Committee Specification, 12 October 2006
- Locations:
- Persistent version: http://docs.oasis-open.org/ubl/os-UBL-2.0/
Current version: http://docs.oasis-open.org/ubl/cs-UBL-2.0/
- Technical committee:
- OASIS Universal Business Language (UBL) TC
- Chairs:
- Jon Bosak, Sun Microsystems
<jon.bosak@sun.com>
Tim McGrath<tmcgrath@portcomm.com.au>
- Editors:
- Jon Bosak, Sun Microsystems
<jon.bosak@sun.com>
Tim McGrath<tmcgrath@portcomm.com.au>
G. Ken Holman, Crane Softwrights Ltd.<gkholman@CraneSoftwrights.com>
- Subject / Keywords:
- Universal Business Language, UBL
- OASIS Conceptual Model Topic Area:
- Electronic Commerce
- Status:
This document was last revised or approved by the UBL TC on the above date. The level of approval is also listed above. Check the current location noted above for possible later revisions of this document. This document is updated periodically on no particular schedule.
Technical Committee members should send comments on this specification to the Technical Committee's email list. Others should send comments to the Technical Committee by using the "Send A Comment" button on the Technical Committee's web page at http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/ubl/.
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See Appendix A, Release Notes (Informative) for more information regarding this release package.
- Notices:
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Copyright © OASIS Open 2006. All Rights Reserved.
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Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction (Informative)
- 2. Terms and Definitions
- 3. Symbols and Abbreviations
- 4. UBL 2.0 Context of Use
- 5. UBL 2.0 Schemas
- 6. Additional Document Constraints
Appendices
- A. Release Notes (Informative)
- B. Upgrading from UBL 1.0 to UBL 2.0 (Informative)
- C. UBL Development Methodology (Informative)
- D. UBL 2.0 Document Models (Informative)
- E. UBL 2.0 Code Lists and Two-phase Validation (Informative)
- F. UBL 2.0 Naming and Design Rules (Informative)
- G. ASN.1 Specification (Informative)
- References
Since its approval as a W3C recommendation in 1998, XML has been adopted in a number of industries as a framework for the definition of the messages exchanged in electronic commerce. The widespread use of XML has led to the development of multiple industry-specific XML versions of such basic documents as purchase orders, shipping notices, and invoices.
While industry-specific data formats have the advantage of maximal optimization for their business context, the existence of different formats to accomplish the same purpose in different business domains is attended by a number of significant disadvantages as well.
Developing and maintaining multiple versions of common business documents like purchase orders and invoices is a major duplication of effort.
Creating and maintaining multiple adapters to enable trading relationships across domain boundaries is an even greater effort.
The existence of multiple XML formats makes it much harder to integrate XML business messages with back-office systems.
The need to support an arbitrary number of XML formats makes tools more expensive and trained workers harder to find.
The OASIS Universal Business Language (UBL) is intended to help solve these problems by defining a generic XML interchange format for business documents that can be extended to meet the requirements of particular industries. Specifically, UBL provides the following:
A library of XML schemas for reusable data components such as “Address,” “Item,” and “Payment” — the common data elements of everyday business documents.
A set of XML schemas for common business documents such as “Order,” “Despatch Advice,” and “Invoice” that are constructed from the UBL library components and can be used in generic procurement and transportation contexts.
A standard basis for XML business schemas provides the following advantages:
Lower cost of integration, both among and within enterprises, through the reuse of common data structures.
Lower cost of commercial software, because software written to process a given XML tag set is much easier to develop than software that can handle an unlimited number of tag sets.
An easier learning curve, because users need master just a single library.
Lower cost of entry and therefore quicker adoption by small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs).
Standardized training, resulting in many skilled workers.
A universally available pool of system integrators.
Standardized, inexpensive data input and output tools.
A standard target for inexpensive off-the-shelf business software.
UBL is designed to provide a universally understood and recognized commercial syntax for legally binding business documents and to operate within a standard business framework such as ISO 15000 (ebXML) to provide a complete, standards-based infrastructure that can extend the benefits of existing EDI systems to businesses of all sizes. UBL is freely available to everyone without legal encumbrance or licensing fees.
UBL schemas are modular, reusable, and extensible in XML-aware ways. As the first standard implementation of ebXML Core Components Technical Specification 2.01, the UBL Library is based on a conceptual model of information components known as Business Information Entities (BIEs). These components are assembled into specific document models such as Order and Invoice. These document assembly models are then transformed in accordance with UBL Naming and Design Rules into W3C XSD schema syntax. This approach facilitates the creation of UBL-based document types beyond those specified in this release.
The OASIS UBL TC thanks Altova for its contribution of XML Spy licenses for use in UBL schema design and Sparx Systems for its contribution of Enterprise Architect licenses for use in developing UML content models. Special thanks are due to GEFEG for its contribution of FX (EDIFIX) and technical expertise in the generation and quality review of UBL schemas.
- Assembly model
A tree-structured model of ABIEs that can be implemented as a document schema.
- Class diagram
A graphical notation used by [UML] to describe the static structure of a system, including object classes and their attributes and associations.
- Context
The circumstance or events that form the environment within which something exists or takes place.
- Document
A set of information components that are interchanged as part of a business transaction; for example, in placing an order.
- Spreadsheet model
A representation of an assembly model in tabular form.
- XSD schema
An XML document definition conforming to the W3C XML Schema language [XSD1] [XSD2].
The terms Core Component (CC), Basic Core Component (BCC), Aggregate Core Component (ACC), Association Core Component (ASCC), Business Information Entity (BIE), Basic Business Information Entity (BBIE), and Aggregate Business Information Entity (ABIE) are used in this specification with the meanings given in [CCTS].
The terms Object Class, Property Term, Representation Term, and Qualifier are used in this specification with the meanings given in [ISO11179].
The keywords MUST, MUST NOT, REQUIRED, SHALL, SHALL NOT, SHOULD, SHOULD NOT, RECOMMENDED, MAY and OPTIONAL, when they appear in this document, are to be interpreted as described in [RFC2119].
- ABIE
Aggregate Business Information Entity
- ASBIE
Association Business Information Entity
- BBIE
Basic Business Information Entity
- BIE
Business Information Entity
- CC
Core Component
- CV2
Credit Card Verification Numbering System
- EDI
Electronic Data Interchange
- ISO
International Organization for Standardization
- NDR
UBL Naming and Design Rules (see Appendix F)
- UML
Unified Modeling Language [UML]
- UN/CEFACT
United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business
- UNDG
United Nations Dangerous Goods
- URI
Uniform Resource Identifier
- UUID
Universally Unique Identifier
- XML
Extensible Markup Language [XML]
- XPath
The XML Path Language
- XSD
The processes described in this section, and the business rules associated with them, define a context for the use of UBL 2.0 business documents. They are normative insofar as they provide semantics for the UBL document schemas, but they should not be construed as limiting the application of those schemas.
UBL 2.0 extends the order-to-invoice processes of UBL 1.0 to cover a supply chain from sourcing to payment, including the commercial collaborations of international trade. The following diagram illustrates the process context assumed by UBL 2.0 documents.
![[Use Case Diagram]](art/UBL-2.0-CombinedUseCase.jpg)
It is important to note that the UBL 2.0 library is designed to support the construction of a wide variety of document types beyond those provided in the 2.0 package. It is expected that implementers will develop their own customized document types and components and that other UBL document types will be added as the library evolves.
This section describes some of the requirements and general business rules that are assumed for collaborations and document exchanges in UBL 2.0.
An item may be a product or a service
Items may have multiple classifications
A contract may influence prices
An item may be part of another item
An item may have a price per unit and an order unit
An item may reference pictures and documents
An item may have a validity period
An item may refer to other relevant or necessary items
One of the following identifiers may be used to identify each Item (for example, a product):
Buyer’s Item Identification, or
Seller’s Item Identification, or
Manufacturer’s Item Identification, or
Catalogue Item Identification, or
Item Identification according to a system promulgated by a standards body
The Item may be further distinguished by the specification of Measurement(s) or Physical Attribute(s). This enables specification of the following kinds of item:
Item Requiring Description
This is an item that is not identified by an unambiguous machine-processable product code and requires additional descriptive information to precisely identify it.
Customer Defined Item
This is an item that the customer describes according to his need, and in the specification of which the customer may make some reference to comparable “standard” items.
Item Requiring Measurements
This is an item for which it is necessary to specify one or more measurements as part of the descriptive specification of the item.
Certain Items may be identified and ordered as individual, unique objects, for example, a specific car rather than a make and model of a car. This form of identification may also be needed for product tracing (e.g., perishable goods) or because of the nature of the commodity (e.g., used, collectible, specialized, or rare).
In data modeling terms, an Item Instance is an extension of an Item.
For any given Item, price ranges by amount, quantity, location, etc., are specified by the Seller during the sourcing stage. They are not repeated back to the Seller during Ordering; only the active price is specified.
In some cases, the Buyer may not know the Item Price, in which case it is not specified. This makes a detailed response from the Seller necessary; see Order Response.
Although ordered items may include Hazardous items, it is not necessary to specify related information at the order stage. The Buyer may not be aware of the nature of the Item. Indication of the Hazardous nature of the Item, and any relevant information, would be indicated in the Despatch Advice and Transportation documents.
In UBL, a party is defined as an individual, a group, or a body having a role in a business function.
Dependent on the business process, a Party may play various roles in the document exchange.
Some textual components, such as Notes and Description, may be specified in several languages. Each should be a separate occurrence of the component, using the language attribute to define its presentation. However, multiple occurrences of the same textual components should not be in the same language.
The UBL 2.0 documents and library are designed to support the typical business processes outlined in Figure 1.
The following sections describe each business process in more detail. But first we should explain the roles that the parties involved in these processes may perform.
In the UBL supply chain processes, two main actors, Customer and Supplier, represent the key organizations or individuals involved in the processes. Each of these actors may play various roles. Processes may also involve supplementary roles that may be provided by different parties.
The actual role undertaken is dependent on the context of use. For example, the Despatch Party and Delivery Party as applied to the Procurement process may differ in the Transportation process. In other words, whether the Consignor in a Transportation process is actually equal to the Despatch Party or Seller in the Procurement process depends on the specific circumstances.
The following table contains a description of the typical roles for the actors known as Party, Customer Party, and Supplier Party.
Table 1. Party Roles
|
Actor |
Role |
Description |
Example |
Synonyms |
Sends |
Receives |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Customer Party |
Originator |
The party that had the original demand for the goods and/or services and therefore initiated the procurement transaction. The Originator participates in pre-ordering activity either through RFQ and Quotation or by receiving a Quotation as a response to a punchout transaction on a marketplace or Seller’s website. If the Originator subsequently places an Order, the Originator adopts the role of Buyer. The Originator is the typically the contact point for queries regarding the original requirement and may be referred to in an Order Change, Order Cancellation, or Order Response. |
If an employee requests a computer, the employing company may become the Buyer, but the employee is the Originator. They need to receive information about the order. |
|
Request for Quotation
|
Quotation |
|
Customer Party |
Buyer |
The party that purchases the goods or services on behalf of the Originator. The Buyer may be referred to in Order Response, Despatch Advice, Invoice, Self Billed Invoice, Credit Note, and Account Statement. |
A company may delegate the task of purchasing to a specialized group to consolidate orders and gain greater discounts. |
Order Point |
Order, Order Change, and Order Cancellation |
Order Response |
|
Supplier Party |
Delivery |
The party to whom goods should be delivered. The Delivery Party may be the same as the Originator. The Delivery Party must be referred to at line item level in RFQ, Quotation, Order, Order change, Order Cancellation, and Order Response. The Delivery Party may be referred to at line level in Invoice, Self Billed Invoice, Credit Note, and Debit Note. The Delivery Party may be stipulated in a transport contract. |
If a municipality buys a wheelchair for a citizen, the wheelchair must be delivered to the citizen (the Delivery Party). In such cases the citizen may be notified before delivering the wheelchair. |
Delivery Point, Destination Party, Receiver, Recipient |
Receipt Advice |
Despatch Advice |
|
Customer Party |
Accounting Customer |
The party responsible for making settlement relating to a purchase and resolving billing issues using a Debit Note. The Accounting Customer must be referred to in an Order and may be referred to in an Order Response. In a Self Billing scenario, the Accounting Customer is responsible for calculating and issuing tax invoices. |
If a kindergarten buys some toys they may be the Originator, Buyer, and Delivery Party, but the municipality may play the role of Accounting Customer — they are going to pay for it. |
Invoicee, Accounts Payable, Debtor |
In a traditional Billing scenario: Debit Note, Account Response, and Remittance Advice In a Self Billing scenario: Self Billed Invoice, Self Billed Credit Note, and Remittance Advice |
In a traditional Billing scenario: Invoice, Credit Note, and Statement of Account In a Self Billing scenario: Credit Note, Account Response, and Statement of Account |
|
Supplier Party |
Seller |
The party responsible for handling Originator and Buyer services. The Seller party is legally responsible for providing the goods to the Buyer. The Seller party receives and quotes against RFQs and may provide information to the Buyer’s requisitioning process through Catalogues and Quotations. |
The organization that sells wheelchairs to municipalities. |
Sales Point, Provider, Customer Manager |
Quotation, Order Response, Order Response Simple, Catalogue, Catalogue Deletion, Catalogue Item Specification Update, Catalogue Pricing Update |
RFQ, Order, Order Change, Order Cancellation, Request for Catalogue |
|
Supplier Party |
Despatch |
The party where goods are to be collected from. The Despatch Party may be stipulated in a transport contract. |
The wheelchair Supplier may store chairs at a local warehouse. The warehouse will actually despatch the chair to the Delivery Party. The local warehouse is then the Despatch Party. |
Despatch Point, Shipper, Sender |
Despatch Advice |
Receipt Advice |
|
Supplier Party |
Accounting Supplier |
The party who claims the payment and is responsible for resolving billing issues and arranging settlement. |
There are cases where the Accounting Supplier is not the Seller party. For example, factoring, where the invoicing is outsourced to another company. |
Accounts Receivable, Invoice Issuer, Creditor |
In a traditional Billing scenario: Invoice, Credit Note, and Statement of Account In a Self Billing scenario: Credit Note, Account Response and Statement of Account |
In a traditional Billing scenario: Debit Note, Account Response, and Remittance Advice In a Self Billing scenario: Self Billed Invoice, Self Billing Credit Note, and Remittance Advice |
|
Supplier Party |
Payee |
The party to whom the Invoice is paid. |
The Accounting Supplier may not be the party to be paid due to changes in the organization, e.g., a company merger. |
Accounts Receivable, Creditor |
|
Remittance Advice |
|
Customer Party |
Contractor |
The party responsible for the contract to which the Catalogue relates. |
An organization has a central office for maintaining catalogues of approved items for purchase. |
Central Catalogue Party, Purchasing Manager |
Request for Catalogue |
Catalogue, Catalogue Deletion, Catalogue Item Specification Update, Catalogue Pricing Update |
|
Party |
Provider |
The party responsible for the integrity of the information provided about an item. |
The manufacturer may publish and maintain the data sheets about a product. |
|
Catalogue, Catalogue Deletion, Catalogue Item Specification Update, Catalogue Pricing Update |
|
|
Party |
Receiver |
The party receiving a document. The party receiving a Catalogue. Catalogue items may never be ordered, so the recipient of the catalogue is not an Originator or a Buyer. |
A marketplace may receive an Application Response. |
|
|
Catalogue, Catalogue Deletion, Catalogue Item Specification Update, Catalogue Pricing Update, Application Response |
|
Party |
Sender |
The party sending a document. |
A marketplace may send an Application Response. |
|
Application Response |
|
|
Party |
Consignor |
The party consigning the goods as stipulated in the transport contract. A Buyer, Delivery, Seller, or Despatcher Party may also play the role of Consignor. Also known as the Transport Service Buyer. The Consignor may be stipulated in a transport contract. |
The wheelchair Supplier may source from a local warehouse. The Freight Forwarder will collect the chair from the local warehouse, which is thus the Consignor. In this case, the warehouse also plays the role of Despatch Party to the Freight Forwarder. |
Despatch Point, Shipper, Sender, Transport Service Buyer |
Forwarding Instructions, Packing List |
Bill of Lading, Waybill, Freight Invoice, Transportation Status |
|
Party |
Consignee |
The party receiving a consignment of goods as stipulated in the transport contract. |
The party taking responsibility for the receipt of the consignment covering the wheelchair. |
Delivery Point, Transport Service Buyer |
Forwarding Instructions, Freight Invoice |
Bill of Lading, Waybill, Freight Invoice, Transportation Status |
|
Party |
Freight Forwarder |
The party arranging the carriage of goods, including connected services and/or associated formalities, on behalf of a Consignor or Consignee. Also known as the Transport Service Provider. The Freight Forwarder may also be the Carrier. The Freight Forwarder may create an invoice and bill to the Transport Service Buyer for the transportation service provided. |
The Consignor may have a contract with this Freight Forwarder, which is a Transport Services Provider, to arrange all their transport needs. |
Shipping Agent, Broker, Courier, Transport Service Provider |
Forwarding Instructions, Freight Invoice, Transportation Status |
Bill of Lading, Waybill, Packing List |
|
Party |
Carrier |
The party providing physical transport services. |
The Freight Forwarder may engage an airline company to deliver the wheelchair. The airline is then the Carrier and delivers the chair to the Delivery Party. |
Freight Haulier, Shipper, Ships Agent, Shipping Company, Airline, Rail Operator, Road Haulier |
Bill of Lading, Waybill |
Forwarding Instructions |
|
Party |
Exporter |
The party who makes regulatory export declarations, or on whose behalf regulatory export declarations are made, and who is the owner of the goods or has similar right of disposal over them at the time when the declaration is accepted. |
The wheelchair Supplier has to apply for a Certificate of Origin in order to sell the chairs overseas. |
Seller, Consignor |
Certificate of Origin |
Application Response |
|
Party |
Endorser |
The party appointed by the Government of a country who has the right to certify a Certificate of Origin. This endorsement restricts goods imported from certain countries for political or other reasons. |
The Government agency validates all the information provided by Exporter for Certificate of Origin approval. |
Authorized Organization, Embassy |
Certificate of Origin, Application Response |
Certificate of Origin |
|
Party |
Importer |
The party who makes, or on whose behalf an agent or other authorized person makes, an import declaration. This may include a person who has possession of the goods or to whom the goods are consigned. |
A specialized group in a company consolidates the purchase request and handles the receiving of goods. |
Order Point, Delivery Party, Buyer, Customer, Consignee |
|
Certificate of Origin |
There are three kinds of sourcing:
Catalogue provision
Customer initiated sourcing
Punchout
A Seller Supplier Party, Contractor Customer Party, Originator Customer Party, or Buyer Customer Party may initiate sourcing.
