EANCOM DESADV despatch advice: format and example

DESADV structure

The full EANCOM DESADV layout from its OpenEDI definition, the same model ediFabric uses to parse, validate and generate it: 20 loops and 49 segment positions, in file order. Loops are shaded and their segments indented; Max use is how many times a segment or loop may repeat.

Segment / loop	Name	Usage	Max use
`UNH`	Message header	Mandatory	1
`BGM`	Beginning of message	Mandatory	1
`DTM`	Date/time/period	Optional	10
RFF loop	Reference	Optional	10
`RFF`	Reference	Mandatory	1
`DTM`	Date/time/period	Optional	1
NAD loop	Name and address	Optional	10
`NAD`	Name and address	Mandatory	1
RFF loop	Reference	Optional	10
`RFF`	Reference	Mandatory	1
CTA loop	Contact information	Optional	10
`CTA`	Contact information	Mandatory	1
`COM`	Communication contact	Optional	5
TOD loop	Terms of delivery or transport	Optional	10
`TOD`	Terms of delivery or transport	Mandatory	1
`LOC`	Place/location identification	Optional	5
TDT loop	Details of transport	Optional	10
`TDT`	Details of transport	Mandatory	1
LOC loop	Place/location identification	Optional	10
`LOC`	Place/location identification	Mandatory	1
EQD loop	Equipment details	Optional	10
`EQD`	Equipment details	Mandatory	1
`MEA`	Measurements	Optional	5
`SEL`	Seal number	Optional	25
CPS loop	Consignment packing sequence	Optional	9999
`CPS`	Consignment packing sequence	Mandatory	1
PAC loop	Package	Optional	9999
`PAC`	Package	Mandatory	1
`MEA`	Measurements	Optional	10
`QTY`	Quantity	Optional	10
HAN loop	Handling instructions	Optional	10
`HAN`	Handling instructions	Mandatory	1
PCI loop	Package identification	Optional	1000
`PCI`	Package identification	Mandatory	1
`RFF`	Reference	Optional	1
`DTM`	Date/time/period	Optional	5
GIN loop	Goods identity number	Optional	99
`GIN`	Goods identity number	Mandatory	1
LIN loop	Line item	Optional	9999
`LIN`	Line item	Mandatory	1
`PIA`	Additional product id	Optional	10
`IMD`	Item description	Optional	25
`MEA`	Measurements	Optional	10
`QTY`	Quantity	Optional	10
`DLM`	Delivery limitations	Optional	100
`DTM`	Date/time/period	Optional	5
`FTX`	Free text	Optional	5
RFF loop	Reference	Optional	10
`RFF`	Reference	Mandatory	1
`DTM`	Date/time/period	Optional	1
LOC loop	Place/location identification	Optional	100
`LOC`	Place/location identification	Mandatory	1
`DTM`	Date/time/period	Optional	1
`QTY`	Quantity	Optional	10
PCI loop	Package identification	Optional	9999
`PCI`	Package identification	Mandatory	1
`DTM`	Date/time/period	Optional	5
`MEA`	Measurements	Optional	10
`QTY`	Quantity	Optional	1
GIN loop	Goods identity number	Optional	10
`GIN`	Goods identity number	Mandatory	1
`DLM`	Delivery limitations	Optional	100
HAN loop	Handling instructions	Optional	10
`HAN`	Handling instructions	Mandatory	1
QVR loop	Quantity variances	Optional	10
`QVR`	Quantity variances	Mandatory	1
`DTM`	Date/time/period	Optional	5
`CNT`	Control total	Optional	5
`UNT`	Message trailer	Mandatory	1

Mandatory segments must be sent, Optional ones only when the data applies. Trading partners often add their own rules in companion guides - ediFabric templates can be adjusted to match. Open the element-level definition in the EdiNation spec library.

Sample DESADV file

An EANCOM despatch advice with a packing hierarchy and line items. Paste it into EdiNation to see every element named and validated.

UNB+UNOB:1+SENDER1:1+RECEIVER1:1+071101:1701+131++INVOIC++1++1'
UNH+ME000001+DESADV:D:96A:UN:EAN007'
BGM+351+DES587441+9'
DTM+137:20020401:102'
DTM+11:20020403:102'
DTM+358:20020403:102'
RFF+ON:12332'
DTM+171:20020325:102'
NAD+SU+5411234512309::9'
RFF+VA:6558774'
NAD+BY+5412345000013::9'
RFF+VA:7002474'
NAD+DP+5412345123453::9'
RFF+VA:800800'
NAD+SH+5412345000105::9'
CPS+1'
PAC+2++201::9'
CPS+2+1'
PAC+1++201::9'
MEA+PD+AAB+KGM:263.2'
MEA+PD+WD+MMT:800'
MEA+PD+LN+MMT:1200'
PCI+33E'
GIN+BJ+354107380000001051'
PAC+20++CT'
LIN+1++5410738000152:SRV'
QTY+12:20'
CPS+3+1'
PAC+1++201::9'
MEA+PD+AAB+KGM:305.1'
PCI+33E'
GIN+BJ+354107380000001068'
PAC+20++CT'
LIN+2++5410738000169:SRV'
QTY+12:5'
LIN+3++5410738000176:SRV'
QTY+12:3'
LIN+4++5410738000183:SRV'
QTY+12:12'
CNT+2:4'
UNT+40+ME000001'
UNZ+2+131'

