Delimiters

In an X12 message, the various delimiters are part of the syntax, dividing up the different elements of a message. The delimiters used in a message are defined in the interchange control header, the outermost layer enveloping the message.

For this reason, there is flexibility in the delimiters that are used. No suggested delimiters are recommended as part of the X12 standards, but the industry-specific implementation guides do have recommended delimiters.

The default delimiters used by the X12 OTD Library are the same as those recommended by the industry-specific implementation guides. The default delimiters in the X12 OTD Library are:

Segment terminator

~ (tilde)

Data element separator

* (asterisk)

Subelement (component) separator

: (colon)

Repetition separator (version 4020 and later)

+ (plus sign)

Within eXchange, delimiters are specified at the enveloping level. The delimiters defined for an envelope apply to all transactions in the same business service (a predefined dialog between the two parties).

It is important to note that errors could result if the transmitted data includes any of the characters that have been defined as delimiters. Specifically, the existence of asterisks within transmitted application data is a known issue in X12 and can cause problems with translation.

See Element Separator for information on the ePM delimiter parameter.