Document types in these processes are Catalogue Request, Application Response, Catalogue Item Specification Update, Catalogue Pricing Update and Catalogue Deletion.
A Catalogue is defined as a document produced by a party in the procurement chain that describes items and prices.
Catalogue provision is the case where a Provider sends information regarding items available for purchase to a Receiver. This may be on request or unsolicited.
Because they are only potential purchasers, a Receiver may never become a Customer Party.
Any conditions specified in the contract shall overrule those stated in the common Catalogue.
A Catalogue exchange shall be between one Provider and one Receiver Party.
A classification system may have its own set of properties.
A classification scheme shall have metadata.
A Catalogue may have a validity period.
A Catalogue should include item classifications.
Classification schemes should include standard and specific properties.
A Catalogue may refer to the lot (sub-section) of a contract.
A Catalogue may explicitly specify the framework contract reference.
A Catalogue may refer to a DPS contract number.
When a Catalogue item is updated, the item shall be replaced in the Catalogue.
When a Catalogue item is updated, historical information about replaced or updated items must be available to reconcile with outstanding transactions.
Prices may be updated independently of other Catalogue information.
Catalogue distribution may be Provider or Receiver Party initiated.
If a Receiver initiates a request for a Catalogue, they may request an entire Catalogue or only updates to either pricing or item specification details.
Whether Receiver Party initiated or not, the decision to issue a new Catalogue or update an existing one shall be at the discretion of the Provider Party.
If an updated Catalogue is issued, then an action code shall define the status of the items in the Catalogue.
The process of creating a Catalogue is shown in the following diagram.
![[Create Catalogue Activity Diagram]](art/UBL-2.0-CreateCatalogueProcess.jpg)
The process of updating a Catalogue Item Specification is shown in the following diagram.
![[Update Item Specification Activity Diagram]](art/UBL-2.0-UpdateCatalogueItemSpecificationProcess.jpg)
The process of updating Catalogue pricing is shown in the following diagram.
![[Update Catalogue Pricing Activity Diagram]](art/UBL-2.0-UpdateCataloguePricingProcess.jpg)
![[Delete Catalogue Activity Diagram]](art/UBL-2.0-DeleteCatalogueProcess.jpg)
Customer initiated sourcing is the case where the Originator asks for a quotation, as shown in the following diagram.
![[Customer Initiated Sourcing Activity Diagram]](art/UBL-2.0-SourcingBuyerInitiatedProcess.jpg)
Punchout applications are a technological innovation whereby an Originator is able to directly access a Seller’s application from within their own procurement application.
![[Sourcing Punchout Activity Diagram]](art/UBL-2.0-SourcingPunchoutProcess.jpg)
The Originators leave (“punch out” from) their system and interact with the Seller’s catalogue to locate and order products, while their application transparently gathers pertinent information.
While conceptually the punchout request is a form of Request for Quote, the exchange transaction is tightly coupled to the specific catalogue application and considered outside the scope of UBL 2.0.
Ordering is the collaboration that creates a contractual obligation between the Seller Supplier Party and the Buyer Customer Party.
Document types in these processes are Order, Order Response, Order Response Simple, Order Change, and Order Cancellation.
![[Ordering Activity Diagram]](art/UBL-2.0-OrderingProcess.jpg)
The Order may specify allowance and charge instructions (e.g., freight, documentation, etc.) that identify the type of charge and who pays which charges. The Order may be placed “on account” against a trading credit account held by the Seller, or against a credit/debit card account, or a direct debit agreement. The Order allows for an overall currency defining a default for all pricing and also a specific currency to be used for Invoicing. Within an Order, additional currencies may be specified both for individual item pricing and for any allowances or charges.
Trade discount may be specified at the Order level. The Buyer may not know the trade discount, in which case it is not specified. This makes a detailed response from the Seller necessary; see Order Response (5.4.3).
The Order provides for multiple Order Lines.
The Order may specify delivery terms, while the Order Line may provide instructions for delivery.
The Buyer may indicate potential alternatives that are acceptable.
The Order Response Simple is the means by which the Seller confirms receipt of the Order from the Buyer, indicating either commitment to fulfil without change or that the Order has been rejected.
Proposed changes to an Order by the Seller are accomplished through the full Order Response document.
The Order Response proposes to replace the original Order. It reflects the entire new state of an order transaction. It also is the means by which the Seller confirms or supplies Order-related details to the Buyer that were not available to, or specified by, the Buyer at the time of ordering. These may include:
Delivery date, offered by the Seller if not specifically requested by the Buyer
Prices
Discounts
Charges
Item Classification codes
The Seller may advise on replacements or substitutes which will be made, or changes necessary, using the Order Response.
The Buyer may change an established Order in two ways, subject to the legal contract or trading partner agreement: first, by sending an Order Change, or second, by sending an Order Cancellation (see 5.4.5) followed by a new, complete replacement Order.
An Order Change reflects the entire current state of an order transaction.
Buyers may initiate a change to a previously accepted order for various reasons, such as changing ordered items, quantity, delivery date, ship-to address, etc. Suppliers may accept or reject the Order Change using either Order Response or Order Response Simple.
At any point of the process, a Buyer may cancel an established order transaction using the Order Cancellation document. Legal contracts, trading partner agreements, and business rules will restrict at what point an Order Cancellation will be ignored (e.g., at the point of manufacture or the initiation of the delivery process). Given the agreements and rules, an Order Cancellation may or may not be an automated business transaction. The terms and conditions of contract formation for business commitments will dictate which, if any, of these restrictions or guidelines will apply.
Fulfilment is the collaboration in which the goods or services are transferred from the Despatch Party to the Delivery Party.
Document types in these processes are Despatch Advice, Receipt Advice, Order Cancellation and Order Change.
In common practice, fulfilment is either supported by a proactive Despatch Advice from the Despatch Party or by a reactive Receipt Advice from the Delivery Party.
If the Customer is not satisfied with the goods or services, they may then cancel or change the order (see Section 4.4, Ordering).
The Seller may have a fulfilment (or customer) service dealing with anomalies.
![[Fulfilment with Despatch Advice Activity Diagram]](art/UBL-2.0-FulfilmentDespatchAdviceProcess.jpg)
The Despatch Advice is sent by the Despatch Party to the Delivery Party to confirm shipment of items.
The Despatch Advice provides for two situations:
Organization of the delivery set of items by Transport Handling Unit(s) so that the Receiver can check the Transport Handling Unit and then contained items. Quantities of the same item on the same Order Line may be separated into different Transport Handling Units, and hence appear on separate Despatch Lines within a Transport Handling Unit.
Organization of the delivery set of items by Despatch Line, annotated by the Transport Handling Unit in which they are placed, to facilitate checking against the Order. For convenience, any Order Line split over multiple Transport Handling Units will result in a Despatch Line for each Transport Handling Unit they are contained in.
Additionally, in either case, the Despatch Advice may advise:
Full Despatch — advising the Recipient and/or Buyer that all the items on the order will be, or are being, delivered in one complete consignment on a given date.
Partial Despatch — advising the Recipient and/or Buyer that the items on the order will be, or are being, partially delivered in a consignment on a given date.
Despatch Lines of the Despatch Advice need not correspond one-to-one with Order Lines, and are linked by a reference. The information structure of the Despatch Advice may result in multiple Despatch Lines from one Order Line. Equally, partial despatch may result in some Order Lines not being matched by any Line in a Despatch Advice.
Within a Despatch Advice, an Item may also indicate the Country of Origin and the Hazardous nature of the Item.
The Receipt Advice is sent by the Delivery Party to the Despatch Party to confirm receipt of items and is capable of reporting shortages or damaged items.
![[Fulfilment with Receipt Advice Activity Diagram]](art/UBL-2.0-FulfilmentReceiptAdviceProcess.jpg)
The Receipt Advice provides for two situations. For ease of processing claimed receipt against claimed delivery, it must be organised in the same way as the corresponding Despatch Advice:
Indication of receipt by Transport Handling Unit(s) and contained Receipt Lines one-to-one with the Despatch Advice as detailed by the Seller party.
Indication of receipt by Receipt Lines annotated by Transport Handling Unit, one-to-one with the Despatch Advice as detailed by the Seller party.
The Receipt Advice allows the Delivery Party to state any shortages from the claimed despatch quantity and to state any quantities rejected for a given reason.
In the Billing collaboration, a request is made for payment for goods or services that have been ordered, received, or consumed. In practice, there are several ways in which goods or services may be billed.
Document types in these processes are Invoice, Credit Note, Debit Note, and Application Response.
For UBL 2.0, we assume the following methods:
Traditional Billing
Using Credit Note
Using Debit Note
Self Billing (also known as billing on receipt)
Using Credit Note
Using Self Billed Credit Note
The Invoice is normally issued on the basis of one despatch event triggering one invoice. An Invoice may also be issued for pre-payment on a whole or partial basis. The possibilities are:
Prepayment invoice (payment expected)
Pro-forma invoice (pre advice, payment not expected)
Normal Invoice, on despatch for despatched items
Invoice after return of Receipt Advice
The Invoice only contains the information that is necessary for invoicing purposes. It does not reiterate any information already established in the Order, Order Change, Order Response, Despatch Advice, or Receipt Advice that is not necessary when invoicing. If necessary, the Invoice refers to the Order, Despatch Advice, or Receipt Advice by a Reference for those documents.
Taxation on the Invoice allows for compound taxes, the sequence of calculation being implied by the sequence of information repeated in the data stream (e.g., Energy tax, with VAT — Value Added Tax — superimposed). The OASIS TaxML Technical Committee (http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/tc_home.php?wg_abbrev=tax) is developing UBL implementation profiles for various tax regimes, such as those required by the European Community.
Charges may be specified either as a lump sum or by percentage applied to the whole Invoice value prior to calculation of taxes. Such charges cover:
Packaging
Delivery/postage
Freight
Documentation
Each Invoice Line refers to any related Order Line(s) and may also refer to the Despatch Line and/or Receipt Line.
Traditional billing is where the supplier invoices the customer when the goods are delivered or the services provided.
In this case, the invoice may be created at the time of despatch or when the Delivery Party acknowledges that the goods have been received (using a Receipt Advice).
When there are discrepancies between the Despatch Advice, Receipt Advice, and/or the Invoice and the goods actually received, or the goods are rejected for quality reasons, the customer may send an Application Response or a Debit Note to the supplier. The supplier may then issue a Credit Note or another Invoice as required.
A Credit Note or Debit Note may also be issued in the case of retrospective price change.
Credit Notes or Debit Notes may be also issued after the Billing collaboration (as part of the Payment collaboration).
Billing using Credit Notes is shown in the following diagram.
