Welcome to Bots

Note

• This is the documentation of Bots NG version, the most recent and actively developed version working with Python 3.

• For documentation of Bots Frozen (v3.2.0) select this version in the menu. See more on available versions on our website.

• This version of documentation is work in progress now. Updates from users are very welcome. Please use the button “Edit on GitLab” on top of the page to submit your changes.

• The most recent PDF version of this document is available at bots.readthedocs.io.

Bots in short

• Bots is fully functional software for EDI (Electronic Data Interchange).

• All major EDI data formats are supported: EDIFACT, X12, TRADACOMS, XML.

• Runs on Windows, Linux, OSX and Unix.

• Bots is very stable.

• Bots handles high volumes of edi transactions.

• Bots is flexible and can be configured for your specific EDI needs.

• Read about the features of bots.

First steps

1. Installation.

2. Get bots running.

3. Get your first configuration running: Quick Start Guide.

4. Check out some plugins.

Other sources of information on bots

• Project website.

• Active mailing list for Bots Frozen - most of the knowledge collected there applies also to Bots NG.

• Discord channel for Bots NG

• Commercial support for Bots Frozen by EbbersConsult and for Bots NG by EDI Intelligentsia

• Bots is licenced under GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE Version 3.

It’s hard to get started with EDI

Often people experience a steep learning curve when starting with edi. A lot of knowledge is involved:

• edi standards (edifact, x12, tradacoms, EANCOM etc)

• business processes between you and your edi-partner (logistics!), changes in the business processes

• understand what your edi-partner wants/requires

• edi communication methods (x400, VAN’s, AS2 etc)

• imports and exports of your ERP system

• specifics of the edi software.

• etc

It is hard to find good information about edi: standards are not always free (eg x12 is not free), decent example messages are hard to get and often if is hard to find good information on Internet. Edi is traditionally ‘closed’ and sparse with information. Partly this seems to be a ‘cultural thing’, partly because edi existed before Internet, partly because it is all about business data that is not for the general public.

Don’t give up ;-)) I think everybody who started with edi has gone through this.