EANCOM IFTMIN transport instruction: format and example

IFTMIN structure

The full EANCOM IFTMIN layout from its OpenEDI definition, the same model ediFabric uses to parse, validate and generate it: 21 loops and 55 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	9
`TSR`	Transport service requirements	Optional	9
`MOA`	Monetary amount	Optional	99
`FTX`	Free text	Optional	99
`CNT`	Control total	Optional	9
TOD loop	Terms of delivery or transport	Optional	2
`TOD`	Terms of delivery or transport	Mandatory	1
`LOC`	Place/location identification	Optional	9
RFF loop	Reference	Optional	99
`RFF`	Reference	Mandatory	1
`DTM`	Date/time/period	Optional	9
TDT loop	Details of transport	Optional	99
`TDT`	Details of transport	Mandatory	1
`DTM`	Date/time/period	Optional	9
LOC loop	Place/location identification	Optional	99
`LOC`	Place/location identification	Mandatory	1
NAD loop	Name and address	Mandatory	99
`NAD`	Name and address	Mandatory	1
CTA loop	Contact information	Optional	9
`CTA`	Contact information	Mandatory	1
`COM`	Communication contact	Optional	9
DOC loop	Document/message details	Optional	9
`DOC`	Document/message details	Mandatory	1
`DTM`	Date/time/period	Optional	1
RFF loop	Reference	Optional	9
`RFF`	Reference	Mandatory	1
`DTM`	Date/time/period	Optional	9
GID loop	Goods item details	Optional	999
`GID`	Goods item details	Mandatory	1
`HAN`	Handling instructions	Optional	1
`TMP`	Temperature	Optional	1
`RNG`	Range details	Optional	1
`LOC`	Place/location identification	Optional	9
`MOA`	Monetary amount	Optional	9
`PIA`	Additional product id	Optional	9
`FTX`	Free text	Optional	9
NAD loop	Name and address	Optional	9
`NAD`	Name and address	Mandatory	1
`DTM`	Date/time/period	Optional	1
MEA loop	Measurements	Optional	99
`MEA`	Measurements	Mandatory	1
`EQN`	Number of units	Optional	1
DIM loop	Dimensions	Optional	99
`DIM`	Dimensions	Mandatory	1
`EQN`	Number of units	Optional	1
RFF loop	Reference	Optional	9
`RFF`	Reference	Mandatory	1
`DTM`	Date/time/period	Optional	9
PCI loop	Package identification	Optional	9
`PCI`	Package identification	Mandatory	1
`GIN`	Goods identity number	Optional	10
DOC loop	Document/message details	Optional	9
`DOC`	Document/message details	Mandatory	1
`DTM`	Date/time/period	Optional	9
SGP loop	Split goods placement	Optional	999
`SGP`	Split goods placement	Mandatory	1
DGS loop	Dangerous goods	Optional	9
`DGS`	Dangerous goods	Mandatory	1
`FTX`	Free text	Optional	99
CTA loop	Contact information	Optional	9
`CTA`	Contact information	Mandatory	1
`COM`	Communication contact	Optional	9
MEA loop	Measurements	Optional	9
`MEA`	Measurements	Mandatory	1
`EQN`	Number of units	Optional	1
EQD loop	Equipment details	Optional	999
`EQD`	Equipment details	Mandatory	1
`MEA`	Measurements	Optional	9
`DIM`	Dimensions	Optional	9
`SEL`	Seal number	Optional	99
NAD loop	Name and address	Optional	9
`NAD`	Name and address	Mandatory	1
`DTM`	Date/time/period	Optional	1
`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 IFTMIN file

An EANCOM transport instruction for one consignment. Paste it into EdiNation to see every element named and validated.