![[Billing with Credit Note Activity Diagram]](art/UBL-2.0-BillingwithCreditNoteProcess.jpg)
When using Credit Notes, the Supplier (in their Accounting role) is responsible for specifying the tax requirements.
Billing using Debit Notes is shown in the following diagram.
![[Billing with Debit Note Activity Diagram]](art/UBL-2.0-BillingwithDebitNoteProcess.jpg)
When using Debit Notes, both the Supplier (in their Accounting role) and the Customer (in their Accounting role) are responsible for providing taxation information.
A self billing process is where a Customer “invoices” itself, in the name and on behalf of the Supplier, and provides the Supplier with a copy of the self billed invoice.
Self Billing using Credit Notes is shown in the following diagram.
![[Self Billing with Credit Note Activity Diagram]](art/UBL-2.0-SelfBillingwithCreditNoteProcess.jpg)
If the Supplier finds that the Self Billed Invoice is incorrect, e.g., wrong quantities or wrong prices, or if the goods have not been invoiced at all, it may send an Application Response or a Credit Note to the Customer. The customer may then verify whether the adjustment is acceptable or not and consequently issue another Self Billed Invoice or a Self Billed Credit Note.
Self Billing using Self Billed Credit Notes is shown in the following diagram.
![[Self Billing with Self Billed Credit Note Activity Diagram]](art/UBL-2.0-SelfBillingwithSelfBilledCreditNoteProcess.jpg)
When using Self Billed Credit Notes, the Customer is raising the Self Billed Credit Note in the name and on behalf of the Supplier. Therefore the Supplier and the Customer are still both responsible for providing taxation information.
An extension of the Billing process is that of Freight Billing. This represents the billing process between the Transport Service Buyer and Transport Service Provider through the use of an Invoice for freight charges.
The Transport Service Provider initiates the process of billing the Transport Service Buyer for logistic services.
The Freight Invoice lists the charges incurred in order to fulfill the agreed service.
![[Freight Billing Activity Diagram]](art/UBL-2.0-FreightBillingProcess.jpg)
![[Reminder For Payment Process Diagram]](art/UBL-2.0-ReminderForPaymentProcess.jpg)
In the payment collaboration, the Payee (who is most often the Accounting Customer) is notified of any funds transferred against the account of the Accounting Supplier using a Remittance Advice.
The document type in this process is the Remittance Advice.
![[Payment Activity Diagram]](art/UBL-2.0-PaymentProcess.jpg)
![[Statement Activity Diagram]](art/UBL-2.0-StatementProcess.jpg)
These process define the ordering of logistical services for international trade. With receipt of an order and acknowledgement by the Supplier Party that the goods are available and ready to be shipped, the Consignor or Consignee initiates the transportation arrangements. This includes booking the consignment with a Transport Service Provider such as the Freight Forwarder or Carrier and advising the Delivery Party of the arrangements as needed.
Document types in these processes are Forwarding Instructions, Packing List, Waybill, and Bill of Lading.
It should be noted that these processes do not cover regulatory notifications such as Customs declarations or arrangements between carriers, hauliers, and terminal operators for the physical movement of goods.
![[Initiate Transport Services Activity Diagram]](art/UBL-2.0-InitiateTransportServicesProcess.jpg)
Forwarding Instructions are normally used by any party who gives instructions for the transportation services required for a consignment of goods (the Transport Service Buyer) to any party who is contracted to provide the transportation services (called the Transport Service Provider). Forwarding Instructions may also be used by any party who requests a booking of shipment space to be made for the transportation services required for a consignment of goods to any party who will provide the underlying transportation services. The parties who issue this document are commonly referred to as the shipper, consignee, or consignor, while the parties who receive this document are forwarders, carriers, shipping agents, etc.
Forwarding Instructions may also be issued by a freight forwarder or shipping agent in their capacity as a Transport Service Buyer. This document may be used to arrange for the transportation:
of different types of goods or cargoes
whether containerized or non-containerized
through different modes of transport, and
from any origin to any destination.
A Bill of Lading is issued by the party who provides the physical transportation services (e.g., carrier) to the party who gives instructions for the transportation services (shipper, consignor, etc.) stating the details of the transportation, charges, and terms and conditions under which the transportation service is provided.
It may also be issued by the party who acts as an agent for the carrier or other agents to the party who gives instructions for the transportation services (shipper, consignor, etc.) stating the details of the transportation, charges, and terms and conditions under which the transportation service is provided but does not provide the physical transportation service.
A Bill of Lading corresponds to the information on the Forwarding Instructions. It is used for ocean or river modes of transport.
A Bill of Lading may serve as a contractual document between the parties for the transportation service. The document evidences a contract of carriage by sea and the acceptance of responsibility for the goods by the carrier, by which the carrier undertakes to deliver the goods against surrender of the document. A provision in the document that the goods are to be delivered to the order of a named person, or to order, or to bearer, constitutes such an undertaking.
A Waybill is issued by the party who provides the physical transportation services to the party who gives instructions for the transportation services (shipper, consignor, etc.). It states the details of the transportation, charges, and terms and conditions under which the transportation service is provided.
Unlike a Bill of Lading, a Waybill is not negotiable and cannot be assigned to a third party. It is issued as a cargo receipt and is not required to be surrendered at the destination in order to pick up the cargo. This simplifies the documentation procedures between a transport service buyer and a transport service seller.
A Certificate of Origin is a document required by governments declaring that goods in a particular international shipment are of a certain origin.
It is the responsibility of the Exporter to sign the Certificate of Origin document and submit it to a local chamber of commerce or any designated government agency or board. These parties are the endorser and issuer of the Certificate of Origin. The Endorser must have access to other documents, such as the commercial invoice and Bill of Lading, in order to verify the Exporter’s claims that the goods originated in that country. Finally, the issued Certificate of Origin is sent to the Importer.
![[Certification Of Origin Of Goods Activity Diagram]](art/UBL-2.0-CertificationOfOriginOfGoodsProcess.jpg)
The Transportation Status document is a means for a Freight Forwarder (also known as the Transport Service Provider) to communicate to the Consignee or Consignor (also known as the Transport Service Buyer) or Notify Party, the status of shipments that are currently under the Freight Forwarder’s management.
A Transportation Status document is provided by the Freight Forwarder, either through an individual specific request or through an agreed status reporting procedure.
![[Report Status of Goods Activity Diagram]](art/UBL-2.0-ReportStatusofGoodsProcess.jpg)
The following table lists all the UBL 2.0 document types together with their target business processes and roles for parties who would typically submit and receive them.
Table 2. Summary of UBL 2.0 Document Types
|
Document Name |
Description |
Processes Involved |
Submitter Role |
Receiver Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Catalogue Request |
A document to request a Catalogue from a seller. May be either an entire new Catalogue or an update (at the discretion of the Seller). |
Create Catalogue, Update Item Specification, Update Pricing |
Contracting Party |
Seller |
|
Catalogue |
A document produced by a party in the procurement chain that describes items and prices. The document typically enables the transmission of information regarding pricing and catalogue details for goods and services offered by a seller to a buyer. |
Create Catalogue |
Seller |
Contracting Party |
|
Catalogue Deletion |
A document to cancel an entire Catalogue. All previous Catalogue information becomes obsolete. |
Delete Catalogue |
Seller |
Contracting Party |
|
Catalogue Item Specification Update |
A document to update information about Items in an existing Catalogue. |
Update Catalogue Item Specification |
Seller |
Contracting Party |
|
Catalogue Pricing Update |
A document to update information about Prices in an existing Catalogue. |
Update Catalogue Pricing |
Seller |
Contracting Party |
|
Request For Quotation |
A document to request pricing and availability information about goods or services. The document may requesting a quote on specified goods or services. |
Sourcing |
Originator |
Seller |
|
Quotation |
A document to specify pricing and availability information about goods or services. The document which, with a view to concluding a contract, sets out the conditions under which the goods are offered. |
Sourcing |
Seller |
Originator |
|
Order |
A document that contains information directly relating to the economic event of ordering products. The document by means of which a customer initiates a transaction with a supplier for the supply of goods or services as specified, according to conditions set out in an offer, or otherwise known to the customer. |
Ordering |
Buyer |
Seller |
|
Order Response |
A document responding to the customer to indicate detailed responses against a single order already received. |
Ordering |
Seller |
Buyer |
|
Order Response Simple |
A document responding to the customer to indicate simple acceptance or rejection of an entire order. The document acknowledging an undertaking to fulfil an order and confirming conditions or acceptance of conditions. |
Ordering |
Seller |
Buyer |
|
Order Change |
A document that contains information directly relating to the economic event of changing an order already sent. |
Ordering, Fulfilment |
Buyer |
Seller |
|
Order Cancellation |
A document that advises either party of the cancellation of an Order. |
Ordering, Fulfilment |
Buyer |
Seller |
|
Despatch Advice |
A document that describes the content of goods shipped. Document/message by means of which the seller or consignor informs the consignee about the despatch of goods. |
Fulfilment |
Despatch |
Delivery |
|
Receipt Advice |
A document that advises the goods received and accepted by the buyer. The document acknowledges the receipt of goods and in addition may indicate receiving conditions. |
Fulfilment |
Delivery |
Despatch |
|
Invoice |
A document claiming payment for goods or services supplied under conditions agreed between the supplier and the customer. In most cases this document describes the actual financial commitment of goods or services ordered from the supplier. |
Billing |
Supplier Accounting Party |
Customer Accounting Party |
|
Self Billed Invoice |
A document provided by a customer, in the name and on behalf of the supplier, describing the claim for payment for goods or services supplied under conditions agreed between the supplier and the customer. |
Billing |
Customer Accounting Party |
Supplier Accounting Party |
|
Credit Note |
A document for a supplier to specify a reduced payment. The document for providing credit information to the relevant party. |
Billing |
Supplier Accounting Party |
Customer Accounting Party |
|
Debit Note |
A document for a customer to specify a reduced payment. The document for providing debit information to the relevant party. |
Billing |
Customer Accounting Party |
Supplier Accounting Party |
|
Self Billed Credit Note |
A document for a customer to specify a reduced payment in a Self Billing environment. The document indicates that the customer is claiming credit in a self billing environment. |
Billing |
Customer Accounting Party |
Supplier Accounting Party |
|
Statement |
A document to list the financial transactions between customer and supplier and notify of their status. This is a Statement of Account and not intended as a summary Invoice. |
Billing |
Supplier Accounting Party |
Customer Accounting Party |
|
Reminder |
A document used to request payment. |
Billing |
Supplier Accounting Party and/or Payee |
Customer Accounting Party and/or Payee |
|
Remittance Advice |
A document to specify that funds have been transferred from the customer to the supplier. The document advising of the remittance of payment. |
Payment |
Customer Accounting Party and/or Payee |
Supplier Accounting Party and/or Payee |
|
Forwarding Instructions |
The document used by any party who gives instructions for the transportation services required for a consignment of goods to any party who is contracted to provide the transportation services. The parties who issue this document are commonly referred to as the shipper or consignor while the parties who receive this document are forwarders, carriers, shipping agents, etc. Note that this document may also be issued by a forwarder or shipping agent in their capacity as a Transport Service Buyer. This document may be used to arrange for the transportation (1) of different types of goods or cargoes; (2) whether containerized or non-containerized; (3) through different modes of transport including multi-modal, and (4) from any origin to any destination. The document issued to a freight forwarder, giving instructions regarding the action to be taken by the forwarder for the forwarding of goods described therein. |
Initiate Transport Services |
Consignor (or Consignee), Freight Forwarder |
Freight Forwarder, Carrier |
|
Bill of Lading |
A document issued by the party who acts as an agent for the carrier or other agents, to the party who gives instructions for the transportation services (shipper, consignor, etc.) stating the details of the transportation, charges, and terms and conditions under which the transportation service is provided. The party issuing this document does not necessarily provide the physical transportation service. It corresponds to the information on the Forwarding Instructions. It is used for any mode of transport. A Bill of Lading may serve as a contractual document between the parties for the transportation service. The document evidences a contract of carriage by sea and the acceptance of responsibility for the goods by the carrier, and by which the carrier undertakes to deliver the goods against surrender of the document. A provision in the document that the goods are to be delivered to the order of a named person, or to order, or to bearer, constitutes such an undertaking. A negotiable document that evidences a contract of carriage by sea and the taking over or loading of goods by carrier, and by which carrier undertakes to deliver goods against surrender of the document. |
Initiate Transport Services |
Freight Forwarder, Carrier |
Consignor (or Consignee), Freight Forwarder |
|
Waybill |
A document issued by the party who acts as an agent for the carrier or other agents to the party who gives instructions for the transportation services (shipper, consignor, etc.) stating the details of the transportation, charges, and terms and conditions under which the transportation service is provided. The party issuing this document may not provide the physical transportation service. It corresponds to the information on the Forwarding Instructions. It is used for all modes of transport. It may serve as a contractual document between the parties for the transportation service. A Waybill is a non-negotiable document evidencing the contract for the transport of cargo. It provides information similar to Bill of Lading but is not negotiable and cannot be assigned to a third party. |
Initiate Transport Services |
Freight Forwarder, Carrier |
Consignor (or Consignee), Freight Forwarder |
|
Packing List |
A document stating the detail of how goods are packed. The document specifies the distribution of goods in individual packages (in trade environment the despatch advice message is used for the packing list). |
Initiate Transport Services |
Consignor |
Freight Forwarder |
|
Freight Invoice |
A document issued by a transport operation specifying freight costs and charges incurred for a transport operation and stating conditions of payment. |
Freight Billing |
Freight Forwarder |
Consignor or Consignee |
|
Certificate of Origin |
A document required by governments, declaring that goods in a particular international shipment are of a certain origin. Customs offices will use this document to determine whether or not a preferential duty rate applies on the products being imported and whether a shipment may be legally imported during a specific quota period. The document identifies which authority or body authorized to issue it certifies expressly that the goods to which the certificate relates originate in a specific country. The word "country" may include a group of countries, a region, or a part of a country. This certificate may also include a declaration by the manufacturer, producer, supplier, exporter, or other competent person. |
Certification of Origin of Goods |
Exporter, Issuer |
Issuer, Importer |
|
Transportation Status |
A message to report the transport status and/or change in the transportation status (i.e. event) between agreed parties. |
Initiate Transport Services |
Freight Forwarder |
Consignee, Consignor |
|
Application Response |
A document to indicate the application’s response to a transaction at the business application level concerning the processing of a document. |
All |
Sender |
Receiver |
|
Attached Document |
In effect a ’wrapper’ UBL envelope that may contain anything. This allows a referenced document to be included in the package of documents being exchanged. |
All |
Sender |
Receiver |
The UBL 2.0 XSD schemas are the only normative representations of the UBL 2.0 document types and library components.