The same DESADV as JSON

ediFabric turns every loop, segment and element into a named field. This is the transaction from the sample, in the JSON that ediFabric Native and Cloud return and accept.

{
  "UNH": {
    "MessageReferenceNumber_01": "ME000001",
    "MessageIdentifier_02": {
      "MessageType_01": "DESADV",
      "MessageVersionNumber_02": "D",
      "MessageReleaseNumber_03": "96A",
      "ControllingAgencyCoded_04": "UN",
      "AssociationAssignedCode_05": "EAN007"
    }
  },
  "BGM": {
    "DOCUMENTMESSAGENAME_01": {
      "Documentmessagenamecoded_01": "351"
    },
    "DOCUMENTMESSAGENUMBER_02": "DES587441",
    "MESSAGEFUNCTIONCODED_03": "9"
  },
  "DTM": [
    {
      "DATETIMEPERIOD_01": {
        "Datetimeperiodqualifier_01": "137",
        "Datetimeperiod_02": "20020401",
        "Datetimeperiodformatqualifier_03": "102"
      }
    },
    {
      "DATETIMEPERIOD_01": {
        "Datetimeperiodqualifier_01": "11",
        "Datetimeperiod_02": "20020403",
        "Datetimeperiodformatqualifier_03": "102"
      }
    },
    {
      "DATETIMEPERIOD_01": {
        "Datetimeperiodqualifier_01": "358",
        "Datetimeperiod_02": "20020403",
        "Datetimeperiodformatqualifier_03": "102"
      }
    }
  ],
  "RFFLoop": [
    {
      "RFF": {
        "REFERENCE_01": {
          "Referencequalifier_01": "ON",
          "Referencenumber_02": "12332"
        }
      },
      "DTM": {
        "DATETIMEPERIOD_01": {
          "Datetimeperiodqualifier_01": "171",
          "Datetimeperiod_02": "20020325",
          "Datetimeperiodformatqualifier_03": "102"
        }
      }
    }
  ],
  "NADLoop": [
    {
      "NAD": {
        "PARTYQUALIFIER_01": "SU",
        "PARTYIDENTIFICATIONDETAILS_02": {
          "Partyididentification_01": "5411234512309",
          "Codelistresponsibleagencycoded_03": "9"
        }
      },
      "RFFLoop": [
        {
          "RFF": {
            "REFERENCE_01": {
              "Referencequalifier_01": "VA",
              "Referencenumber_02": "6558774"
            }
          }
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "NAD": {
        "PARTYQUALIFIER_01": "BY",
        "PARTYIDENTIFICATIONDETAILS_02": {
          "Partyididentification_01": "5412345000013",
          "Codelistresponsibleagencycoded_03": "9"
        }
      },
      "RFFLoop": [
        {
          "RFF": {
            "REFERENCE_01": {
              "Referencequalifier_01": "VA",
              "Referencenumber_02": "7002474"
            }
          }
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "NAD": {
        "PARTYQUALIFIER_01": "DP",
        "PARTYIDENTIFICATIONDETAILS_02": {
          "Partyididentification_01": "5412345123453",
          "Codelistresponsibleagencycoded_03": "9"
        }
      },
      "RFFLoop": [
        {
          "RFF": {
            "REFERENCE_01": {
              "Referencequalifier_01": "VA",
              "Referencenumber_02": "800800"
            }
          }
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "NAD": {
        "PARTYQUALIFIER_01": "SH",
        "PARTYIDENTIFICATIONDETAILS_02": {
          "Partyididentification_01": "5412345000105",
          "Codelistresponsibleagencycoded_03": "9"
        }
      }
    }
  ],
  "CPSLoop": [
    {
      "CPS": {
        "HIERARCHICALIDNUMBER_01": "1"
      },
      "PACLoop": [
        {
          "PAC": {
            "NUMBEROFPACKAGES_01": "2",
            "PACKAGETYPE_03": {
              "Typeofpackagesidentification_01": "201",
              "Codelistresponsibleagencycoded_03": "9"
            }
          }
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "CPS": {
        "HIERARCHICALIDNUMBER_01": "2",
        "HIERARCHICALPARENTID_02": "1"
      },
      "PACLoop": [
        {
          "PAC": {
            "NUMBEROFPACKAGES_01": "1",
            "PACKAGETYPE_03": {
              "Typeofpackagesidentification_01": "201",
              "Codelistresponsibleagencycoded_03": "9"
            }
          },
          "MEA": [
            {
              "MEASUREMENTAPPLICATIONQUALIFIER_01": "PD",
              "MEASUREMENTDETAILS_02": {
                "Measurementdimensioncoded_01": "AAB"
              },
              "VALUERANGE_03": {
                "Measureunitqualifier_01": "KGM",
                "Measurementvalue_02": "263.2"
              }
            },
            {
              "MEASUREMENTAPPLICATIONQUALIFIER_01": "PD",
              "MEASUREMENTDETAILS_02": {
                "Measurementdimensioncoded_01": "WD"
              },
              "VALUERANGE_03": {
                "Measureunitqualifier_01": "MMT",
                "Measurementvalue_02": "800"
