I guess the standard I am referring to is the ANSI ASC X12

In 1979, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) chartered the Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) X12 to develop uniform standards for interindustry electronic interchange of business transactions-- electronic data interchange (EDI).

ASC X12 develops, maintains, interprets, publishes and promotes the proper use of American National and UN/EDIFACT International Electronic Data Interchange Standards.

I understand that there are a variety of off the shelf software packages which helps to implement some of this, but the interface to individual applications must be programmed. Has anybody used any of these packages and/or tried to interface to them?

Thanks again.