External Code Source

External code lists referenced by the ASC X12 standards.

Definition

Rather than embedding every value, X12 references external lists (ISO 3166 country codes, ISO 4217 currencies, D-U-N-S identifiers, port codes, etc.). Each is assigned a code source number and a directory entry naming the responsible body and how to obtain it. ID-type elements whose values are external point to that number.

Origin

Catalogued in the X12 External Code Source Directory (formerly Appendix A of the X12 dictionaries), published by the Accredited Standards Committee X12 (DISA).

Example in context

Code source 5 designates ISO 3166 (country codes); a Country Code element of type ID refers to it for the set of allowed values (FR, US, DE…).

Related terms

• X12 DE 1270 — Code List Qualifier Code, points to a source within the message.
• X12 Data Element Type — the ID type relies on a code list.