.850 — EDI 850 - Purchase Order
Accredited Standards Committee X12 · 1980s
An .850 file is a standardized electronic purchase order used for business-to-business transactions, enabling automated order processing.
Key Features
- Standardized electronic purchase order format.
- Facilitates automated data exchange between businesses.
- Reduces manual data entry and potential errors.
- Streamlines the procurement and order fulfillment process.
Best For
- Automated exchange of purchase orders.
- Integrations between ERP and supply chain systems.
- Reducing manual order entry in B2B environments.
- Ensuring consistent order data across trading partners.
Less Ideal For
- Sending documents to end-consumers (like PDFs).
- Visualizing order information with graphics.
- Collaborative document editing among multiple users.
- Archiving human-readable documents.
Common Use Cases
- Businesses sending purchase orders to suppliers electronically.
- Automated order processing by e-commerce platforms.
- Integrating supply chain management systems.
- Facilitating B2B transactions for retail and wholesale.
How to Open It
- Open with specialized EDI translation software (e.g., EDIConnect, Comarch EDI).
- Some business management or ERP systems can import and display .850 files.
- View as plain text using a text editor (like Notepad++ or VS Code) for basic inspection, though it won't be easily readable.
- Utilize online EDI viewers or converters if available.
What is a .850 file?
The .850 file extension typically represents an EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) 850 Purchase Order document. This is a standardized electronic format used by businesses to send purchase orders to suppliers. Instead of a traditional paper invoice or PDF, this structured data file communicates essential order details like item numbers, quantities, pricing, and shipping information. It's designed for automated processing by computer systems, enabling faster and more accurate transactions between trading partners. The goal is to streamline the procurement process by eliminating manual data entry and reducing errors.
Programs That Open .850 Files
| Platform | Program | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows | ECGrid | Paid | |
| EasyPost | Paid | ||
| macOS | ECGrid | Paid | |
| Linux | ECGrid | Paid | |
| Web Browser | ECGrid Online | Paid |
How to Convert .850 Files
| Format | Method |
|---|---|
| .CSV | EDI translation software, Online converters |
| .XML | EDI translation software, Custom scripts |
Common Problems with .850 Files
Frequently Asked Questions
No, Microsoft Word is not designed to interpret the structured data of an EDI file. You would only see raw text, which is difficult to understand without an EDI translator.
An .850 file is a Purchase Order sent from buyer to seller, while an .810 file is an Invoice sent from seller to buyer. Both are part of the X12 EDI standard.
Yes, it's a very common standard within B2B electronic commerce for purchase orders, widely used in industries like retail, manufacturing, and logistics.
Technical Details
The .850 format is part of the X12 EDI standard and is a plain text, structured data file. It uses segments and elements to define specific pieces of information, such as the buyer, seller, items ordered, and quantities. The hierarchical structure allows for complex order details to be communicated clearly and unambiguously between different software systems.