Working with EDI in BizTalk Server can be challenging. Because the EDI engine is strictly standards-compliant, the smallest configuration mismatch will cause a “Technical Validation Failed” error. Here is a compilation of the most common issues encountered in the field.
📝 One-Minute Brief
Troubleshooting BizTalk EDI often involves deciphering vague error codes related to agreement resolution, schema validation, and control numbers. This post compiles a list of common EDI errors—such as “Agreement Not Found” or “Invalid Character”—and provides step-by-step solutions for resolving them by checking Party configurations, Envelope settings, and Schema versions.
ERROR: Invalid value in data element
Data Element ID: FTX01
Position in Segment: 3
Position in Field: 2
Data Value: ZZZ
12: Invalid value in data element
Cause
- Your Data elements FTX01 contain the invalid code, ZZZ. These elements have specific lists of allowable codes.
Solution
- This code must be added to the list of the FTX01 element in the schema.
ERROR: Data element too long
Data Element ID: C08001
Position in Segment: 5
Position in Field: 1
Data Value: XXXXXXXXX X�X DE X�XXXX XX XXXXX
39: Data element too long
Cause
- The value C08001 is too long for the defined length of the element.
Solution
- Check the max length of the UNB9 element and correct your data. If you and your trading partner agree, both may increase the max length, in which case you would modify your schema.
ERROR: Invalid character(s) found in data element
Data Element ID: UNB11
Position in Segment: 11
Data Value: METCASH-AC3:ZZ
Or
Data Value:
37: Invalid character(s) found in data element
Cause
- You have bad data in an UNB11 element.
- You have an invalid character in an UNB11 element.
Solution
- Often this error occurs when you put a space in a mandatory element to avoid failing for missing mandatory. If this is the situation and you have no valid data for the element, you may have to change the element to optional in the schema.
- This could be either the ‘-‘ or the ‘:’, or both, depending on the character set you are using and on what separators you are using. If this is an outbound transaction, you can use a script to remove or replace the offending character
ERROR: Duplicate Control Number
Error: 1 (Miscellaneous error)
25: Duplicate Control Number
Error: 2 (Field level error)
SegmentID:
Position in TS: 1
Data Element ID:
Position in Segment: 13
Position in Field: 1
Data Value: <n>
25: Duplicate Control Number
Cause
- This problem occurs because the interchange control numbers in the ISA13 segment of the suspended EDI messages are still recorded in BizTalk Server. This causes a duplicate detection check to be performed.
Solution
- Check the following hotfix http://support.microsoft.com/kb/976554/EN-US (link obsolete).
Most EDI errors boil down to Party configuration or Agreement resolution. By systematically checking your identities and envelope settings, you can resolve the majority of “Technical Validation” failures.