              }
            },
            {
              "MEASUREMENTAPPLICATIONQUALIFIER_01": "PD",
              "MEASUREMENTDETAILS_02": {
                "Measurementdimensioncoded_01": "LN"
              },
              "VALUERANGE_03": {
                "Measureunitqualifier_01": "MMT",
                "Measurementvalue_02": "1200"
              }
            }
          ],
          "PCILoop": [
            {
              "PCI": {
                "MARKINGINSTRUCTIONSCODED_01": "33E"
              },
              "GINLoop": [
                {
                  "GIN": {
                    "IDENTITYNUMBERQUALIFIER_01": "BJ",
                    "IDENTITYNUMBERRANGE_02": {
                      "Identitynumber_01": "354107380000001051"
                    }
                  }
                }
              ]
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "PAC": {
            "NUMBEROFPACKAGES_01": "20",
            "PACKAGETYPE_03": {
              "Typeofpackagesidentification_01": "CT"
            }
          }
        }
      ],
      "LINLoop": [
        {
          "LIN": {
            "LINEITEMNUMBER_01": "1",
            "ITEMNUMBERIDENTIFICATION_03": {
              "Itemnumber_01": "5410738000152",
              "Itemnumbertypecoded_02": "SRV"
            }
          },
          "QTY": [
            {
              "QUANTITYDETAILS_01": {
                "Quantityqualifier_01": "12",
                "Quantity_02": "20"
              }
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "CPS": {
        "HIERARCHICALIDNUMBER_01": "3",
        "HIERARCHICALPARENTID_02": "1"
      },
      "PACLoop": [
        {
          "PAC": {
            "NUMBEROFPACKAGES_01": "1",
            "PACKAGETYPE_03": {
              "Typeofpackagesidentification_01": "201",
              "Codelistresponsibleagencycoded_03": "9"
            }
          },
          "MEA": [
            {
              "MEASUREMENTAPPLICATIONQUALIFIER_01": "PD",
              "MEASUREMENTDETAILS_02": {
                "Measurementdimensioncoded_01": "AAB"
              },
              "VALUERANGE_03": {
                "Measureunitqualifier_01": "KGM",
                "Measurementvalue_02": "305.1"
              }
            }
          ],
          "PCILoop": [
            {
              "PCI": {
                "MARKINGINSTRUCTIONSCODED_01": "33E"
              },
              "GINLoop": [
                {
                  "GIN": {
                    "IDENTITYNUMBERQUALIFIER_01": "BJ",
                    "IDENTITYNUMBERRANGE_02": {
                      "Identitynumber_01": "354107380000001068"
                    }
                  }
                }
              ]
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "PAC": {
            "NUMBEROFPACKAGES_01": "20",
            "PACKAGETYPE_03": {
              "Typeofpackagesidentification_01": "CT"
            }
          }
        }
      ],
      "LINLoop": [
        {
          "LIN": {
            "LINEITEMNUMBER_01": "2",
            "ITEMNUMBERIDENTIFICATION_03": {
              "Itemnumber_01": "5410738000169",
              "Itemnumbertypecoded_02": "SRV"
            }
          },
          "QTY": [
            {
              "QUANTITYDETAILS_01": {
                "Quantityqualifier_01": "12",
                "Quantity_02": "5"
              }
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "LIN": {
            "LINEITEMNUMBER_01": "3",
            "ITEMNUMBERIDENTIFICATION_03": {
              "Itemnumber_01": "5410738000176",
              "Itemnumbertypecoded_02": "SRV"
            }
          },
          "QTY": [
            {
              "QUANTITYDETAILS_01": {
                "Quantityqualifier_01": "12",
                "Quantity_02": "3"
              }
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "LIN": {
            "LINEITEMNUMBER_01": "4",
            "ITEMNUMBERIDENTIFICATION_03": {
              "Itemnumber_01": "5410738000183",
              "Itemnumbertypecoded_02": "SRV"
            }
          },
          "QTY": [
            {
              "QUANTITYDETAILS_01": {
                "Quantityqualifier_01": "12",
                "Quantity_02": "12"
              }
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "CNT": [
    {
      "CONTROL_01": {
        "Controlqualifier_01": "2",
        "Controlvalue_02": "4"
      }
    }
  ],
  "UNT": {
    "NumberofSegmentsinaMessage_01": "40",
    "MessageReferenceNumber_02": "ME000001"
  }
}

Parse and validate a DESADV file

Read the file into typed objects with ediFabric .NET, or post it to the ediFabric Cloud REST API from any language and get JSON back.

