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EDI
Enhanced EDI Editor: The Next Generation of EDI Management
Meet the redesigned EDI Editor from Aayu Technologies. Our new editor offers dynamic forms, flexible partial saves, and smart validation to make manual EDI management faster and more intuitive.
Udith Gunaratna
Published: 15 Sep 2025
The EDI Generator by Aayu Technologies is a modern, cloud-based EDI processing solution offered as a SaaS product with flexible and affordable subscription plans. It’s designed to serve businesses of all sizes by supporting both manual and automated EDI workflows, depending on the company’s use case, transaction volume, and integration needs.
Web Interface for Manual EDI Management
One common way to use the EDI Generator is through its web interface, which allows users to manage both incoming and outgoing EDIs directly. This option works best for businesses that:
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Depend on manual data entry processes
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Exchange a relatively small number of EDIs per day
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Need a practical, low-cost solution without complex automation
Built-in EDI Editor
The inbuilt EDI Editor of the EDI Generator makes creating and managing EDIs simple and reliable. Users can:
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Enter data in a structured, form-like interface
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Generate EDI documents automatically
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Validate them against syntax rules and partner-specific requirements
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Send compliant EDI messages with ease
With the release of version 1.1.0, the EDI Generator introduced a redesigned EDI Editor that is more intuitive, feature-rich, and configurable to meet unique business needs.
The Legacy Editor: What Came Before
Before the redesigned version, the EDI Generator relied on its legacy editor, which is still available today for users who prefer it. This earlier editor was originally built with a focus on a few widely used EDI partners. While it worked well in those scenarios, it showed some limitations as businesses expanded to a wider range of trading partners.
Here are the main challenges with the legacy editor:
Limited Segments and Elements
The legacy editor supported a fixed set of segments, loops, and elements that covered most common transactions. However, when certain partners required additional fields, the editor could not always accommodate those needs, reducing its flexibility.
Overloaded User Interface
Since all supported segments, loops, and elements were always displayed, even if unnecessary, the interface often felt cluttered. This made it harder to navigate for users who only needed a smaller subset of fields.
No Partial Saves
Another drawback was the lack of flexibility when saving work. Users had to complete all mandatory fields before saving, which was not convenient for those who preferred to build EDIs gradually in stages.
The New Editor: A Major Upgrade
Given the limitations of the legacy editor, the EDI Generator team set out to deliver a more robust and future-ready solution for users. During the evaluation process, we considered two possible paths: either enhance the existing editor to address its shortcomings, or design a brand-new editor from the ground up.
While some improvements to the legacy editor were possible, technical constraints limited how much it could evolve. There was also the risk of disrupting the experience for users who were already comfortable with the old interface.
To balance both needs, we decided to keep the legacy editor available with minor enhancements, while also introducing a completely redesigned editor. This new editor was built with an entirely new validation framework, offering greater flexibility, improved usability, and stronger compliance with partner-specific requirements.
Below are some of the most important features of the redesigned editor.
Only the Necessary Segments and Elements
Unlike the legacy static form, which displayed every supported segment and element regardless of relevance, the new editor uses a dynamically generated interface. It adapts to each partner’s EDI definition, showing only the specific segments, loops, and elements required. Users also have the flexibility to decide whether optional segments and elements appear on the interface. This makes the editor cleaner, more flexible, and easier to use, since users no longer have to deal with fields they will never need.
Another improvement is how the editor handles ID-type elements. Instead of long, cluttered dropdowns, it now presents a concise list of relevant ID codes with their description drawn directly from the partner’s EDI definition. Users can quickly select the correct code without scrolling through hundreds of irrelevant options, significantly improving efficiency.
Simplified Editor Mode for Widely Used Loops
Anyone familiar with EDI structures knows that most loops are deeply nested, often spanning several levels. Representing this full hierarchy in an editor can quickly make the interface complex and cluttered. In practice, however, users typically work with only a handful of top-level loops and segments.
To address this, the new editor introduces two modes: Basic and Advanced, designed to balance simplicity with flexibility.
Basic Mode
The Basic mode is optimized for widely used loops such as IT1, PO1, and N1. Instead of displaying a complex hierarchy, it presents the loop in a simple tabular format.
Each row in the table represents one loop iteration, and the commonly used elements of the sub-segments are displayed as table columns, making data entry faster and more intuitive.
This mode works perfectly for most users who only need these common segments, keeping the interface straightforward and easy to use.
Advanced Mode
For users who need access to deeper nested segments and loops, the editor offers an Advanced mode that displays the entire EDI structure as defined in the partner’s EDI specification.
Advanced mode includes two sub-views:
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List View: All loop iterations are shown at once in a single list.
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Paginated View: Only one loop iteration is shown at a time, with navigation controls to move between iterations.
This dual approach ensures that both everyday users and advanced users have the tools they need, without forcing unnecessary complexity on those who don’t.
Flexible Saving with Smart Validation
Unlike the legacy editor, the new version does not force users to complete every mandatory field before saving. This added flexibility allows users to save partially completed EDIs with the information they currently have, and return later to finish the remaining details.
To ensure accuracy, the system validates the data after each save against the rules defined in the partner’s EDI specification. Even if validation errors are detected, the EDI is still saved. The editor then clearly highlights the errors, showing the relevant segment and element details so users know exactly what needs attention.
In addition, the editor offers automatic navigation to the erroneous field, making it faster and easier to locate and correct issues. This streamlined approach reduces frustration and supports a more efficient EDI creation process.
Auto-Calculation of Segment Values
The new editor also introduces auto-calculation features for selected segments and loops, designed to reduce manual effort. For example, values in segments/loops such as TDS, ISS and CTT are automatically calculated based on the line item details entered in related loops like PO1 or IT1.
This saves users from the repetitive task of performing manual calculations, ensuring greater accuracy and efficiency. At the same time, users retain full control, as they can override the auto-calculated values and enter their own figures whenever necessary.
Conclusion
The redesigned EDI Editor in Aayu Technologies’ EDI Generator marks a significant step forward in simplifying and modernizing EDI management. By addressing the limitations of the legacy editor and introducing features such as configurable segments, simplified loop handling, partial saves, and smart validation, it provides users with a more intuitive, flexible, and reliable experience.
Whether a business exchanges only a handful of EDIs per day or manages large-scale automated workflows, the new editor adapts to their needs while ensuring accuracy and compliance with partner requirements. This balance of usability and robustness makes the EDI Generator a powerful tool for organizations looking to streamline their EDI processes and strengthen their supply chain efficiency.
Sign up now to start building, validating, and sending compliant EDIs with our powerful new EDI editor. Click here to start Your 30 day Premium Free Trial
Udith is the Chief Technology Officer at Aayu Technologies. With over 9 years of experience in the enterprise software industry, he has been instrumental in architecting, developing, and maintaining a range of enterprise software solutions, particularly B2B communication software, with a significant focus on cloud technologies.
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