DTM

Date/Time/Period. The EDIFACT segment that always states: "at this date, for this purpose, in this format."

Definition

The DTM segment is defined in UN/EDIFACT D.96A "to specify date, and/or time, or period". Its structure carries a single mandatory composite:

1. 010 — C507 (DATE/TIME/PERIOD), mandatory:
2. 2005 Date/time/period qualifier (an..3, M) — UNCL 2005 qualifier stating the meaning: 137 document/message date, 2 delivery date/time, requested, 35 delivery date/time, actual, 13 due date.
3. 2380 Date/time/period (an..35, C) — the value.
4. 2379 Date/time/period format qualifier (an..3, C) — format UNCL 2379: 102 CCYYMMDD, 203 CCYYMMDDHHMM, etc.

Origin

DTM has been around since UN/EDIFACT version 1 published in 1987. The current structure (a single C507 composite with three sub-components) dates from the realignment carried out in D.93A. ediverse.io archives the D.96A specification as documented by UNECE.

Example in context

Order date in CCYYMMDD format:

Reads as: "this message is dated 13 May 2026 as a document/message date (qualifier 137), expressed in CCYYMMDD format (UNCL 2379 = 102)."

Related terms

• Qualifier — the concept behind code 2005.
• RFF — companion segment usually placed before DTM.
• BGM — the message's first segment, to which DTM 137 attaches.
• INVOIC — message where DTM 137/13 carry the issue date and the due date.