EDIFACT Viewer — Read Any UN/EDIFACT File Online

How This Viewer Reads an EDIFACT File

EDIFACT files may optionally begin with a UNA segment — the service string advice — which explicitly spells out the six special characters the file uses: component separator, element separator, decimal notation, release character, reserved character, and segment terminator. If no UNA segment is present, the EDIFACT default delimiters apply (+ for elements, ' for segment termination, : for components). This tool checks for a UNA segment first and falls back to the defaults automatically, so both styles of file are handled without any manual configuration.

After splitting, each segment (UNB, UNH, BGM, DTM, NAD, LIN, MOA, and more) is matched against an EDIFACT segment dictionary to attach a plain-English label, exactly as with X12 files — with unrecognized segments still shown and flagged rather than silently dropped.

The EDIFACT Envelope Structure, Explained

• UNA — optional service string advice, defining the delimiter characters for the whole interchange.
• UNB / UNZ — the interchange envelope, identifying sender, receiver, date/time, and the overall interchange.
• UNH / UNT — the message envelope. Each UNH/UNT pair is one logical document — one invoice, one order, one dispatch advice.
• Data segments — everything between UNH and UNT: BGM (beginning of message / document type), DTM (dates), NAD (name and address), LIN (line item), MOA (monetary amount), and dozens more, specific to the message type named in the UNH segment (e.g. "INVOIC", "ORDERS", "DESADV").

Which EDIFACT Message Types Can You View?

Because this viewer parses structurally rather than hardcoding one message type, it works on any well-formed EDIFACT interchange. Commonly viewed message types include:

• INVOIC — Invoice
• ORDERS — Purchase Order
• DESADV — Dispatch/Despatch Advice

EDIFACT vs. X12: Quick Orientation

If you're not sure which standard your file uses, this viewer's auto-detection will tell you immediately after upload (look at the "Standard Detected" field). For the fuller comparison of when each standard is used and how their structures differ, see X12 vs EDIFACT: Formats, Delimiters and Use Cases. If your file turns out to be X12 instead, use the dedicated X12 EDI Viewer.

Also Known As

People also search for this as an "EDIFACT viewer convertor," or land here after typing "edifact file won't open" — all describe the same task this tool handles.

Related Guides

New to EDI generally? Start with What Is an EDI File? and EDI Delimiters Explained for a deeper technical look at UNA and default delimiter handling.