Alliance EDI Workbench/400 is a tool for RPG and Cobol programmers to develop applications that import or export ANSI X12 data.  The developer can use Alliance EDI Workbench/400 to create any ANSI X12 document from native AS/400 data. EDI Workbench/400 can also be used to import ANSI X12 documents into AS/400 applications and databases.  The product is ideal for building translation capabilities into legacy or web applications that reside on the AS/400, and for real-time translation of business data.  Alliance EDI Workbench/400 provides standards definitions for all 4010 and 4020 documents, and supports user-defined standards or additions to the standard.

The AS/400 developer can easily define an inbound or outbound EDI document (for example an 810 invoice) and select the segments to be used.  Once the document is defined the developer can create an ILE RPG or Cobol program that translates the data. By binding the Alliance EDI Workbench/400 service program to the RPG or Cobol program you can immediately begin creating or interpreting ANSI X12 data.  Alliance EDI Workbench/400 formats all numeric data, including AS/400 packed and binary data, according to EDI standards. The result is AS/400 applications that are “EDI Aware” and capable of performing EDI translation on the fly.

To assist the developer in getting a fast start with EDI translation, Alliance EDI Workbench/400 includes tutorials and sample code.  By using the tutorials you can follow a clear path to EDI translation using the included sample database and sample source code. The tutorials and sample code provide working examples of how to do EDI translation using EDI Workbench/400. The tutorial environment reduces the learning time for EDI developers and provides a point of reference for new projects.

EDI Workbench/400 interoperates with the Alliance FTP Manager application for automated transmission and receipt of EDI documents. When you use EDI Workbench/400 to create an EDI document you can direct the output to an FTP Manager scan library. FTP Manager will automatically transmit the EDI document to your  trading partner and back up the document in a permanent archive.  When you receive EDI documents you can have FTP Manager invoke your EDI translation program to import the EDI data to your AS/400 applications and database. Inbound EDI documents are also backed up to permanent archive. The combination of EDI Workbench/400 and Alliance FTP Manager provides a fully managed, automated, EDI eCommerce solution.  

EDI Workbench/400 can be used for batch credit card authorization, settlement, and check certification with First Data. First Data accepts ANSI X12 810 documents for authorization and settlement and returns ANSI X12 820 and 824 documents for authorization and settlement status. Contact Patrick Townsend & Associates Inc for more information.

EDI Workbench/400 provides full document support for HIPAA requirements. When combined with Alliance FTP Manager's PGP support you can implement a complete solution for secure transmission of HIPAA EDI documents.

EDI Workbench/400 supports Web integration with the AS/400 by providing translation services in an AS/400 service program. You can bind translation services to any CGI  application in your web environment. You can translate HTML or Java data to ANSI X12 data directly on the AS/400.  Using this technique you can automatically create EDI documents and transfer them to trading partners using FTP or email.