All of the UBL 2.0 XSD schemas are contained in the
xsd subdirectory of the UBL 2.0 release package (see
Appendix A for more information regarding the structure of the 2.0
release package and Section 5.3 for information regarding
dependencies among the schema modules). The xsd
directory is further subdivided into xsd/maindoc and
xsd/common subdirectories.
For convenience in implementing the schemas, a parallel (and
technically non-normative) “runtime” set with the
annotation elements stripped out is provided in the
xsdrt directory.
XSD schemas defining the 31 UBL 2.0 document types are located
in the xsd/maindoc directory, as listed below.
- ApplicationResponse
- AttachedDocument
- BillOfLading
- Catalogue
- CatalogueDeletion
- CatalogueItemSpecificationUpdate
- CataloguePricingUpdate
- CatalogueRequest
- CertificateOfOrigin
- CreditNote
- DebitNote
- DespatchAdvice
- ForwardingInstructions
- FreightInvoice
- Invoice
- Order
- OrderCancellation
- OrderChange
- OrderResponse
- OrderResponseSimple
- PackingList
- Quotation
- ReceiptAdvice
- Reminder
- RemittanceAdvice
- RequestForQuotation
- SelfBilledCreditNote
- SelfBilledInvoice
- Statement
- TransportationStatus
- Waybill
The xsd/common directory contains schemas
referenced by the document schemas in xsd/maindoc.
The name of each schema file together with a brief description of
its contents is given below.
- CommonBasicComponents
xsd/common/UBL-CommonBasicComponents-2.0.xsd
This schema defines the global Basic Business Information Entities (BBIEs) that are used throughout UBL, serving, in effect, as a “global BBIE type database” for constructing documents. BBIEs are the “leaf nodes” of UBL documents.
- CommonAggregateComponents
xsd/common/UBL-CommonAggregateComponents-2.0.xsd
This schema defines the Aggregate Business Information Entities (ABIEs) that are used throughout UBL, serving, in effect, as an “ABIE type database” for constructing the main documents.
- CCTS_CCT_SchemaModule
xsd/common/CCTS_CCT_SchemaModule-2.0.xsd
This schema provides Core Component Types as defined by [CCTS]. These types are used to construct higher-level datatypes in a standardized and consistent manner. This schema is defined by UN/CEFACT and should not be modified. It is provided here as a reference for implementers who wish to extend UBL and create new qualified datatypes in a CCTS-conformant manner.
- UnqualifiedDataTypeSchemaModule
xsd/common/UnqualifiedDataTypeSchemaModule-2.0.xsd
This schema defines Unqualified Data Types for primary and secondary representation terms as specified by [CCTS]. Derived from Core Component Types, these XSD complexType structures are the basic data types from which all other data types must derive. This schema is defined by UN/CEFACT and should not be modified.
- QualifiedDatatypes
xsd/common/UBL-QualifiedDatatypes-2.0.xsd
This schema describes the Qualified Data Types defined by UBL as specified by [CCTS]. These XSD complexType structures are derived from Unqualified Data Types (see above), primarily to document code lists defined for use with UBL. These Types have been customized for UBL and may be further customized to support additional Data Types required for other business contexts.
- CoreComponentParameters
xsd/common/UBL-CoreComponentParameters-2.0.xsd
This schema defines the structure of the annotation/documentation sections that appear in all the other schemas, providing a consistent format for metadata such as object class, representation terms, semantic descriptions, and other supplementary information.
While not required by UBL schemas, this module is provided to encourage consistency of customized extensions.
Four standard code list schemas imported for use in UBL 2.0 are
included in the xsd/common directory. These are
defined by UN/CEFACT for use with their Unqualified Data Type
schema and should not be modified.
- CodeList_CurrencyCode
- CodeList_MIMEMediaTypeCode
- CodeList_UnitCode
- CodeList_LanguageCode
xsd/common/CodeList_LanguageCode_ISO_7_04.xsd
This code list is not currently used in any UBL 2.0 documents. It is provided here to support customized implementation of textual content in different languages. For example, where a TextType component allows multiple occurrences, each different occurrence may be expressed in a different language. The actual language used may be identified using this code list.
Appendix E contains a description of UBL code list validation and an explanation of the role played by these imported code list schemas.
See Section B.3.3 for information regarding UBL extension.
- CommonExtensionComponents
xsd/common/UBL-CommonExtensionComponents-2.0.xsd
This schema defines the extension structures that are used in all UBL document types, providing metadata regarding the use of an extension embedded in a UBL document instance.
- ExtensionContentDatatype
xsd/common/UBL-ExtensionContentDatatype-2.0.xsd
This schema specifies the actual structure of the extension element containing the foreign non-UBL content. This is delivered as an unconstrained element and may be replaced by users to specify the validation of their foreign vocabulary in a customized UBL document.
![[schema dependency diagram]](art/UBL-2.0-SchemaDependency.jpg)
In addition to the UBL 2.0 document constraints formally expressed in the schemas described in Section 5 above, UBL mandates several other rules governing conformant UBL 2.0 instances that cannot be expressed using W3C Schema. These additional UBL document rules, addressing instance validation, character encoding, and empty elements, are specified below.
Note that these rules first appeared in the OASIS UBL 1.0 and UBL 1.0 NDR Standards. They are listed here because logically they belong with the great majority of UBL instance constraints specified in the schemas. To aid in coordinating references between these various publications, the rules below retain their original “IND” labels. The former IND4 was removed in the revision process leading to UBL 2.0.
The UBL library and document schemas are targeted at supporting business information exchanges. Business information exchanges require a high degree of precision to ensure that application processing and corresponding business cycle actions are reflective of the purpose, intent, and information content agreed to by both trading partners. Schemas provide the necessary mechanism for ensuring that instance documents do in fact support these requirements.
[IND1] All UBL instance documents MUST validate to a corresponding schema.
XML supports a wide variety of character encodings. Processors must understand which character encoding is employed in each XML document. XML 1.0 supports a default value of UTF-8 for character encoding, but best practice is to always identify the character encoding being employed.
[IND2] All UBL instance documents MUST identify their character encoding within the XML declaration.
Example:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
UBL, as an OASIS TC, is obligated to conform to agreements OASIS has entered into. OASIS is a liaison member of the ISO IEC ITU UN/CEFACT eBusiness Memorandum of Understanding Management Group (MOUMG). Resolution 01/08 (MOU/MG01n83) requires the use of UTF-8.
[IND3] In conformance with ISO IEC ITU UN/CEFACT eBusiness Memorandum of Understanding Management Group (MOUMG) Resolution 01/08 (MOU/MG01n83) as agreed to by OASIS, all UBL XML SHOULD be expressed using UTF-8.
Example:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
Use of empty elements within XML instance documents is a source of controversy for a variety of reasons. An empty element does not simply represent data that is missing. It may express data that is not applicable for some reason, trigger the expression of an attribute, denote all possible values instead of just one, mark the end of a series of data, or appear as a result of an error in XML file generation. Conversely, missing data elements can also have meaning — data not provided by a trading partner. In information exchange environments, different trading partners may allow, require, or ban empty elements. UBL has determined that empty elements do not provide the level of assurance necessary for business information exchanges and therefore will not be used.
[IND5] UBL conformant instance documents MUST NOT contain an element devoid of content or containing null values, except in the case of extension, where the UBL ExtensionContent element is used.
To ensure that no attempt is made to circumvent rule IND5, UBL also prohibits attempting to convey meaning by not conveying an element.
[IND6] The absence of a construct or data in a UBL instance document MUST NOT carry meaning.
Appendix A. Release Notes (Informative)
Online and downloadable versions of this release are available from the locations specified at the top of this document.
The UBL 2.0 specification is published as a zip archive named cs-UBL-2.0.zip. Unzipping this archive creates a directory named cs-UBL-2.0 containing a master DocBook XML file (UBL-2.0.xml), a generated hypertext version of this file (UBL-2.0.html), and a number of subdirectories. The files in these subdirectories, linked to from UBL-2.0.xml and UBL-2.0.html, contain the various normative and informational pieces of the 2.0 release. A description of each subdirectory is given below. Note that while the UBL-2.0.xml file is the “original” of this specification, it may not be viewable in all currently available web browsers.
artDiagrams and illustrations used in this specification
asnASN.1 UBL 2.0 schema; see Appendix G
clCode list specification files; see Appendix E
cssCSS stylesheets for viewing UBL-2.0.html
dbDocBook stylesheets for viewing UBL-2.0.xml
docDocuments included with this release
etcMiscellaneous supporting information
modSpreadsheet data models; see Appendix D
umlUML class diagrams of the UBL 2.0 data models; see Appendix D
valTest harness for demonstrating UBL 2.0 two-phase validation; see Appendix E
xmlSample UBL 2.0 instances
xsdXSD schemas; see Section 5
xsdrt“Runtime” XSD schemas; see Section 5
The UBL 2.0 distribution also contains a PDF file, UBL-2.0.pdf, that is automatically generated from UBL-2.0.html. The UBL-2.0.pdf file is included to comply with a procedural requirement of the current OASIS Technical Committee process; it does not constitute the UBL 2.0 specification (most of which consists of schema files) and is not intended to perform any real function. Please do not submit comments relating to the formatting or any other aspect of the UBL-2.0.pdf file.
UBL is a volunteer project of the international business community. Inquiries regarding UBL may be posted to the public ubl-dev list, archives for which are located at
Subscriptions to ubl-dev can be made through the OASIS list manager at
As an aid to deployment, the standard XML schemas in UBL 1.0 were accompanied by a large quantity of supporting materials, most of them included in the UBL 1.0 release package as informative appendices and the remainder available from sites referenced in the release package.
Due to the greatly increased scope of UBL 2.0, some of the supporting documents and informative materials corresponding to those in the UBL 1.0 standard are being provided in a separate UBL 2.0 Support Package in order to reduce scheduling dependencies between the normative and informative parts of the specification. The Support Package is being developed in parallel with the UBL 2.0 specification and will be made available shortly after ratification of UBL 2.0 as an OASIS standard.
UBL 2.0 does not provide documents for tax reporting purposes. Instead, it provides structures to support the information on which tax is based. These aim to be generic and not based on any specific tax regime.
To implement specific tax regimes, the OASIS UBL Technical Committee is working with the OASIS TaxXML Technical Committee to provide guidelines for how specific taxation requirements (e.g., Value Added Tax for the European Community) may be implemented using UBL.
Appendix B. Upgrading from UBL 1.0 to UBL 2.0 (Informative)
While every effort has been made to keep UBL 2.0 backward-compatible with UBL 1.0, several changes resulting from experience with 1.0 have proven extensive enough to make this a major release instead of a minor version update. This means that compatibility of UBL 1.0 with the UBL 2.0 specification is not assured.
This appendix identifies the areas that have changed or been extended between UBL 1.0 and UBL 2.0. These changes must be considered in upgrading existing UBL-based systems to take advantage of the greatly expanded applicability of UBL 2.0.
UBL 2.0 builds upon the basic procurement process established in UBL 1.0. That process, based on eight basic document types shown in bold outline, is illustrated in the diagram below. (See Section 4 for the Sourcing-to-Payment business process assumed for UBL 2.0.)
![[ubl 1.0 order-to-invoice diagram]](art/UBL-1.0-ProcurementProcess.jpg)
Though apparently limited in scope, the eight document types provided in UBL 1.0 are applicable to a very large number of real-world use cases and have been widely deployed.
Adoption of UBL 1.0 following ratification as an OASIS standard in November 2004 has resulted in major inputs of new content beyond the eight basic order-to-invoice business documents specified in the original release. In particular, contributions from representatives of government procurement, taxation, and transportation agencies in Europe, Asia, and North America have resulted in greatly expanded pre-order and post-invoice capabilities together with the addition of several transport-related document types. These additions have increased the number of UBL document types from eight in UBL 1.0 to 31 in UBL 2.0.
Original UBL 1.0 order-to-invoice document types (updated for UBL 2.0): Order, OrderResponse, OrderResponseSimple, OrderChange, OrderCancellation, DespatchAdvice, ReceiptAdvice, Invoice
New UBL 2.0 document types for sourcing: CatalogueRequest, Catalogue, CatalogueItemSpecificationUpdate, CataloguePricingUpdate, CatalogueDeletion, RequestForQuotation, Quotation
New UBL 2.0 document types for fulfilment: ForwardingInstructions, PackingList, BillOfLading, Waybill, CertificateOfOrigin, TransportationStatus
New UBL 2.0 document types for billing: CreditNote, DebitNote, SelfBilledInvoice, SelfBilledCreditNote, FreightInvoice, Reminder
New UBL 2.0 document types for payment: RemittanceAdvice, Statement
New UBL 2.0 supplementary document types: ApplicationResponse, AttachedDocument
The role of the 23 new UBL 2.0 document types is described in Section 4.
In UBL 1.0, the great majority of element types were globally scoped, the only exceptions being identifiers and codes. In UBL 2.0, all types are globally scoped.
The UBL mechanism for specifying and validating code lists has been completely revamped. A two-phase validaton approach using the power of XSLT [XSLT] (a W3C Recommendation) and Schematron [SCH] (ISO/IEC 19757-3) has been developed to make it easier to modify code lists and perform basic business rule checking. For further details, see Appendix E, UBL 2.0 Code Lists and Two-phase Validation.
An optional container element named UBLExtensions may now appear as the first child of any UBL 2.0 document. UBLExtensions was provided to meet user demand for an area in which to include non-UBL data elements, in particular, elements containing data whose inclusion is mandated by law for certain business documents in certain regulatory environments. Note that unlike every other data element in UBL, UBLExtensions has no associated business semantics in itself and is therefore not derived from a CCTS data type.
Each ext:UBLExtension child element of the ext:UBLExtensions
container element contains the metadata and content associated
with a single extension. To accommodate the widest range of
possible extensions, the ext:ExtensionContent element is specified
in xsd/common/UBL-ExtensionContentDatatype-2.0.xsd as
having a single child element of type xsd:any with a
processContents value of “skip”. This means, in
essence, that any well-formed XML element (and all of its children
and descendants) from any vocabulary can be the one child of the
ext:ExtensionContent element; however, it is not recommended that
this child element come from a UBL namespace, because the
semantics of such use at this location are undefined. Descendants
of the one child of ext:ExtensionContent, on the other hand, may
meaningfully include elements from the standard UBL namespace, and
this can minimize the creation of nonstandard information
items.
The metadata recorded for an extension is part of the UBL
vocabulary, specified in
xsd/common/UBL-CommonExtensionComponents-2.0.xsd as
optional elements that are siblings to the ext:ExtensionContent
element.