UNB+UNOA:2+SID+RID+20130430:1159+I-EX1/1+++++T01'
UNH+ME000001+IFTMIN:D:96A:UN:EAN004'
BGM+610+569952+9'
DTM+137:20020301:102'
DTM+2:200203081100:203'
CNT+11:1'
RFF+CU:TI1284'
TDT+20++30+31'
DTM+133:200203051100:203'
LOC+9+5412345678908::9'
NAD+CZ+5412345123453::9'
NAD+CA+5411234512309::9'
NAD+CN+5411234444402::9'
NAD+DP+5412345145660::9'
GID+1+1:09::9+14:PK'
HAN+EAT::9'
TMP+2+000:CEL'
RNG+5+CEL:-5:5'
MOA+44:45000:EUR'
PIA+5+5410738377117:SRV'
MEA+AAE+X7E+KGM:250'
PCI+33E'
GIN+BJ+354123450000000014'
UNT+23+ME000001'
UNZ+1+I-EX1/1'

The same IFTMIN 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": "IFTMIN",
      "MessageVersionNumber_02": "D",
      "MessageReleaseNumber_03": "96A",
      "ControllingAgencyCoded_04": "UN",
      "AssociationAssignedCode_05": "EAN004"
    }
  },
  "BGM": {
    "DOCUMENTMESSAGENAME_01": {
      "Documentmessagenamecoded_01": "610"
    },
    "DOCUMENTMESSAGENUMBER_02": "569952",
    "MESSAGEFUNCTIONCODED_03": "9"
  },
  "DTM": [
    {
      "DATETIMEPERIOD_01": {
        "Datetimeperiodqualifier_01": "137",
        "Datetimeperiod_02": "20020301",
        "Datetimeperiodformatqualifier_03": "102"
      }
    },
    {
      "DATETIMEPERIOD_01": {
        "Datetimeperiodqualifier_01": "2",
        "Datetimeperiod_02": "200203081100",
        "Datetimeperiodformatqualifier_03": "203"
      }
    }
  ],
  "CNT": [
    {
      "CONTROL_01": {
        "Controlqualifier_01": "11",
        "Controlvalue_02": "1"
      }
    }
  ],
  "RFFLoop": [
    {
      "RFF": {
        "REFERENCE_01": {
          "Referencequalifier_01": "CU",
          "Referencenumber_02": "TI1284"
        }
      }
    }
  ],
  "TDTLoop": [
    {
      "TDT": {
        "TRANSPORTSTAGEQUALIFIER_01": "20",
        "MODEOFTRANSPORT_03": {
          "Modeoftransportcoded_01": "30"
        },
        "TRANSPORTMEANS_04": {
          "Typeofmeansoftransportidentification_01": "31"
        }
      },
      "DTM": [
        {
          "DATETIMEPERIOD_01": {
            "Datetimeperiodqualifier_01": "133",
            "Datetimeperiod_02": "200203051100",
            "Datetimeperiodformatqualifier_03": "203"
          }
        }
      ],
      "LOCLoop": [
        {
          "LOC": {
            "PLACELOCATIONQUALIFIER_01": "9",
            "LOCATIONIDENTIFICATION_02": {
              "Placelocationidentification_01": "5412345678908",
              "Codelistresponsibleagencycoded_03": "9"
            }
          }
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "NADLoop": [
    {
      "NAD": {
        "PARTYQUALIFIER_01": "CZ",
        "PARTYIDENTIFICATIONDETAILS_02": {
          "Partyididentification_01": "5412345123453",
          "Codelistresponsibleagencycoded_03": "9"
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "NAD": {
        "PARTYQUALIFIER_01": "CA",
        "PARTYIDENTIFICATIONDETAILS_02": {
          "Partyididentification_01": "5411234512309",
          "Codelistresponsibleagencycoded_03": "9"
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "NAD": {
        "PARTYQUALIFIER_01": "CN",
        "PARTYIDENTIFICATIONDETAILS_02": {
          "Partyididentification_01": "5411234444402",
          "Codelistresponsibleagencycoded_03": "9"
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "NAD": {
        "PARTYQUALIFIER_01": "DP",
        "PARTYIDENTIFICATIONDETAILS_02": {
          "Partyididentification_01": "5412345145660",
          "Codelistresponsibleagencycoded_03": "9"
        }
      }
    }
  ],
  "GIDLoop": [
    {
      "GID": {
        "GOODSITEMNUMBER_01": "1",
        "NUMBERANDTYPEOFPACKAGES_02": {
          "Numberofpackages_01": "1",
          "Typeofpackagesidentification_02": "09",
          "Codelistresponsibleagencycoded_04": "9"
        },
        "NUMBERANDTYPEOFPACKAGES_03": {
          "Numberofpackages_01": "14",
          "Typeofpackagesidentification_02": "PK"
        }
      },
      "HAN": {
        "HANDLINGINSTRUCTIONS_01": {
          "Handlinginstructionscoded_01": "EAT",
          "Codelistresponsibleagencycoded_03": "9"
        }
      },
      "TMP": {
        "TEMPERATUREQUALIFIER_01": "2",
        "TEMPERATURESETTING_02": {
          "Temperaturesetting_01": "000",
          "Measureunitqualifier_02": "CEL"
        }
      },
      "RNG": {
        "RANGETYPEQUALIFIER_01": "5",
        "RANGE_02": {
          "Measureunitqualifier_01": "CEL",
          "Rangeminimum_02": "-5",
          "Rangemaximum_03": "5"
        }
      },
      "MOA": [
        {
          "MONETARYAMOUNT_01": {
            "Monetaryamounttypequalifier_01": "44",
            "Monetaryamount_02": "45000",
            "Currencycoded_03": "EUR"
          }
        }
      ],
      "PIA": [
        {
          "PRODUCTIDFUNCTIONQUALIFIER_01": "5",
          "ITEMNUMBERIDENTIFICATION_02": {
            "Itemnumber_01": "5410738377117",
            "Itemnumbertypecoded_02": "SRV"
          }
        }
      ],
      "MEALoop": [
        {
          "MEA": {
            "MEASUREMENTAPPLICATIONQUALIFIER_01": "AAE",
            "MEASUREMENTDETAILS_02": {
              "Measurementdimensioncoded_01": "X7E"
            },
            "VALUERANGE_03": {
              "Measureunitqualifier_01": "KGM",
              "Measurementvalue_02": "250"
            }
          }
        }
      ],
      "PCILoop": [
        {
          "PCI": {
            "MARKINGINSTRUCTIONSCODED_01": "33E"
          },
          "GIN": [
            {
              "IDENTITYNUMBERQUALIFIER_01": "BJ",
              "IDENTITYNUMBERRANGE_02": {
                "Identitynumber_01": "354123450000000014"
              }
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "UNT": {
    "NumberofSegmentsinaMessage_01": "23",
    "MessageReferenceNumber_02": "ME000001"
  }
}

