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Re: X12 CICA: Is it the future? Does anyone really "model"?
Mike, where are the resources I need to get a start on CICA? All I have
is (1) a draft of X12.7 from April 2004 -R 0.32 - "Technical
Specification AND XML Syntax Representation" and (2) the X12C XML Design
Reference Model from Oct. 2002. Do I need to buy the 005020 CD to get
the newest stuff?
Is there one consolidated (and free) place I can go in order to find
everything I need to learn the basics of CICA? There is such a place for
UBL, at http://docs.oasis-open.org/ubl/cd-UBL-1.0/. I'm delighted to
find UML'ish looking data diagrams that I can actually interpret. And
not one stupid diagram with little stick figures representing actors! By
looking at the UML diagrams for the assembly models and component
packages, I can actually vaguely tell ahead of time how a message will
be organized; this is confirmed by inspecting the actual (albeit,
contrived) example PO, Order change, Dispatch Advice, etc.
This just might be the eureka moment I've been looking for when trying
to understand XML e-business documents based on core components - sort
of like the time I learned EDI by looking at PIDX and VICS
implementation guidelines. And without even knowing any details of ISO
11179, by looking at the document spreadsheets, I can see the rational
and hierarchical naming structure imposed upon the XML elements within
the messages. I certainly don't know this stuff in enough detail to
implement anything, yet - but at least I see a semblance of plausibility
with UBL - and that it could be used to build a PO. I don't have that
same confidence with CICA, unless there's something I'm missing.
Armed with inexpensive or even free stuff like XMLSpy, Xalan, Java SAX,
a browser, stylesheets and a little Perl, I think I can see how I might
actually build and exchange UBL e-business documents. This is stuff
that I use all the time now, so there are practically no start-up costs.
It's not to say that a full-functioned and expensive translator/mapper
wouldn't be of benefit, but at least it's not necessary (as it would be
with EDI).
William J. Kammerer
Novannet, LLC.
Columbus, OH 43221-3859 . USA
+1 (614) 487-0320
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Rawlins" <
To: "EDI-L Mailing List" <
Sent: Tuesday, 25 January, 2005 04:35 PM
Subject: Re: [EDI-L] X12 CICA: Is it the future? Does anyone really
"model"?
OK, based on this public and some other private correspondence, I will
relent to a point. If people on this list have specific technical
questions about how X12.7 (aka CICA) works and would like to see the
answers on this list, I would be glad to try to answer them. However, I
don't really care to address the politics, decisions, or several of the
"whys" of the current state of affairs, or to make value comparisons
with the work of other standards bodies. The lack of alignment is, for
me personally, somewhat of a sore spot. I tried a few years ago to get
ANSI ASC X12 and the UBL TC interested in joint XML development, and my
efforts were met with, at best, indifference in both organizations. So,
forgive me if I am more than a bit annoyed by anyone in either camp who
now complains about lack of alignment or who wants to make negative
comparisons in either direction. As disappointing as is the state of
affairs with X12 and the UBL TC, the history of X12 and UN/CEFACT is
infinitely longer and more tortuous.
Be assured that there are some of us who are working in different ways
to achieve convergence, or at least minimize some problems in key areas
due to lack of convergence. But, don't expect miracles either. At some
point the standards wars becomes a religious issue more than a technical
issue, and I challenge anyone to name a major religion that hasn't been
splintered into two or more sects.
Cheers,
Mike
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