Convert Partner Data
Before importing your partner's data with COSMO EDI and processing them in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, check the message format and the structure in which your partners send you the files. Many partners provide a guideline, in which, in addition to their used message format, a more or less detailed description of the message structure and any individual requirements of the partner are listed. Ask your partner for a current guideline, so that the message formats and individual requirements can be determined and implemented by COSMO EDI. We are pleased to request this information from your partner for you.
If you want to import your partner's data and transfer it to the EDI Journal, the data must be converted into a standardized internal format with which COSMO EDI can process this data. This standardized internal format is called the EDI in-house format.
Converting Incoming Messages to the In-House Format
To convert incoming partner data to EDI in-house format, COSMO EDI uses the Import Mapping. For more information on the functions and options for import mapping, refer to the relevant topic. This topic provides a basic understanding of the functionality and importance of import mapping within COSMO EDI.
The import mapping works as a translator between your partner's data and the EDI in-house format. When importing your partner data, COSMO EDI imports the import mapping in parallel and transfers your partner's data into the EDI in-house format based on the rules defined in the import mapping.
Without a valid and correct import mapping, the conversion of your partner data into the EDI in-house format and the subsequent transfer into the EDI Journal for processing and transfer into your Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central documents is only possible if your partner already provides you with his data in the EDI in-house format. This is an option if you want to meet, for example, the requirements of an intercompany business with COSMO EDI.
When to Use an Import Mapping
In general, you always need an import mapping if the data to be imported from your partner is in a format different from the EDI in-house format. This case will be the standard unless you are exchanging data with a partner who also uses COSMO EDI and/or can otherwise provide you directly with the data in EDI in-house format. In such cases, COSMO EDI can transfer your partner's data directly into in-house format without conversion via import mapping, since the partner already provides you with the data in in-house format.
If we assume that the partner data is not in EDI in-house format, you need an import mapping for each different message format and transaction type to transfer the partner data to COSMO EDI. If different partners use the same message format to transmit the same transaction, you only need one import mapping.
| Partner | Description | Transaction type in COSMO EDI | Message format | New import mapping? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Import Orders | ORDERS_IMP | EANCOM D96A | Yes |
| B | Import Orders | ORDERS_IMP | EANCOM D96A | No (see A) |
| C | Import Orders | ORDERS_IMP | SAP iDOC | Yes |
| D | Import Orders | ORDERS_IMP | SAP iDOC | No (see C) |
| E | Import Call Offs | ORDERS_IMP | VDA | Yes |
| F | Import Order Changes | ORDCHG_IMP | TRADACOM | Yes |
| … | … | … | … | … |
Even if a partner uses the same message format as another partner (see above, A and B both use EANCOM D96A), transferring partner data still requires individual adjustments in the import mapping. In this case, a second import mapping must be created and adapted to the individual partner despite the same message format. This is easily possible in COSMO EDI.
Import Provided Import Mappings
Note that you will create new import mappings very rarely. If you purchase or extend COSMO EDI to import partner data in new message formats, the necessary import mappings are usually supplied as a text file by COSMO CONSULT. You must transfer this text file to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.
The EDI Import Mappings page is accessed using the Tell Me feature. Choose the 
icon, enter EDI Import Mappings, and then select the related link.
Choose Home > Import and in the dialog that appears, select the file to be transferred in the File name field and choose Open.
Now you can use the provided import mappings.
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