Parse and validate an IFTMIN 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\Instruction.txt"))
using (var reader = new EdifactReader(stream, "EdiFabric.Templates.Edifact"))
{
    var items = await reader.ReadToEndAsync();
    foreach (var transaction in items.OfType<TSIFTMIN>())
    {
        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 IFTMIN 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 '@Instruction.txt' TranslateValidateediFabric Cloud

Generate an IFTMIN file

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

.NET
Cloud

using EdiFabric.Templates.EdifactD96A;

License.SetSerial("YOUR_SERIAL_KEY");

var transaction = new TSIFTMIN();

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

//  Transport instruction number 
transaction.BGM = new BGM();
transaction.BGM.DOCUMENTMESSAGENAME_01 = new C002();
transaction.BGM.DOCUMENTMESSAGENAME_01.Documentmessagenamecoded_01 = "610";
transaction.BGM.Documentmessagenumber_02 = "569952";
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 IFTMIN 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 '@Instruction.json' \
-o 'Instruction.txt' How-tosediFabric Cloud

IFTMIN questions

Is IFTMIN a booking?

It is the firm instruction. Some partners use IFTMBF or IFTMBC for booking requests and confirmations, and IFTMIN once the shipment is ready.

How does the carrier report progress?

With IFTSTA status reports for each event.

What is the X12 equivalent?

The 204 motor carrier load tender, or the 404 for rail.

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

In .NET, install EdiFabric and EdiFabric.Templates.Edifact, read the file with EdifactReader into TSIFTMIN 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

EANCOM IFTSTA - International Multimodal Status Report
EANCOM DESADV - Despatch Advice
X12 404 - Rail Carrier Shipment Information
All EDI transactions →

EANCOM IFTMIN Instruction Message

At a glance