Injudicious use of UBLExtensions will obviously have damaging consequences for interoperability of UBL documents. UBLExtensions should be used with great care and should never be used for data that is properly conveyed in standard UBL elements allowed elsewhere in the document. In general, UBLExtensions should be used only as a last resort for data that cannot be accommodated by the constructs provided in the standard. Practical use of UBLExtensions will require out-of-band agreements among specific trading partner communities together with publication and maintenance procedures outside the scope of standard UBL.
A number of Basic Information Entities and the corresponding XML elements have been changed to better reflect business requirements, as shown in the following two tables.
Table B.1. Changes to Library Elements in UBL 2.0
| Aggregate BIE | Basic or Association BIE | Changes for UBL 2.0 | Change reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Address | |||
| Added TypeCode | Adopted from UN/CEFACT | ||
| Added FormatCode | Adopted from UN/CEFACT | ||
| Added BlockName | Adopted from UN/CEFACT | ||
| Added MarkAttention | Adopted from UN/CEFACT | ||
| Added MarkCare | Adopted from UN/CEFACT | ||
| Added PlotIdentification | Adopted from UN/CEFACT | ||
| Added CitySubdivisionName | Adopted from UN/CEFACT | ||
| AddressLine | Changed cardinality to 0..n | The number of address lines needed varies from country to country | |
| AddressLine | |||
| Line | Changed cardinality to 1 | Since AddressLines are optional, each Line should not be optional | |
| AllowanceCharge | |||
| ReasonCode | Renamed to AllowanceChargeReasonCode | Reason codes may be for more than just allowance charges | |
| Added AllowanceChargeReason | For textual description of reasons | ||
| CurrencyCode | Removed | Redundant information. Currency is expressed in the Amount type | |
| Added BaseAmount | The amount to which the MultiplierFactorNumeric is applied to calculate the Allowance Charge | ||
| Added AccountingCostCode | The Buyer’s accounting code as applied to the Allowance Charge | ||
| Added AccountingCost | The Buyer’s accounting center as applied to the Allowance Charge | ||
| Added TaxTotal | For taxes applying to the allowance or charge | ||
| BasePrice | Renamed to Price | The term Base was ambiguous | |
| MaximumQuantity | Removed | Quantity is not the only parameter for a price. Could not explain a use for it | |
| MinimumQuantity | Removed | Quantity is not the only parameter for a price. Could not explain a use for it | |
| MaximumAmount | Removed | Could not explain a use for it | |
| MinimumAmount | Removed | Could not explain a use for it | |
| Added PriceChangeReason | The reason for the Price change expressed as text | ||
| Added PriceTypeCode | The Price type expressed as a code | ||
| Added PriceType | The Price type expressed as text | ||
| Added OrderableUnitFactorRate | The factor by which the base price unit can be converted to the orderable unit | ||
| BuyerParty | Renamed to CustomerParty | Customer is now the general term for buyer party. Buyer is the one sending the order and doing the purchasing | |
| BuyerAssignedAccountID | Renamed to CustomerAssignedAccountID | Customer is now the general term for buyer party. Buyer is the one sending the order and doing the purchasing | |
| SellerAssignedAccountID | Renamed to SupplierAssignedAccountID | Supplier is now the general term for seller party. Seller is the one receiving the order | |
| CommodityClassification | |||
| Added ItemClassificationCode | The trade commodity classification expressed as a code | ||
| Communication | |||
| Added Channel | The method of communication expressed as text | ||
| Contact | |||
| Added Note | A note describing the circumstances in which the Contact can be used such as “Emergency” or “After Hours” | ||
| Contract | |||
| Added IssueTime | The time at which the Contract was issued | ||
| Added ContractType | The type of Contract expressed as text | ||
| Delivery | |||
| RequestedDeliveryDateTime | Replaced by RequestedDeliveryPeriod | Delivery may be requested over a period of time | |
| PromisedDeliveryDateTime | Replaced by PromisedDeliveryPeriod | Delivery may be promised for a period of time | |
| ActualDeliveryDateTime | Replaced by ActualDeliveryDate and Actual DeliveryTime | All DateTimes are now separate Date and Time | |
| Added LatestDeliveryDate | The latest delivery date allowed by the Buyer | ||
| Added LatestDeliveryTime | The latest delivery time allowed by the Buyer | ||
| Added TrackingID | The delivery Tracking ID (for transport tracking) | ||
| DespatchAddress | Replaced by new association to Despatch | Despatch Address is within Despatch | |
| Added DeliveryLocation | The Location for a Delivery | ||
| Added EstimatedDeliveryPeriod | The estimated Period for Delivery | ||
| Added DeliveryParty | The party to whom the goods/services are delivered | ||
| OrderLineReference | Removed | Reference not meaningful at this level | |
| DeliveryTerms | |||
| RelevantLocation | Replaced by DeliveryLocation | Provide structured details of location | |
| DespatchLine | |||
| Added UUID | Universally unique identification of the line within the Despatch note | ||
| Added OutstandingQuantity | The quantity outstanding (which will follow in a later despatch) | ||
| Added OutstandingReason | The reason for the Outstanding Quantity | ||
| Added OversupplyQuantity | The quantity over supplied | ||
| Delivery | Replaced by Shipment | Shipment covers all the details of the movement of goods | |
| DeliveryTerms | Replaced by Shipment | Shipment covers all the details of the movement of goods | |
| TransportHandlingUnit | Replaced by Shipment | Shipment covers all the details of the movement of goods | |
| Added DocumentReference | A reference to any other documents | ||
| DocumentReference | |||
| GUID | Renamed to UUID | UUID is the standard term | |
| Added DocumentTypeCode | The document type expressed as a code | ||
| Added DocumentType | The document type expressed as text | ||
| Added Xpath | Refers to another part of the same document instance | ||
| FinancialAccount | |||
| Added PaymentNote | Free-form text applying to the Payment to the owner of this account | ||
| HazardousGoodsTransit | |||
| Added TransportAuthorizationCode | Code specifying the authorisation for the transportation of hazardous cargo | ||
| HazardousItem | |||
| Added CategoryName | Name of a kind of hazard for a material | ||
| Added CategoryCode | Code specifying a kind of hazard for a material | ||
| Added UpperOrangeHazardPlacardID | To specify the identity number for the upper part of the orange hazard placard required on the means of transport | ||
| Added LowerOrangeHazardPlacardID | To specify the identity number for the lower part of the orange hazard placard required on the means of transport | ||
| Added MarkingID | To identify the marking of dangerous goods | ||
| Added HazardClassID | To identify a hazard class | ||
| InvoiceLine | |||
| LineStatusCode | Removed | Invoice line cannot be updated | |
| Added UUID | A computer-generated universally unique identifier (UUID) for the Invoice Line instance | ||
| Added TaxPointDtae | The date of the Invoice Line used to indicate the point at which tax becomes applicable | ||
| Added AccountingCostCode | The Buyer’s accounting code applied to the Invoice Line | ||
| Added AccountingCost | The Buyer’s accounting cost center applied to the Invoice Line | ||
| Added FreeOfChargeIndicator | Indicates whether the Invoice Line is Free Of Charge (default = False) | ||
| BasePrice | Renamed to Price | The term Base was ambiguous | |
| Added BillingReference | Reference to the billing information | ||
| Added PricingReference | Reference to pricing details | ||
| Added DocumentReference | Reference to other documents | ||
| Added OriginatorParty | The party who originated Order (to which the Invoice is related) | ||
| Added DeliveryTerms | Delivery terms for the invoice line | ||
| Added ItemInstance | Identifies the specific item instance | ||
| Item | |||
| Added Name | A short name (optionally) given to an item, such as a name from a catalogue, as distinct from a description | ||
| Added HazardousRiskIndicator | Indicates whether the item as delivered is hazardous | ||
| Added AdditionalInformation | To provide more details of the item (e.g., URL of a relevant web page) | ||
| Added Keyword | A Seller Party-defined search string for the item. Also could be synonyms | ||
| Added BrandName | The brand name for the item | ||
| Added ModelName | Model name for the item | ||
| SalesConditions | Renamed to TransactionConditions | The conditions relates to the transaction not only to the trade | |
| TaxCategory | Renamed to ClassifiedTaxCategory | A way to classify items independent of their participation in a transaction. These are classifications (luxury, essential goods, etc.) rather than rates of tax | |
| BasePrice | Removed | The price is not dependent on the item | |
| Added ItemSpecificationDocumentReference | An association to item specification | ||
| AdditionalItemProperty | For additional properties of the item | ||
| ManufacturerParty | The manufacturer’s details | ||
| InformationContentProviderParty | The party responsible for providing specifications | ||
| OriginAddress | The origin of the item | ||
| ItemInstance | Identifies a specific instance of the item | ||
| ItemIdentification | |||
| Added ExtendedID | Identifies the item with specific properties e.g. Item 123 = Chair / Item 123 Ext 45 = brown chair | ||
| LegalTotal | |||
| TaxInclusiveAmount | made optional | May not be specified | |
| Added AllowanceTotalAmount | The total amount of all allowances | ||
| Added ChargeTotalAmount | The total amount of all charges | ||
| Added PrepaidAmount | The total prepaid amount | ||
| Added PayableRoundingAmount | The rounding amount (positive or negative) added to the calculated Line Extension Total Amount to produce the rounded Line Extension Total Amount | ||
| Added PayableAmount (mandatory) | The total amount to be paid | ||
| LineItem | |||
| BuyersID | Renamed to ID | To not violate the rule that every document has an ID, the BuyersID has become the mandatory ID | |
| SellersID | Renamed to SalesOrderID | Seller has only an ID if it is a SalesOrder | |
| Added UUID | A computer-generated universally unique identifier (UUID) for the Line Item instance | ||
| Added InspectionMethodCode | Inspection requirements for a Line Item expressed as a code | ||
| Added PartialDeliveryIndicator | Indicates whether a partial delivery is allowed | ||
| Added BackOrderAllowedIndicator | Indicates whether back order is allowed | ||
| Added AccountingCostCode | The Buyer’s accounting code applied to the Line Item | ||
| Added AccountingCost | The Buyer’s accounting code applied to the Line Item expressed as text | ||
| DestinationParty | Changed to OriginatorParty | More useful to know who originated the line item | |
| BasePrice | Renamed as Price | The term Base was ambiguous | |
| LineReference | |||
| Added UUID | A computer-generated universally unique identifier (UUID) for the referenced document line instance | ||
| LotIdentification | |||
| Added AdditionalItemProperty | To identify an item by its properties | ||
| OrderLine | |||
| Added CatalogueLineReference | Reference to a catalogue | ||
| Added QuotationLineReference | Reference to a quote | ||
| Added DocumentReference | Reference to any other documents | ||
| OrderLineReference | |||
| BuyersLineID | Renamed to LineID and changed cardinality to 1 | According to Lineitem/ID | |
| SellersLineID | Renamed to SalesOrderLineID | According to Lineitem/SalesOrderID | |
| Added UUID | A computer-generated universally unique identifier (UUID) for the referenced Order Line instance | ||
| OrderReference | |||
| BuyersID | Renamed to ID and changed cardinality 10 1 | According to Lineitem/ID | |
| SellersID | Renamed to SalesOrderID | According to Lineitem/SalesOrderID | |
| GUID | Renamed to UUID | The standard term is UUID | |
| DocumentStatusCode | Replaced by DocumentReference | More details on documents | |
| Added IssueTime | References may be required for time of day | ||
| Added CustomerReference | A reference used [CRI] for tagging purchasing card transactions | ||
| Package | |||
| Added PackageLevelCode | Code specifying a level of packaging | ||
| Added PackagingTypeCode | Code specifying the type of packaging of an item | ||
| Added PackingMaterial | Description of the type of packaging of an item | ||
| ContainedPackage | Changed cardinality to 0..n | A package may contain many other packages | |
| Added GoodsItem | Reference to goods in the package | ||
| Added MeasurementDimension | For dimensions of the package | ||
| Added DeliveryUnit | To specify the delivery units in each package | ||
| Party | |||
| Added WebsiteURI | The Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) of the Party | ||
| Added LogoReferenceID | A Party’s logo | ||
| Added EndPointID | Identifies the end point of the routing service, e.g., EAN Location Number, GLN | ||
| PartyName | Changed cardinality to 0..n | A Party may have various names | |
| Address | Renamed to PostalAddress | Aligning with UN/CEFACT | |
| Added VisitingAddress | The address for visiting the Party | ||
| Added PartyLegalEntity | For details of corporate registration | ||
| Added Person | Personal details when a person is a type of party | ||
| PartyName | |||
| Name | Changed cardinality to 1 | Each PartyName needs only one Name. A Party may have many PartyNames | |
| PartyTaxScheme | |||
| Added ExemptionReasonCode | A reason for a Party’s exemption from tax expressed as a code | ||
| Payment | |||
| Added PaidDate | The date at which the Payment was made | ||
| Added PaidTime | The time at which the Payment was made | ||
| Added InstructionID | The identifier for the Payment Instruction | ||
| PaymentMeans | |||
| Added ID | The identifier for the Payment Means | ||
| Added InstructionID | The identifier for the Payment Instruction | ||
| Added InstructionNote | Free-form text applying to the Payment | ||
| Payment | Replaced by PaymentID | The identifier for the Payment(s) | |
| PaymentTerms | |||
| Added PaymentMeansID | The identifier for the applicable Payment Means | ||
| Added PrepaidPaymentReferenceID | An identifier for prepaid payment | ||
| Added Amount | The payment amount for the Payment Terms | ||
| Period | |||
| StartDateTime | Changed to StartDate and StartTime | Separated dates and times | |
| EndDateTime | Chnaged to EndDate and EndTime | Separated dates and times | |
| Added Description | A description of the Period as text | ||
| ReceiptLine | |||
| LineStatusCode | Removed | A receipt line cannot change status | |
| Added UUID | A computer-generated universally unique identifier (UUID) for the Receipt Line instance | ||
| Added RejectReason | The reason for rejection expressed as a code | ||
| Added OverSupplyQuantity | To indicate fluctuating quantity with regard to ordered/despatched quantity | ||
| Added TimingComplaint | A complaint about the timing of delivery as text | ||
| Delivery | Replaced by Shipment | Shipment covers all the details of the movement of goods | |
| TransportHandlingUnit | Replaced by Shipment | Shipment covers all the details of the movement of goods | |
| OrderedItemIdentification | Replaced by Item | Allows for more complex description of items | |
| Added DocumentReference | To reference other documents | ||
