EDI Acknowledgments 997, 999, CONTRL Messages

What is the Message Delivery Notification (MDN)?

The Message Delivery Notification (MDN) is an electronic receipt generated in AS2 communications to confirm that a message has been successfully delivered and received without alteration. It verifies that the transmission was completed and that the data’s integrity is intact. Unlike a Functional Acknowledgment (997) or EDIFACT CONTRL, the MDN does not validate syntax or business rules—it only confirms delivery at the transport level. By providing proof of receipt, the MDN reduces disputes, ensures compliance, and builds trust between trading partners in secure electronic exchanges. [1][2][3]

What is the Functional Acknowledgment (997)?

The Functional Acknowledgment (997) is an ANSI X12 EDI transaction set that represents industry best practice and is automatically generated by modern EDI software. It confirms delivery and receipt of information, validates syntax, and reports any formatting errors or data loss. Unlike a Message Delivery Notification (MDN), which only confirms transport-level delivery, the 997 provides feedback on the structural integrity of the message. Business documents may be accepted with errors or rejected outright, with rejected messages requiring correction and re-transmission by the sender. By providing this level of detail, the 997 ensures that corrected transactions are properly structured and ready for downstream processing. [1][2][3]

What is the Implementation Acknowledgment (999)?

The Implementation Acknowledgment (999) is an ANSI X12 transaction set designed to provide detailed feedback on the acceptance or rejection of received EDI transactions. Unlike the 997, which only indicates syntactical validity, the Implementation Acknowledgment (999) also evaluates compliance against published implementation guides. In effect, the Implementation Acknowledgment (999) ensures that not only is a transaction structurally correct, but also that it follows the precise rules required by a given industry. [1][2][5]

What is the EDIFACT CONTRL?

The EDIFACT CONTRL message is a control document within the UN/EDIFACT standard used to acknowledge receipt of an electronic message and confirm its syntactical validity. It indicates whether a message complies with EDIFACT rules, highlighting any structural errors that must be addressed. Like the X12 997, CONTRL provides detailed feedback on syntax and formatting, but is designed for international exchanges across industries and regions. If a message is rejected, the sender is responsible for correcting and re-transmitting it. By delivering structured responses, the CONTRL ensures global interoperability and reliable downstream processing in complex, cross-border supply chains. [1][2][7]

Are Guidelines & Sample Files for the 997,999, and CONTRL messages available?

Yes. PartnerLinQ provides sample files and implementation guides for the 997,999, and CONTRL messages through its Support and Guideline Management Team.

Sample files and implementation guides illustrate both inbound and outbound flows, segment layouts, and valid data examples and support testing and partner onboarding. Customized specification documents for use in on boarding and technical development are available upon request.

PartnerLinQ provides: