from it carry the same test flag, so they go back as test files. Carton labels can be printed with test SSCC numbers, and every document is checked against the partner’s guide before it leaves. You can start with a 14-day free trial, no credit card.
Questions
What is ISA15 in EDI?
ISA15 is the usage indicator in the interchange header: T for test data, P for production. Trading partners use it to keep test files out of their real processes.
How long does EDI testing take?
It depends mostly on the retailer’s EDI team, from a few days to a few weeks. Validating your files before sending them and testing everything in the first round shortens it.
Can I test EDI before paying for software?
Yes. The validator on every published guide in the Weredi network is free, and a Weredi account starts with a 14-day free trial, no credit card.