| SalesConditions | Renamed to TransactionConditions | The conditions relates to the transaction not only to the trade | |
| Added DocumentReference | To reference other documents | ||
| SellerParty | Renamed to SupplierParty | Changed according to the extended procurement process and to match UN/CEFACT terms | |
| BuyerAssignedAccountID | Renamed to CustomerAssignedAccountID | Buyer term changed to Customer | |
| SellerAssignedAccountID | Removed | Sellers do not give themselves identifiers | |
| Added DataSendingCapability | Capability to send invoice data via the Purchase Card provider (VISA/MasterCard/American Express) | ||
| AccountsContact | Renamed to AccountingContact | Consistent with other role names | |
| Shipment | |||
| Added TotalGoodsItemQuantity | Count of the total number of goods items within a shipment | ||
| Added TotalTransportHandlingUnitQuantity | Count of the number of pieces of transport handling equipment in a shipment | ||
| Added InsuranceValueAmount | The total sum covered by an insurance for the shipment | ||
| Added DeclaredCustomsValueAmount | Amount declared for customs purposes of those goods in a shipment which are subject to the same customs procedure, and have the same tariff/statistical heading, country information, and duty regime. | ||
| Added DeclaredForCarriageValueAmount | "Value, declared by the shipper or his agent solely for the purpose of varying the carrier’s level of liability from that provided in the contract of carriage, in case of loss or damage to goods or delayed delivery." | ||
| Added DeclaredStatisticsValueAmount | Value declared for statistical purposes of those goods in a consignment which have the same statistical heading | ||
| Added FreeOnBoardValueAmount | Monetary amount that has to be or has been paid as calculated under the applicable trade delivery | ||
| Added SpecialInstructions | Special instructions relating to a shipment | ||
| Added DeliveryInstructions | Delivery instructions relating to a shipment | ||
| Added SplitConsignmentIndicator | Indicates if the consignment has been split in transit | ||
| TransportEquipment | Replaced by TransportHandlingUnit | The Transport Handling Unit contains the Transport Equipment | |
| Added Consignment | Identifies the details of the consignment | ||
| Added GoodsItem | An association to Goods Item (for Bulk Goods) | ||
| Added OriginAddress | An association to the region in which the goods have been produced or manufactured, according to criteria laid down for the purposes of application of the Customs tariff, or quantitative restrictions, or of any other measure related to trade | ||
| Added FirstArrivalPortLocation | To identify the first arrival location | ||
| Added LastExitPortLocation | To identify the final exporting location | ||
| Added ExportCountry | To identify the country from which the goods are originally exported without any commercial transaction taken place in intermediate countries | ||
| Added FreightAllowanceCharge | Costs incurred by the shipper in moving goods | ||
| ShipmentStage | |||
| Added PreCarriageIndicator | Indicates whether the stage is before the main carriage of the shipment | ||
| Added OnCarriageIndicator | Indicates whether the stage is after the main carriage of the shipment | ||
| Added TransportMeans | Describes the means of transport | ||
| Added LoadingPortLocation | Identifies the port of loading | ||
| Added UnloadingPortLocation | Identifies the port of unloading | ||
| Added TransshipPortLocation | Identifies the port of transshipment | ||
| TaxCategory | |||
| ExemptionReason | Removed | Tax exemption is dependent on both the transaction and the party, so exemption is in those ABIEs | |
| Added Name | The name of the Tax Category | ||
| Added BaseUnitMeasure | Where a tax is applied at a certain rate per unit, the measure of units on which the tax calculation is based | ||
| Added PerUnitAmount | Where a tax is applied at a certain rate per unit, the rate per unit applied | ||
| Added TierRange | Where a tax is tiered, the range of tiers applied in the calculation of the Tax Sub Total for the Tax Category | ||
| Added TierRatePercent | Where a tax is tiered, the rate of tax applied to the range of tiers in the calculation of the Tax Sub Total for the Tax Category | ||
| TaxScheme | |||
| Added Name | The name of the Tax Scheme | ||
| JurisdictionAddress | Renamed to JurisdictionRegionAddress | Jurisdictions may be any part of an Address, not just city, state, or country (e.g., certain regions) | |
| TaxSubTotal | |||
| Added CalculationSequenceNumeric | Identifies the numerical order sequence in which taxes are applied when multiple taxes are attracted | ||
| Added TransactionCurrencyTaxAmount | The tax amount expressed in the currency used for invoicing | ||
| Added Percent | The Tax Rate for the category expressed as a percentage | ||
| Added ExemptionReason | The reason for tax being exempted | ||
| Added BaseUnitMeasure | Where a tax is applied at a certain rate per unit, the measure of units on which the tax calculation is based | ||
| Added PerUnitAmount | Where a tax is applied at a certain rate per unit, the rate per unit applied | ||
| Added TierRange | Where a tax is tiered, the range of tiers applied in the calculation of the Tax Sub Total for the Tax Category | ||
| Added TierRatePercent | Where a tax is tiered, the rate of tax applied to the range of tiers in the calculation of the Tax Sub Total for the Tax Category | ||
| TaxTotal | |||
| TotalTaxAmount | Renamed to TaxAmount | The word “Total” is redundant | |
| Added RoundingAmount | The rounding amount (positive or negative) added to the calculated tax total to produce the rounded TotalTaxAmount | ||
| Added TaxEvidenceIndicator | Indicates whether these totals are recognized as legal evidence for taxation purposes | ||
| TransportEquipment | |||
| Added ReturnabilityIndicator | Indicates whether a particular item of transport equipment is returnable | ||
| Added LegalStatusIndicator | Legal status of the transport equipment with respect to the Container Convention code | ||
| Dimension | Renamed to MeasurementDimension | Clarification | |
| Added MinimumTemperature | The minimum required operating temperature for the container (e.g., reefer) | ||
| Added MaximumTemperature | The maximum required operating temperature for the container (e.g., reefer) | ||
| Added ProviderParty | The party that provides the Transport Equipment | ||
| Added LoadingProofParty | The authorized party responsible for certifying that the goods were loaded into the transport equipment | ||
| Added LoadingLocation | To identify the location where the goods are loaded into the transport equipment | ||
| TransportEquipmentSeal | |||
| IssuerTypeCode | Renamed to SealIssuerTypeCode | Clarification | |
| Added SealingPartyType | Textual description of the role of a sealing party | ||
| TransportHandlingUnit | |||
| UnitTypeCode | Renamed to TransportHandlingUnitTypeCode | Clarification | |
| Added HandlingCode | The handling required for a Shipment expressed as a code | ||
| Added HandlingInstructions | Free-form text describing Handling Instructions for a Shipment | ||
| Added HazardousRiskIndicator | Indicates whether the shipment contains hazardous materials | ||
| Added TotalGoodsItemQuantity | The total number of goods items in the Transport Handling Unit | ||
| Added TotalPackageQuantity | The total number of packages in the Transport Handling Unit | ||
| Added DamageRemarks | Description of a type of damage | ||
| Added ShippingMarks | Free-form description of the marks and numbers on a transport unit or package | ||
| Added TransportEquipment | Any Transport Equipment used for this THU | ||
| Added HazardousGoodsTransit | Information about the transportation of hazardous goods | ||
| Added MeasurementDimension | Dimensions of the THU | ||
| Added MinimumTemperature | The minimum required operating temperature | ||
| Added MaximumTemperature | The maximum required operating temperature |
Table B.2. Changes to Document Elements in UBL 2.0
| Aggregate BIE | Basic or Association BIE | Changes for UBL 2.0 | Change reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALL | |||
| UBLVersionID | Added as first BBIE to all document types | ||
| CustomizationID | Added to all document types | ||
| ProfileID | Added to all document types | ||
| DespatchAdvice | |||
| GUID | Renamed to UUID | Standard term is UUID | |
| Added IssueTime | Allow for time of day | ||
| BuyerParty | Renamed to BuyerCustomerParty | Type changed to CustomerType. BuyerParty is now the one who purchase and sends the order | |
| SellerParty | Renamed to SellerSupplierParty | Type changed to SupplierType. SellerParty is now the seller and the one who receives the order | |
| FreightForwarderParty | Replaced by Shipment | Alignment with terms in transport documents | |
| Delivery | Replaced by Shipment | Alignment with terms in transport documents | |
| DeliveryTerms | Replaced by Shipment | Alignment with terms in transport documents | |
| DespatchedTransportHandlingUnit | Replaced by Shipment | Alignment with terms in transport documents | |
| ActualShipment | Replaced by Shipment | Alignment with terms in transport documents | |
| Added AdditionalDocumentReference | Reference to other documents | ||
| Invoice | |||
| GUID | Renamed to UUID | Standard term is UUID | |
| Added IssueTime | Allow for time of day | ||
| InvoiceCurrencyCode | Renamed to DocumentCurrencyCode and changed cardinality to 1 | This is the currency the invoice is expressed in | |
| Added PaymentCurrencyCode | The currency used for payment in the Invoice | ||
| Added PaymentAlternativeCurrencyCode | The alternative currency used for payment in the Invoice | ||
| Added AccountingCostCode | The Buyer’s accounting code applied to the Invoice as a whole | ||
| Added AccountingCost | The Buyer’s accounting cost center applied to the Invoice as a whole | ||
| BuyerParty | Renamed to BuyerCustomerParty and changed cardinality to 0..1 | Type changed to CustomerType. BuyerParty is now the one who purchase and sends the order | |
| SellerParty | Renamed to SellerSupplierParty and changed cardinality to 0..1 | Type changed to SupplierType. SellerParty is now the seller and the one who receives the order | |
| PaymentMeans | Changed cardinality to 0..n | Requiment from sweden more than one PaymentMeans can be used | |
| ExchangeRate | Renamed to PaymentExchangeRate | Clarification. | |
| Added BillingReference | Reference to other billing documents | ||
| Added OriginatorDocumentReference | Reference to the originator’s documents | ||
| Added ContractDocumentReference | Reference to contract documents | ||
| Added Signature | Authorization details | ||
| Added AccountingSupplierParty | The party responsible for the supplier’s accounting | ||
| Added AccountingCustomerParty | The party responsible for the customer’s accounting | ||
| Added PayeeParty | The party acting as payee | ||
| Added TaxRepresentativeParty | Party responsible for taxation | ||
| Added DeliveryTerms | Terms of delivery | ||
| Added PrepaidPayment | Details of any prepayments | ||
| Added TaxExchangeRate | Exchange rate for tax exchange currency | ||
| Added PricingExchangeRate | Exchange rate for pricing currency | ||
| Added PaymentAlternativeExchangeRate | Exchange rate for alternative payment currency | ||
| Order | |||
| GUID | Renamed to UUID | Standard term is UUID | |
| Added IssueTime | Allow for time of day | ||
| BuyersID | Renamed to ID and changed cardinality to 1 | According to Lineitem/ID | |
| SellersID | Renamed to SalesOrderID | According to Lineitem/SalesOrderID | |
| AcknowledgementResponseCode | Removed | It is assumed that whether a response is needed and what kind is explained in the business process definition | |
| TransactionCurrencyCode | Renamed to DocumentCurrencyCode and changed cardinality to 1 | DocumentCurrencyCode is the important one. | |
| Added RequestedInvoiceCurrencyCode | The currency requested for amount totals in Invoices related to this Order | ||
| Added TaxCurrencyCode | The currency requested for tax amounts in Invoices related to this Order | ||
| EarliestDate | Replaced with ValidityPeriod | Replaced with ValidityPeriod | |
| ExpiryDate | Replaced with ValidityPeriod | Replaced with ValidityPeriod | |
| ValidityDurationMeasure | Replaced with ValidityPeriod | Replaced with ValidityPeriod | |
| TaxTotalAmount | Removed | Replaced with TaxTotal | |
| LineExtensionTotalAmount | Removed | Replaced with LegalTotal | |
| TotalPackagesQuantity | Removed | Unable to explain the usage of it | |
| GrossWeightMeasure | Removed | Unable to explain the usage of it | |
| NetWeightMeasure | Removed | Unable to explain the usage of it | |
| NetNetWeightMeasure | Removed | Unable to explain the usage of it | |
| GrossVolumeMeasure | Removed | Unable to explain the usage of it | |
| NetVolumeMeasure | Removed | Unable to explain the usage of it | |
| Added CustomerReference | A supplementary reference for the Order | ||
| Added AccountingCostCode | The Buyer’s accounting code applied to the Order as a whole | ||
| Added AccountingCost | The Buyer’s accounting cost center applied to the Order as a whole | ||
| ContractDocumentReference | Replaced by Contract | Contract has been extended with this element | |
| QuoteDocumentReference | Renamed to QuotationDocumentReference | Term Quote changed to Quotation | |
| BuyerParty | Renamed to BuyerCustomerParty | Type changed to CustomerType. BuyerParty is now the one who purchase and sends the order | |
| SellerParty | Renamed to SellerSupplierParty | Type changed to SupplierType. SellerParty is now the seller and the one who receives the order | |
| OriginatorParty | Renamed to OriginatorCustomerParty | Type has changed (it is a customer type) | |
| SalesConditions | Renamed to TransactionConditions | The conditions relates to the transaction not only to the trade | |
| Added Signature | Authorization details | ||
| Added AccountingCustomerParty | The party responsible for the customer’s accounting | ||
| Added TaxTotal | Tax totals for the Order | ||
| Added LegalTotal | Total amounts for the Order | ||
| OrderCancellation | |||
| IssueDateTime | Renamed to IssueDate and changed to Date datatype | The time may be optional | |
| Added IssueTime | Separate time of day | ||
| GUID | Renamed to UUID | Standard term is UUID | |
| DocumentStatusCode | Removed | An order cancellation does not change status. | |
| ResponseRequiredIndicator | Removed | Could not explain the business use of this | |
| AcceptedIndicator | Removed | An Order response is sent if accepted, not a cancellation. It must always be true. | |
| BuyerParty | Renamed to BuyerCustomerParty | Type changed to CustomerType. BuyerParty is now the one who purchase and sends the order | |
| SellerParty | Renamed to SellerSupplierPArty | Type changed to SupplierType. SellerParty is now the seller and the one who receives the order | |
| Added OriginatorDocumentReference | Reference to document from the originator | ||
| Added OriginatorCustomerParty | Details of the originating party | ||
| Added Contract | A framework agreement for the order | ||
| Added Signature | Authorization details | ||
| OrderChange | |||
| GUID | Renamed to UUID | Standard term is UUID | |
| Added IssueTime | Allow for time of day | ||
| BuyersID | Renamed to ID | According to Lineitem/ID | |
| SellersID | Renamed to SalesOrderID | According to Lineitem/SalesOrderID | |
| DocumentStatusCode | Removed | An OrderChange cannot be updated | |
