ISO 9735-4:2002

Overview

ISO 9735-4:2002 specifies the CONTRL message - the syntax and service report for batch EDI using the EDIFACT application-level syntax (syntax version number 4, release 01). It defines how a recipient reports back to a sender that an interchange, group, message or package has been received, acknowledged or rejected, and how syntactical errors or unsupported functions are reported. CONTRL supports indication of receipt only, full syntactical acknowledgement, or rejection with error details.

Key Topics

• Scope and purpose: CONTRL is the EDIFACT service message for batch EDI that confirms receipt or reports syntactical errors of received interchanges.
• Syntax versioning: Requires Syntax version number = 4 (data element 0002) and Syntax release number = 01 (data element 0076) in the UNB (interchange header) when used with this part.
• Reporting structure: Uses five reporting-level segments to reference parts of the subject interchange: UCI, UCF, UCM, UCS and UCD. These reference UNA/UNB/UNZ, UNG/UNE, whole messages/packages, segments, or data elements respectively.
• Functional rules: CONTRL may be sent as one or two messages and must indicate the action taken for all relevant parts (acknowledge or reject). It lists syntactical errors and unsupported functionality encountered during EDIFACT syntax checks.
• Limitations: CONTRL reports only syntax/service-level issues. It must not be used to report application-level (semantic/business) errors - an acknowledgement does not imply acceptance of business content.
• Conformance: Implementations claiming conformance must support all requirements (including options) and include conformance to ISO 9735-1, ISO 9735-2 and ISO 9735-10 where applicable.

Applications

• For EDI implementers, system integrators and software vendors building or validating EDIFACT batch processing engines.
• For trading partners and value‑added network (VAN) providers to automate receipt acknowledgement and syntactic error reporting between enterprises.
• Useful in interchange monitoring, automated error handling, and operational audit trails where clear, standardized syntax-level responses are required.

Related Standards

ISO 9735 is a multipart EDIFACT syntax standard. Relevant parts referenced by ISO 9735-4:2002 include:

• ISO 9735-1: Syntax rules common to all parts
• ISO 9735-2: Syntax rules specific to batch EDI
• ISO 9735-5..9: Security and related message parts (AUTACK, KEYMAN, etc.)
• ISO 9735-10: Syntax service directories

Keywords: ISO 9735-4, CONTRL, EDIFACT, batch EDI, syntax rules, interchange acknowledgement, EDI error reporting, UNB, UCI, UCF, UCM, UCS, UCD.