Notation
How to read an entry in this directory.
Representation
The representation defines the permitted form of a value: a character set and a length. an..35 means alphanumeric, 1 to 35 characters; n9 means numeric, exactly 9.
| Notation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| a | alphabetic characters |
| an | alphanumeric characters |
| n | numeric characters |
| ..N | variable length, up to N |
| N | fixed length, exactly N |
Four elements print no representation at all in the source (5416, 6000, 6002, 6004) — the cell is blank in the publication and remains blank here.
Change tags
Column 1 of the printed directory marks what changed since the 1993 edition. The legend is the source’s own (section 4.1):
| Tag | Meaning | Count |
|---|---|---|
| add | added | 461 |
| cn | changed name | 43 |
| cnd | changed name + description | 424 |
| cnr | changed name + representation | 65 |
| cndr | changed name + description + representation | 317 |
| u | undeleted (re-instated) | 4 |
| x | marked for deletion (with tag + name) | 186 |
Three rows print tags outside this legend (cd, cr ×2, cdr). They are kept verbatim and flagged for review.
Categories
| Tags | Category |
|---|---|
| 1000-1699 | Documentation, references |
| 2000-2699 | Dates, times, periods of time |
| 3000-3699 | Parties, addresses, places, countries |
| 4000-4699 | Clauses, conditions, terms, instructions |
| 5000-5699 | Amounts, charges, percentages |
| 6000-6699 | Measure identifiers, quantities (other than monetary) |
| 7000-7699 | Goods and articles: descriptions and identifiers |
| 8000-8699 | Transport modes, means and equipments |
| 9000-9699 | Other data elements (Customs, etc.) |
Service elements (0001–0699) are not part of this edition — they are provided by ISO 9735 (EDIFACT syntax).
Bridges
The rightmost column of the printed directory locates each element on the aligned trade documents and interchange protocols where it is used: line and character positions on standard forms, or a fixed field format in a protocol.
- L / P
- Line and character position of the data entry according to ISO 3535 and the UNLK, as printed in the publication (section 4.1.2).
- UNLK
- United Nations Layout Key
- SAD
- Single Administrative Document (EC and EFTA)
- CIM
- Rail Consignment Note (CIM Convention)
- CIMP
- IATA Cargo Interchange Message Procedures Manual (CARGO-IMP manual)
- MAR
- IMO Model forms and ICS Standard Bill of Lading
- AWB
- IATA Air Waybill
- CMR
- Road Consignment Note (CMR Convention)
- SWIFT
- Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication
- ICC
- International Chamber of Commerce
- INV
- United Nations Layout Key for Aligned Invoices
- UNSM
- United Nations Standard Message (UN/EDIFACT)
- ODETTE
- Organisation for Data Exchange by Tele Transmission in Europe (automotive EDI) (not in the publication’s list of abbreviations)
- Inland Waterways B/L
- Bill of lading for inland waterways (not in the publication’s list of abbreviations)
Scheme expansions are the publication’s own, from its list of abbreviations (introduction, section 1.4). The UN layout key reconstruction shows the UNLK locations of every element as fields on the standard form.