These specifications and guidelines enshrine the consensus decisions reached on implementation issues at BIC's regular Implementation Clinics. They provide overall guidance on the use of the BIC-approved Tradacoms and EDIFACT messages in the book trade and attempt to define a code of good practice to be adopted by buyers and suppliers implementing EDI in this sector. The Guidelines also provide a detailed specification of each individual message.
On this page:
BIC Tradacoms Trade Implementation Guidelines
BIC EDIFACT Implementation Guidelines
Industry Returns Initiative specifications
EDItX XML transaction specifications
HMRC Commodity Codes
BIC Tradacoms Trade Implementation Guidelines
Fully revised and updated June 2007
The Order File (updated January 2013)
The Acknowledgment of Order File (updated August 2008)
The Delivery Notification File (updated August 2010)
The Invoice File (updated November 2011)
The Credit Note File (updated November 2009)
The Statement/Remittance Details File
The Book Trade Price and Availability Updates File (updated August 2010)
Code Lists Version 9, revised January 2013
Tradacoms transmission structure
Fully updated and revised July 2012
BIC EDIFACT Implementation Guidelines
Implementation guidelines for EDIFACT messages for the book trade are maintained by EDItEUR and can be found here. The first two documents below relate to specific UK usage and provide guidelines on the UK requirements of HM Revenue and Customs.
Using the EDItEUR invoice message for UK book trade invoices
(updated July 2012)
Using the Edifact Taxcon Message for UK book trade invoices and credit notes
Note: At the time this documentation was prepared, use of the Taxcon message was required by HM Revenue and Customs. Effective 1 January 2004, this is no longer a requirement
Changes to trade book supply guidelines since Issue 1.1
April 2010
Industry Returns Initiative
BIC EDI Implementation Guidelines for Book Trade Returns, Version 1.4
Issue 1.4 of the BIC EDI Implementation Guidelines for Book Trade Returns covers the use of EDI messaging to handle requests for returns authorisation sent by booksellers to publishers or wholesalers, and responses to such requests.
R2 Structure of an EDIFACT transmission
R3 Using the RETANN message for returns requests
(revised October 2012)
R4 Using the RETINS message for returns authorisation
R5 Using the RETINS message for returns adjustments
(revised December 2010)
R6 Returns Code Lists
(revised October 2011)
IRI Text file design specification
Version 12, September 2005, revised November 2010
Barcode labelling program for Returns
For PC and Mac with operating manual
Managing FTP file transfers
EDItEUR filenaming conventions for use in FTP file transfers
Version 4, May 2008
EDItX XML transaction specifications
XML versions of all the major transactions in trade applications have been developed. For more details click here.
