Chapter 2 - Introduction

Purpose

This document is intended to describe the recommended electronic commerce business-to-business document interchange mechanism and methodology using eXtensible Markup Language (XML) and associated XML Schema Definitions (XSDs).

Scope

Topics covered by this document include:

  • A history of XML
  • How XML works
  • Why XML
  • PCATS-NAXML Business Document framework and design principles
  • PCATS-NAXML Business Schema (XSDs) and sample documents

NAXML CStore

The PCATS Electronic Commerce Guidelines - XML Business-to-Business Document Exchange provides a methodology mechanism that allows trading partners to exchange business documents in a standard manner using commonly understood data elements.

Data elements that have been identified for this initial implementation are listed in the Data Dictionary section.  Additional data elements may be exchanged as required to meet individual company business requirements.

References

[1] PCATS POS/Back Office Interface Guidelines - Common Data Elements and XML Document Interchange - Version 3: Available for download by PCATS members and a fee for non-members.

[2] eXtensible Markup Language (XMLTM) : http://www.w3.org/XML

[3] XML.COM: http://www.xml.com

[4] IBM XML Web Site: http://www.software.ibm.com/xml

[5] MSDN Online - Web Workshop - XML TOC: http://msdn.microsoft.com/xml/toc.htm

[6] The latest version of all PCATS-NAXML documents.  Schemas and sample XML instance documents are available from PCATS for download by members and a fee for non-members.