.NET
Cloud

using EdiFabric.Templates.EdifactD96A;

License.SetSerial("YOUR_SERIAL_KEY");

using (var stream = File.OpenRead(@"C:\edi\DespatchAdvice.txt"))
using (var reader = new EdifactReader(stream, "EdiFabric.Templates.Edifact"))
{
    var items = await reader.ReadToEndAsync();
    foreach (var transaction in items.OfType<TSDESADV>())
    {
        if (transaction.IsValid(out MessageErrorContext errors))
            Console.WriteLine($"{transaction.UNH.MessageReferenceNumber_01} is valid");
        else
            Console.WriteLine(string.Join(Environment.NewLine, errors.Flatten()));
    }
} Install and get started DESADV example project Walkthrough
curl -X POST 'https://api.edination.com/v2/edifact/read' \
-H 'Ocp-Apim-Subscription-Key: YOUR_SERIAL_KEY' \
-H 'Content-Type: application/octet-stream' \
--data-binary '@DespatchAdvice.txt' TranslateValidateediFabric Cloud

Generate a DESADV file

Populate a TSDESADV object in .NET, or post JSON in the shape shown above to ediFabric Cloud, and get a valid DESADV file back.

.NET
Cloud

using EdiFabric.Templates.EdifactD96A;

License.SetSerial("YOUR_SERIAL_KEY");

var transaction = new TSDESADV();

//  Message header
transaction.UNH = new UNH();
transaction.UNH.MessageReferenceNumber_01 = "0001";
transaction.UNH.MessageIdentifier_02 = new S009();
transaction.UNH.MessageIdentifier_02.MessageType_01 = "DESADV";
transaction.UNH.MessageIdentifier_02.MessageVersionNumber_02 = "D";
transaction.UNH.MessageIdentifier_02.MessageReleaseNumber_03 = "96A";
transaction.UNH.MessageIdentifier_02.ControllingAgencyCoded_04 = "UN";

//  Despatch advice number DES587441
transaction.BGM = new BGM();
transaction.BGM.DOCUMENTMESSAGENAME_01 = new C002();
transaction.BGM.DOCUMENTMESSAGENAME_01.Documentmessagenamecoded_01 = "351";
transaction.BGM.Documentmessagenumber_02 = "DES587441";
transaction.BGM.Messagefunctioncoded_03 = "9";

//  Repeating DTM
transaction.DTM = new List<DTM>();

// ... set the remaining loops and segments the same way

// SegmentBuilders is in the Common project of the example repository
using (var stream = new MemoryStream())
{
    using (var writer = new EdifactWriter(stream))
    {
        writer.Write(SegmentBuilders.BuildUnb("1"));
        writer.Write(transaction);
    }
    Console.WriteLine(Encoding.UTF8.GetString(stream.ToArray()));
} Install and get started Full DESADV build methodExample repository
# the JSON returned by /read, edited or produced by your application
curl -X POST 'https://api.edination.com/v2/edifact/write' \
-H 'Ocp-Apim-Subscription-Key: YOUR_SERIAL_KEY' \
-H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
--data-binary '@DespatchAdvice.json' \
-o 'DespatchAdvice.txt' How-tosediFabric Cloud

DESADV questions

How does DESADV describe pallets and cartons?

Each CPS group is one level in the packing hierarchy, with its parent in CPS02. PAC gives the package type and PCI/GIN the SSCC printed on the label.

What does the receiver send back?

A CONTRL for syntax and, when agreed, a RECADV receiving advice with the quantities actually received.

What is the X12 equivalent?

The X12 856 ship notice/manifest.

How do I parse and generate EANCOM DESADV files in .NET?

In .NET, install EdiFabric and EdiFabric.Templates.Edifact, read the file with EdifactReader into TSDESADV objects and write them back with EdifactWriter. From any other language, post the file to the ediFabric Cloud REST API, which returns the same structure as JSON and converts JSON back to EANCOM.

Related transactions

X12 856 - Ship Notice/Manifest (ASN)
EDIFACT ORDERS - Purchase Order
EANCOM IFTMIN - Instruction Message
All EDI transactions →

EANCOM DESADV Despatch Advice

At a glance