EDML - Electronic Data Markup Language Specification

Revision History
Date:  19/1/98
Version:   0.6
Comments:  first full draft; for comment

© I A Galbraith and D W Galbraith 1998. EDML is a trademark of OMS Services Ltd. Permission is given for this document to be copied or distributed in whole or in part subject to explicit acknowledgement being given in every case to the authors as the source and copyright owners of the material.

4. MESSAGE TEMPLATES

An EDML Message Template provides all the information necessary to create a Web form compatible with a particular message type.  Specifically, the template provides for every Entity which may appear in the Message the following information:

· Entity Code
· Entity Type
· nesting level
· links to other Entities (higher and lower level)
· whether mandatory or conditional
· maximum number of occurrences
· maximum field length
· field type (alpha, numeric, alphanumeric)
· whether Value is coded
· whether Value is pre-determined (eg for Source Standard specific data)
· Default name string for display within form (NB not the same as EDML Name)
· Description of the Entity

This information encompasses the Nessage Header and Trailer as well as the Message Body.

The default name string and Entity descriptions can be changed by the user; all other items are determined by the Source Standard.

The EDML Message Template does not otherwise specify or restrict the form layout.