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Broken EDI 850 Sample: Errors to Find

Broken on purpose: 3 faults a translator rejects. A X12 file to test a validator with, explained segment by segment.

A synthetic file: made-up companies, IDs and amounts, safe to load into a test system.

This 850 is broken on purpose to test an EDI validator. It has three faults: SE01 says 9 segments when the transaction has 10, CTT01 says 3 lines when there are 2 PO1 segments, and the first UPC has a wrong check digit. A trading partner's translator would reject it with a 997.

Standard
X12 850
Version
004010
Sent by
Buyer to supplier
Segments
14

sample-850-purchase-order-with-errors.edi

From BUYERCO to VENDORCO. Click a line to jump to its explanation.

Open in EDI Inspector

Broken on purpose. Faults to find:

  • SE01 is 9, but ST to SE holds 10 segments.
  • CTT01 is 3, but the order has 2 PO1 lines.
  • UPC 020000000016 has a bad check digit. It should end in 5.
ISA*00*          *00*          *ZZ*BUYERCO        *ZZ*VENDORCO       *261020*0930*U*00401*000000071*0*T*>~GS*PO*BUYERCO*VENDORCO*20261020*0930*71*X*004010~ST*850*0001~BEG*00*SA*PO-55120**20261020~DTM*002*20261027~N1*ST*HARBOR STREET MARKET*92*0042~PO1*1*24*CA*38.40*PE*VN*NS-1001*UP*020000000016~PID*F****Oat Granola 12oz~PO1*2*12*CA*52.80*PE*VN*NS-1002*UP*020000000039~PID*F****Almond Butter 16oz~CTT*3~SE*9*0001~GE*1*71~IEA*1*000000071~

850 Sample, Segment by Segment

Every segment and element, with what each code means. The 3 segments with a note are open; open any other to see its elements.

  1. 1ISAInterchange control header
    ISA01
    Authorization information qualifier
    00
    ISA03
    Security information qualifier
    00
    ISA05
    Sender ID qualifier
    ZZMutually defined
    ISA06
    Interchange sender ID
    BUYERCO
    ISA07
    Receiver ID qualifier
    ZZMutually defined
    ISA08
    Interchange receiver ID
    VENDORCO
    ISA09
    Interchange date
    261020Oct 20, 2026
    ISA10
    Interchange time
    093009:30
    ISA11
    Standards identifier (repetition separator in 005010)
    U
    ISA12
    Interchange control version number
    00401
    ISA13
    Interchange control number
    000000071
    ISA14
    Acknowledgment requested (TA1)
    0No acknowledgment requested
    ISA15
    Usage indicator
    TTest
    ISA16
    Component element separator
    >
  2. 2GSFunctional group header
    GS01
    Functional identifier code
    POPurchase order (850)
    GS02
    Application sender's code
    BUYERCO
    GS03
    Application receiver's code
    VENDORCO
    GS04
    Date
    20261020Oct 20, 2026
    GS05
    Time
    093009:30
    GS06
    Group control number
    71
    GS07
    Responsible agency code
    XAccredited Standards Committee X12
    GS08
    Version / release / industry identifier
    004010
  3. 3STTransaction set header
    ST01
    Transaction set identifier code
    850Purchase order
    ST02
    Transaction set control number
    0001
  4. 4BEGBeginning segment for purchase order
    BEG01
    Transaction set purpose code
    00Original
    BEG02
    Purchase order type code
    SAStand-alone order
    BEG03
    Purchase order number
    PO-55120
    BEG05
    Purchase order date
    20261020Oct 20, 2026
  5. 5DTMDate/time reference
    DTM01
    Date/time qualifier
    002Delivery requested
    DTM02
    Date
    20261027Oct 27, 2026
  6. 6N1Party identification
    N101
    Entity identifier code
    STShip to
    N102
    Name
    HARBOR STREET MARKET
    N103
    Identification code qualifier
    92Assigned by buyer
    N104
    Identification code
    0042
  7. 7PO1Baseline item data (order line)

    Fault: UPC 020000000016 fails the GS1 check digit. The correct UPC is 020000000015. Scanners and item files reject it.

    PO101
    Line number (assigned identification)
    1
    PO102
    Quantity ordered
    24
    PO103
    Unit of measure
    CACase
    PO104
    Unit price
    38.40
    PO105
    Basis of unit price
    PEPrice per each
    PO106
    Product/service ID qualifier
    VNVendor item
    PO107
    Product/service ID
    NS-1001
    PO108
    Product/service ID qualifier
    UPUPC
    PO109
    Product/service ID
    020000000016
  8. 8PIDProduct/item description
    PID01
    Item description type
    FFree-form description
    PID05
    Description
    Oat Granola 12oz
  9. 9PO1Baseline item data (order line)
    PO101
    Line number (assigned identification)
    2
    PO102
    Quantity ordered
    12
    PO103
    Unit of measure
    CACase
    PO104
    Unit price
    52.80
    PO105
    Basis of unit price
    PEPrice per each
    PO106
    Product/service ID qualifier
    VNVendor item
    PO107
    Product/service ID
    NS-1002
    PO108
    Product/service ID qualifier
    UPUPC
    PO109
    Product/service ID
    020000000039
  10. 10PIDProduct/item description
    PID01
    Item description type
    FFree-form description
    PID05
    Description
    Almond Butter 16oz
  11. 11CTTTransaction totals

    Fault: CTT01 says 3 lines. There are 2 PO1 segments.

    CTT01
    Number of line items
    3
  12. 12SETransaction set trailer

    Fault: SE01 says 9. Count ST through SE: there are 10.

    SE01
    Number of included segments (ST to SE)
    9
    SE02
    Transaction set control number (matches ST02)
    0001
  13. 13GEFunctional group trailer
    GE01
    Number of transaction sets included
    1
    GE02
    Group control number (matches GS06)
    71
  14. 14IEAInterchange control trailer
    IEA01
    Number of included functional groups
    1
    IEA02
    Interchange control number (matches ISA13)
    000000071

Read the 997 a partner sends back

The EDI rejection explainer decodes 997, 999 and 824 rejections and points at the segment in your original file.

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About This 850 Sample

Testing only with clean files tells you little. A validator earns its keep on the files that fail, so this one carries the three faults that cause most real 997 rejections and chargebacks: a segment count, a line count and a GS1 check digit.

Open it in the EDI Inspector to see each fault named at its segment, with the value it should hold.

For every segment the standard allows and how retailers use them, read the EDI 850 guide. To check a file of your own, paste it into the EDI Inspector, or browse all 22 EDI sample files.

Related Sample Files

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an EDI 850?

This 850 is broken on purpose to test an EDI validator. It has three faults: SE01 says 9 segments when the transaction has 10, CTT01 says 3 lines when there are 2 PO1 segments, and the first UPC has a wrong check digit. A trading partner's translator would reject it with a 997.

Can I use this EDI 850 sample to test my system?

Yes, as a negative test. This file is broken on purpose, so a correct translator or validator should reject it and name each fault: SE01 is 9, but ST to SE holds 10 segments. CTT01 is 3, but the order has 2 PO1 lines. UPC 020000000016 has a bad check digit. It should end in 5.

How do I check my own EDI 850 file?

Paste it into the free OrderSync EDI Inspector. It names every segment and element, checks the envelope counts and control numbers, tests GS1 check digits, and points at the exact segment a trading partner would reject. Nothing is uploaded: the file is read in your browser.

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