| AcknowledgementResponseCode | Removed | It is assumed that whether a response is needed and what kind is explained in the business process definition | |
| TransactionCurrencyCode | Renamed to DocumentCurrencyCode and changed cardinality to 1 | DocumentCurrencyCode is the currency of this document | |
| Added TaxCurrencyCode | The currency requested for amount taxation amounts | ||
| Added RequestedInvoiceCurrencyCode | The currency requested for amount totals in Invoices related to this Order | ||
| Added CustomerReference | A supplementary reference for the transaction (eg CRI when using purchasing card) | ||
| EarliestDate | Replaced with ValidityPeriod | Replaced with ValidityPeriod | |
| ExpiryDate | Replaced with ValidityPeriod | Replaced with ValidityPeriod | |
| ValidityDurationMeasure | Replaced with ValidityPeriod | Replaced with ValidityPeriod | |
| TaxTotalAmount | Removed | Replaced with TaxTotal | |
| LineExtensionTotalAmount | Removed | Replaced with LegalTotal | |
| TotalPackagesCountQuantity | Removed | Unable to explain the usage of it | |
| GrossWeightMeasure | Removed | Unable to explain the usage of it | |
| NetWeightMeasure | Removed | Unable to explain the usage of it | |
| NetNetWeightMeasure | Removed | Unable to explain the usage of it | |
| GrossVolumeMeasure | Removed | Unable to explain the usage of it | |
| NetVolumeMeasure | Removed | Unable to explain the usage of it | |
| Added AccountingCostCode | The Buyer’s accounting code applied to the Order as a whole | ||
| Added AccountingCost | The Buyer’s accounting cost center applied to the Order as a whole | ||
| OrderReference | Changed cardinality to 1 | There must be an order before an order change | |
| ContractDocumentReference | Replaced by Contract | Contract has been extended with this element | |
| QuoteDocumentReference | Renamed to QuotationDocumentReference | Term Quote changed to Quotation | |
| BuyerParty | Renamed to BuyerCustomerParty | Type changed to CustomerType. BuyerParty is now the one who purchase and sends the order | |
| SellerParty | Renamed to SellerSupplierParty | Type changed to SupplierType. SellerParty is now the seller and the one who receives the order | |
| OriginatorParty | Renamed to OriginatorCustomerParty | Type has changed (it is a customer type) | |
| SalesConditions | Renamed to TransactionConditions | The conditions relates to the transaction not only to the trade | |
| Added TaxTotal | Tax totals for the Order | ||
| Added LegalTotal | Total amounts for the Order | ||
| OrderResponse | |||
| BuyersID | Renamed to ID and changed cardinality to 1 | According to Lineitem/ID | |
| SellersID | Renamed to SalesOrderID | According to Lineitem/SalesOrderID | |
| Added IssueTime | Separate time of day | ||
| GUID | Renamed to UUID | Standard term is UUID | |
| DocumentStatusCode | Removed | An OrderChange can not be updated | |
| EarliestDate | Removed | It is assumed that whether a response is needed and what kind is explained in the business process definition | |
| ExpiryDate | Removed | DocumentCurrencyCode is the important one. Do we miss transactionCurrencyCode? | |
| ValidityDurationMeasure | Removed | Replaced with period | |
| TaxTotalAmount | Removed | Replaced with period | |
| LineExtensionTotalAmount | Removed | Replaced with LegalTotal | |
| TotalPackagesCountQuantity | Renamed to TotalPackagesQuantity | The word “Count” is not needed | |
| Added CustomerReference | A supplementary reference for the Order | ||
| Added AccountingCostCode | The Buyer’s accounting code applied to the Order as a whole | ||
| Added AccountingCost | The Buyer’s accounting cost center applied to the Order as a whole | ||
| BuyerParty | Renamed to BuyerCustomerParty | Type changed to CustomerType. BuyerParty is now the one who purchase and sends the order | |
| SellerParty | Renamed to SellerSupplierParty | Type changed to SupplierType. SellerParty is now the seller and the one who receives the order | |
| OriginatorParty | Renamed to OriginatorCustomerParty | Type has changed (it is a customer type) | |
| SalesConditions | Renamed to TransactionConditions | The conditions relates to the transaction not only to the trade | |
| RespondedOrderLine | Renamed to OrderLine | The qualifier Responded is redundant, this is the Order Response document | |
| Added Contract | A framework agreement for the order | ||
| Added Signature | Authorization details | ||
| OrderResponseSimple | |||
| Added IssueTime | Separate time of day | ||
| GUID | Renamed to UUID | Standard term is UUID | |
| DocumentStatusCode | Removed | OrderResponseSimple cannot be updated | |
| Added CustomerReference | A supplementary reference for the Order | ||
| Added AccountingCostCode | The Buyer’s accounting code applied to the Order as a whole | ||
| Added AccountingCost | The Buyer’s accounting cost center applied to the Order as a whole | ||
| BuyerParty | Renamed to BuyerCustomerParty | Type changed to CustomerType. BuyerParty is now the one who purchase and sends the order | |
| SellerParty | Renamed to SellerSupplierParty | Type changed to SupplierType. SellerParty is now the seller and the one who receives the order | |
| Added OriginatorCustomerParty | Details of the originator of the Order | ||
| Added AdditionalDocumentReference | Reference to other documents | ||
| Added Signature | Authorization details | ||
| ReceiptAdvice | |||
| Added IssueTime | Separate time of day | ||
| GUID | Renamed to UUID | Standard term is UUID | |
| Added LineCountNumeric | Check number of lines on the Receipt Advice | ||
| Added AdditionalDocumentReference | Reference to other documents | ||
| Added Signature | Authorization details | ||
| Added DeliveryCustomerParty | The party for delivery | ||
| Added DespatchSupplierParty | The party for despatch | ||
| BuyerParty | Renamed to BuyerCustomerParty | Type changed to CustomerType. BuyerParty is now the one who purchase and sends the order | |
| SellerParty | Renamed to SellerSupplierParty | Type changed to SupplierType. SellerParty is now the seller and the one who receives the order | |
| FreightForwarderParty | Replaced by Shipment | Shipment covers all the details of the movement of goods | |
| Delivery | Replaced by Shipment | Shipment covers all the details of the movement of goods | |
| ReceivedTransportHandlingUnit | Replaced by Shipment | Shipment covers all the details of the movement of goods |
Several attribute names have been changed as a result of adopting UN/CEFACT Core Component Type schemas, as shown in the following table.
Table B.3. Changes to Attributes in UBL 2.0
| Type | Attribute | Change in UBL 2.0 |
|---|---|---|
| AmountType | ||
| amountCurrencyID | Renamed to CurrencyID | |
| amountCurrencyCodeListVersionID | Removed | |
| BinaryObjectType | ||
| format | Added | |
| mimeCode | Added | |
| encodingCode | Added | |
| uri | Added | |
| filename | Added | |
| GraphicType | ||
| format | Added | |
| mimeCode | Added | |
| encodingCode | Added | |
| uri | Added | |
| filename | Added | |
| characterSetCode | Removed | |
| PictureType | ||
| format | Added | |
| mimeCode | Added | |
| encodingCode | Added | |
| uri | Added | |
| filename | Added | |
| characterSetCode | Removed | |
| SoundType | ||
| format | Added | |
| mimeCode | Added | |
| encodingCode | Added | |
| uri | Added | |
| filename | Added | |
| characterSetCode | Removed | |
| VideoType | ||
| format | Added | |
| mimeCode | Added | |
| encodingCode | Added | |
| uri | Added | |
| filename | Added | |
| characterSetCode | Removed | |
| CodeType | ||
| codeListID | Renamed to listID | |
| codeListAgencyID | Renamed to listAgencyID | |
| codeListAgencyName | Renamed to listAgencyName | |
| codeListName | Renamed to listName | |
| codeListVersionID | Renamed to listVersionID | |
| codeListURI | Renamed to listURI | |
| codeListSchemeURI | Renamed to listSchemeURI | |
| IdentifierType | ||
| identificationSchemeID | Renamed to schemeID | |
| identificationSchemeName | Renamed to schemeName | |
| identificationSchemeAgencyID | Renamed to schemeAgencyID | |
| identificationSchemeAgencyName | Renamed to schemeAgencyName | |
| identificationSchemeVersionID | Renamed to schemeVersionID | |
| identificationSchemeURI | Renamed to schemeURI | |
| identificationSchemeDataURI | Renamed to schemeDataURI | |
| MeasureType | ||
| measureUnitCode | Renamed to unitCode | |
| measureUnitCodeListVersionID | Renamed to unitCodeListVersionID | |
| QuantityType | ||
| quantityUnitCode | Renamed to unitCode | |
| quantityUnitCodeListID | Removed | |
| quantityUnitCodeListAgencyID | Removed | |
| quantityUnitCodeListAgencyName | Removed |
Appendix C. UBL Development Methodology (Informative)
Based on the principles of the ebXML Core Components Technical Specification [CCTS], UBL has been designed as a reusable library of Business Information Entities (BIEs). BIEs include BBIEs (“basic” individual pieces of information), ABIEs (aggregations of other BIEs), and ASBIEs (associations to other ABIEs).
In accordance with the defined processes and business rules for the UBL context of use (see Section 4), Business Information Entities were identified and aggregated using normalization techniques to maximize re-use and clarify meanings. This resulted in a comprehensive model of all BIEs relevant to the UBL 2.0 context of use.
The design objective has been to provide an 80/20 solution — describing 80 percent of the required components with 20 percent of the complexity. This meant that in some cases, components less commonly used or used only in particular contexts were dropped or given looser cardinality on the understanding that specific implementations may customize UBL to satisfy these requirements.
All UBL document models are assembled from a single conceptual model. Each assembly creates the hierarchical structure necessary to represent an XML document schema.
This model and the resultant assembly models are described in Appendix D, UBL 2.0 Document Models.
UBL schemas are automatically generated from the models according to the UBL Naming and Design rules. As was the case in UBL 1.0, the UBL 2.0 schemas were generated by the FX software tool from GEFEG. An electronic copy of the UBL 2.0 FX data model will be provided as part of the UBL 2.0 Support Package.
Appendix D. UBL 2.0 Document Models (Informative)
The UBL 2.0 artefacts used to represent the document models are expressed as both UML Class Diagrams and UBL-specific spreadsheets.
Spreadsheets are used to provide the supplementary metadata required by [CCTS]. Their format has been developed by UBL and follows the spreadsheet format used for UBL 1.0. They are provided in OASIS/ISO/IEC Open Document (.ods) format as well as in proprietary Excel (.xls) format. Free software for reading .ods files is available from openoffice.org.
The following diagram shows the dependencies among the spreadsheets used for UBL 2.0.
![[spreadsheet architecture diagram]](art/UBL-2.0-SpreadsheetArchitecture.jpg)
The diagram below show how these spreadsheet modules are realized in the UBL 2.0 schema modules.
![[spreadsheet realization diagram]](art/UBL-2.0-SpreadsheetRealization.jpg)
Class diagrams are also provided as useful graphical guides to the overall UBL library structures.
To assist those migrating from UBL 1.0 to UBL 2.0, these diagrams use pink boxes to represent ABIEs that existed in UBL 1.0 and red lines for ASBIEs that existed in UBL 1.0. BBIEs that existed in UBL 1.0 are marked with a “#” symbol. An electronic copy of the UBL 2.0 UML model will be provided as part of the UBL 2.0 Support Package.
UBL has been designed as a reusable library of Business Information Entities.
The entire UBL 2.0 library of reusable Business Information Entities is provided as a single spreadsheet.
As an aid to understanding, a cross-reference table of Business Information Entities is also provided.
To aid readability of the UML class diagrams, this library is graphically presented using three views, based on the primary contexts of use for the given business areas.
- A Common Library view containing ABIEs used throughout the various document types.
- A Procurement view containing ABIEs used mainly for documents associated with a supply chain.
- A Transportation view containing ABIEs used mainly for documents associated with the commercial aspects of transporting goods.
Note that these diagrams can be navigated using the 
and 
arrows.
A UBL 2.0 document model only needs to define its “root” Aggregate BIE. This may contain several Basic BIEs and Association BIEs. Assembling the components of all Association BIEs from this root creates the hierarchical structure necessary to represent the document type.
As with the UBL Library, the document models are provided as both spreadsheets and as UBL class diagrams that can be navigated using the up and down arrows.
- Application Response
Application Response Class Diagram
- Attached Document
Attached Document Class Diagram
- Bill Of Lading
- Catalogue
- Catalogue Deletion
Catalogue Deletion Class Diagram
- Catalogue Item Specification Update
Catalogue Item Specification Update Class Diagram
- Catalogue Pricing Update
Catalogue Pricing Update Class Diagram
- Catalogue Request
Catalogue Request Class Diagram
- Certificate Of Origin
Certificate Of Origin Class Diagram
- Credit Note
- Debit Note
- Despatch Advice
- Forwarding Instructions
Forwarding Instructions Class Diagram
- Freight Invoice
- Invoice
- Order
- Order Cancellation
Order Cancellation Class Diagram
- Order Change
- Order Response
- Order Response Simple
Order Response Simple Class Diagram
- Packing List
- Quotation
- Receipt Advice
- Reminder
- Remittance Advice
Remittance Advice Class Diagram
- Request For Quotation
Request For Quotation Class Diagram
- Self Billed Credit Note
Self Billed Credit Note Class Diagram
- Self Billed Invoice
Self Billed Invoice Class Diagram
- Statement
- Transportation Status
Transportation Status Class Diagram
- Waybill
[CCTS] permits the definition of Qualified Datatypes as derivations from CCTS-specified Unqualified Datatypes. UBL uses this facility primarily to describe code lists. These Datatypes are provided as a single spreadsheet.
Appendix E. UBL 2.0 Code Lists and Two-phase Validation (Informative)
Code lists — the sets of codes such as “FR” and “USD” that are used to specify countries, currencies, and so on — play an important role in UBL, just as they do in all electronic business messaging schemes. By default, UBL uses several lists of standard codes published by agencies such as ISO and UN/CEFACT, as well as various codes that are specific to UBL.
In UBL 1.0 (2004), standard and default code list values are specified directly in the UBL schemas as enum (enumeration) constraints. This allows all UBL 1.0 instances to be validated in a single pass using generic XML XSD (W3C Schema) processors. However, the specification of the default values directly in the schemas also makes it difficult to modify the code lists to suit individual trading partner relationships and impossible to extend the list of allowable code list values while still using the standard UBL schemas as published by OASIS.
To give users maximum flexibility in configuring and updating
UBL code lists without changing the standard UBL schemas, UBL 2.0
assumes a two-phase validation model. In the first validation
phase, the UBL instance is checked for structure and vocabulary
against a standard UBL 2.0 XSD schema using a generic XSD
validator (or custom-built software performing the same function).
This is exactly the same procedure used in UBL 1.0, except that
the UBL 2.0 schemas (with a few exceptions noted later in this
appendix) do not contain default code list values. In the second
validation phase, new in UBL 2.0, code list values in the instance
are checked against values obtained from external code list
configuration files using an XSLT 1.0 processor driven by an XSLT
1.0 stylesheet. The default values assumed by the UBL 2.0
specification are incorporated into a file named
defaultCodeList.xsl located in the val
directory, as described in more detail below.
The separation of structural and vocabulary checking from code value checking allows trading partners to easily and precisely specify code list subsets and extensions and to apply them not just to individual UBL document types but also to particular elements and subtrees within UBL document instances. Another way to say this is that the the UBL code list methodology allows different versions of the same code list to be used in different document contexts. Thus, for example, a business in Canada might agree with a business in the United States to use a set of code list configuration files that allow the Buyer to be associated with either a U.S. state or a Canadian province but restrict the Seller to just U.S. states — that is, to apply a code list subset containing state and province codes in one place in a document instance and a different code list subset containing just state codes in another place in the instance.
The process for creating custom XSLT code list files to enable this context-specific functionality is described in a separate specification called the UBL Code List Value Validation Methodology, a copy of which can be obtained from the UBL TC web site at OASIS. A set of support files to aid implementers in creating custom XSLT code list files will be included in the UBL 2.0 Support Package from the same site.
To facilitate the processing of UBL 2.0 instances using the
two-phase method, an “out-of-the-box” collection of
open-source software that can be used to perform default
validation of UBL 2.0 documents is included in the
val directory of this release package. The default
validation assumes a Linux or Windows XP system with no currently
installed XML or XSLT processing software.
The Java Runtime Environment (JRE) 1.5 or later is required to
use the programs in the val directory; JRE versions
below 1.5 will throw an error from the xjparse.jar
module used to invoke the xerces schema parser. If necessary,
download and install the latest JRE from the following location
before continuing:
To test UBL 2.0 default validation:
Change to the
valdirectory.From within that directory, enter the test command
test.bat(XP)or
./test.sh(Linux)The output, which is explained in the next section, should resemble the following (the spacing has been adjusted to make this easier to read):
############################################################ Validating order-test-good.xml ############################################################ ============== Phase 1: XSD schema validation ============== No schema validation errors. ============ Phase 2: XSLT code list validation ============ No code list validation errors. ############################################################ Validating order-test-bad1.xml ############################################################ ============== Phase 1: XSD schema validation ============== Attempting validating, namespace-aware parse Error:file:///c:/d/ubl/2/val/order-test-bad1.xml:48:23:cvc-complex-type.2.4.a: Invalid content was found starting with element 'cbc:ChannelCod'. One of '{"urn:oasis:names:specification:ubl:schema:xsd:CommonBasicComponents-2":ChannelCode, "urn:oasis:names:specification:ubl:schema:xsd:CommonBasicComponents-2":Channel, "urn:oasis:names:specification:ubl:schema:xsd:CommonBasicComponents-2":Value}' is expected. Parse succeeded (0.822) with 1 error and no warnings. ############################################################ Validating order-test-bad2.xml ############################################################ ============== Phase 1: XSD schema validation ============== No schema validation errors. ============ Phase 2: XSLT code list validation ============ Value supplied ' LA ' is unacceptable for codes identified by 'ChannelCodeType' in the context: cbc:ChannelCode Processing terminated by xsl:message at line 18From within the
valdirectory, you can now validate any UBL document against the UBL 2.0 schemas by executing commands of the formvalidate<appropriate-schema><ubl-document>where
<ubl-document><appropriate-schema>val/testsamples.batandval/testsamples.shshow this process being used to validate the sample XML instances in thexmldirectory.
The test output displayed above in E.2 demonstrates the default
validation process with three test files: a valid UBL Order
(order-test-good.xml); a UBL Order containing a bad
(misspelled) element (order-test-bad1.xml); and a UBL
Order that is schema-valid but contains an illegal code list value
(order-test-bad2.xml). The file
test.bat (XP) or test.sh (Linux) is used
to run the script validate.bat or
validate.sh against each of the test files.
The first run using order-test-good.xml
demonstrates both phases of the default validation process running
normally. In the first phase, a standard W3C Schema (XSD)
validator, xerces, is invoked from w3cschema.bat (or
w3cschema.sh) to validate the specified UBL document
(.xml) against the specified UBL 2.0 runtime schema
(.xsd). Since the input is a valid UBL Order, the
output of the first phase simply indicates that the file is valid
against the given Order schema.
The second phase of validation uses a standard XSLT 1.0 engine,
saxon, to verify that the values of various codes used in the UBL
document to be tested (country codes, currency codes, etc.) are
valid in terms of the default UBL 2.0 code list values specified
in defaultCodeList.xsl. Here the output line
“No code list validation errors” from the
validate script indicates that the saxon run (invoked
from xslt.bat or xslt.sh) finds no
illegal code values in the document.
The second run shows what happens when the input document
(order-test-bad1.xml) contains an actual structure or
vocabulary error, in this case due to omission of the trailing
“e” from the element named
cbc:ChannelCode. When the xerces parser encounters
the malformed element name, it emits the error message shown in
the example, and the validate script reacts to a
non-zero status code from w3cschema.bat (or
w3cschema.sh) by terminating the validation
process.
In the third run, the input document
order-test-bad2.xml is structurally valid according
to the Order schema, but it contains an illegal code list value
(the ChannelCode “AL” for cell phone has been mistyped
as “LA”). Thus it passes the first phase when tested
against the schema but fails the second phase when tested against
defaultCodeList.xsl.
To summarize, input documents are checked in the first
validation phase for correctness of structure and vocabulary,
using the constraints expressed in the appropriate UBL schema, and
then they are checked in the second phase for correctness of
default code list values, using the default constraints expressed
in the XSLT file defaultCodeList.xsl. This process
is illustrated in the following diagram.
![[two-phase validation]](art/UBL-2.0-DefaultValidation.jpg)
It should be clear from the foregoing that the second phase of the default validation process can safely be omitted if it is considered unnecessary to check code list values. However, the reverse is not true. The second phase depends for correct operation on a prior check for structural validity, and therefore it will not give reliable results if run in the absence of the first (schema) validation phase.
The validation framework provided in the
val directory can be used to implement code list
changes, define variant code lists to fit specific trading partner
agreements, associate different versions of the same code list
with different parts of the same UBL document, and even perform
fairly sophisticated business rule checking, simply by building
additional logic into the XSLT file that drives the second
validation phase — and without changing the standard UBL 2.0
schemas. Schematron-based techniques for creating a custom XSLT
file to take the place of defaultCodeList.xsl are
explained in the UBL Code List Value Validation Methodology, the
latest draft of which is available from the UBL TC web site.
Using these techniques, the business analyst can offload a large
proportion of input filtering from the backend business
application to a simpler input processing area. And, of course,
additional XSLT scripts can be added to extract logical subtrees
of incoming UBL documents for allocation to different downstream
processes and to perform even more sophisticated front-end
processing.
Components of several freely available software distributions
were used to create the val directory. Sources
are given below so that these components can be updated as later
releases become available.
The files resolver.jar and xercesImpl.jar are taken from the xerces-j 2.8.0 binary distribution at
The file xjparse.jar (renamed from xjparse-1.0.jar) is taken from the xjparse 1.0 distribution at
The file saxon.jar is taken from the saxon 6.5.5 distribution at
While the defaultCodeList.xsl file is what
actually drives the second validation phase where the code list
values get checked, it doesn’t function well as documentation of
those values. For listings of the default codes, it’s better to
consult the separate code list files from which
defaultCodeList.xsl was compiled.
These files, which can be found in the cl/gc
directory, use an XML format called genericode that is specially
designed to represent code lists. The version of genericode
adopted for this release is an early draft that is now being
worked on by another OASIS technical committee. While still
unfinished, this version provides all of the functionality needed
for UBL and is the one intended for use in the UBL 2.0 Code List
Support Package.
The genericode files are separated into three subdirectories as follows:
These code lists contain most of the default codes represented
in defaultCodeList.xsl. Note that the majority of
these code lists are “placebos” or placeholders included to
provide extension points for users wishing to assign their own
code values when generating custom XSLT files. The files in this
directory that contain actual default code values are:
The other genericode files in the cl/gc/default
directory — the ones that do not contain default code
values defined by the UBL Technical Committee — contain
sufficient metadata for properly specifying custom code lists.
For convenience, an XML comment embedded in each file illustrates
the method by which coded values are added. This comment
surrounds a SimpleCodeList element defining a sample set of
values. A custom genericode code list is defined by removing the
comment delimiters and associated text, then replacing the sample
values with the desired actual values. As noted above, the
scripts required to generate a new XSLT driver file from custom
code lists will be found in the UBL 2.0 Support Package.
This directory contains genericode versions of four standard code lists (currency codes, unit codes, MIME content codes, and language codes) specified by UN/CEFACT (United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business).
cl/gc/cefact/BinaryObjectMimeCode-2.0.gc cl/gc/cefact/CurrencyCode-2.0.gc cl/gc/cefact/LanguageCode-2.0.gc cl/gc/cefact/UnitOfMeasureCode-2.0.gc
These genericode files correspond to the four schema modules listed in Section 5.2.4. As noted there, the language codes are not currently used in the document schemas included in the UBL 2.0 release.
Unlike all other code values in UBL 2.0, the UN/CEFACT code
values are “hardwired” into the UBL schemas as a
result of UBL’s adoption of the UN/CEFACT unqualifed data
type (UDT) module. Consequently, these values are actually
checked twice — once during the first validation phase
against the code values bound into the UBL schemas via the UDT
module, and then once again against the same values compiled into
defaultCodeList.xsl. Of course, any nonstandard
value used for one of these codes will end the validation in the
first phase.
The practical result of this is that code values can be removed
from any of these UN/CEFACT code lists (for example, the set of
acceptable currencies could be narrowed down to just the
currencies used by a company’s trading partners), but no
values can be added. This is because customizing the
defaultCodeList.xsl file so that a given code list
has fewer values will trap the omitted values in the second
validation phase, but customizing the same file to give the code
list additional values will have no effect, because an
occurrence of one of the new values will be trapped in the first
validation phase before the second phase can be applied.
In summary: the code lists in the cl/cefact
directory can only be subsetted; they cannot be extended. As in
the case of the default UBL code lists, the genericode files
containing the UN/CEFACT code lists also serve as documentation of
the code values. The schema modules from which these
“hardwired” values are actually imported into the UBL
document schemas can be found in the xsd/common
directory in files whose names begin CodeList_.
This directory contains genericode versions of two code lists
that are used only in certain application contexts. Due to the
large size of these lists, they are not included in
defaultCodeList.xsl, but are provided here so that
they can be incorporated into custom XSLT scripts.
The files in this directory are:
This directory contains two directories of XSD schema fragments expressing enumeration constraints mirroring the coded values in the genericode files described in sections E.6.1 and E.6.3. These are provided here only as a convenience for users who may wish to modify their schema expressions to incorporate enumeration constraints. These files do not comprise part of standard UBL.
Appendix F. UBL 2.0 Naming and Design Rules (Informative)
The XML Naming and Design Rules (NDRs) used in creating the UBL schemas in this draft specification are given in the checklist at doc/ndr/NDR-checklist.pdf. The entire NDR document (including explanatory prose) will be released following publication of UBL 2.0.
Appendix G. ASN.1 Specification (Informative)
The UBL ASN.1 specification referenced below provides an alternative schema definition for UBL documents in accordance with ITU-T X.680-X.693 [ASN.1]. The UBL ASN.1 specification defines the same UBL documents as the UBL XSD schemas in Section 5 that constitute the normative definitions of valid UBL documents. The UBL ASN.1 XML specification enables ASN.1 tools to be used for UBL transfers, and in conjunction with the ASN.1 Packed Encoding Rules, it provides a specification for an efficient binary encoding of UBL messages.
- UBL 2.0 ASN.1 Specification
The ASN.1 modules constituting the UBL ASN.1 specification were created using a tool from OSS Nokalva (http://www.oss.com/) that conforms to ITU-T Recommendation X.694 | ISO/IEC 8825-5 for converting XSD Schema to ASN.1. After conversion, the generated ASN.1 was formatted by the PrettyPrint tool at the ASN.1 Information Site (http://asn1.elibel.tm.fr) to produce the HTML file included in this package.
The UBL ASN.1 modules themselves are provided in a zip archive for use by ASN.1 implementers.
- UBL 2.0 ASN.1 Modules
Normative
[ASN.1] ITU-T X.680-X.683: Abstract Syntax Notation One (ASN.1); ITU-T X.690-X.693: ASN.1 encoding rules http://www.itu.int/ITU-T/studygroups/com17/languages/X.680-X.693-0207w.zip , http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/download.php/6320/X.680-X.693-0207w.zip
[CCTS] ISO/TS 15000-5:2005 Electronic Business Extensible Markup Language (ebXML) — Part 5: ebXML Core Components Technical Specification, Version 2.01 (identical to Part 8 of the ebXML Framework) http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/download.php/6232/CEFACT-CCTS-Version-2pt01.zip
[ISO11179] ISO/IEC 11179-1:1999 Information technology — Specification and standardization of data elements — Part 1: Framework for the specification and standardization of data elements http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/download.php/6233/c002349_ISO_IEC_11179-1_1999%28E%29.pdf
[RFC2119] Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate Requirement Levels http://www.faqs.org/rfcs/rfc2119.html , http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/download.php/6244/rfc2119.txt.pdf
[SCH] Document Schema Definition Languages (DSDL) - Part 3: Rule-based validation (Schematron) http://www.iso.ch/iso/en/CatalogueDetailPage.CatalogueDetail?CSNUMBER=40833 , http://www.schematron.com
[UML] Unified Modeling Language Version 1.5 (formal/03-03-01) http://www.omg.org/docs/formal/03-03-01.pdf , http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/download.php/6240/03-03-01.zip
[XML] Extensible Markup Language (XML) 1.0 (Second Edition), W3C Recommendation 6 October 2000 http://www.w3.org/TR/2000/REC-xml-20001006 , http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/download.php/6241/REC-xml-20001006.pdf
[XSD1] XML Schema Part 1: Structures. Second Edition. W3C Recommendation 28 October 2004 http://www.w3.org/TR/2004/REC-xmlschema-1-20041028/ , http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/download.php/19816/xsd1.html
[XSD2] XML Schema Part 2: Datatypes. Second Edition. W3C Recommendation 28 October 2004 http://www.w3.org/TR/2004/REC-xmlschema-2-20041028/ , http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/download.php/19817/xsd2.html
[XSLT] XSL Transformations (XSLT) Version 1.0, W3C Recommendation 16 November 1999 http://www.w3.org/TR/1999/REC-xslt-19991116 , http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/download.php/18891/REC-xslt-19991116.html