Abstract: A method for expressing the content of data interchange format messages, such as Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) documents, in a markup language, such as Extensible Markup Language (XML). One or more XML documents are created which define an XML data dictionary expressing the EDI semantics for transaction sets, segments and elements. The data dictionary can be generated as plural files each representing a piece of the EDI semantics. Pieces of the EDI document are read and used to generate XML tags to define elements of the XML document. Attributes and values of the XML elements are set based on the data dictionary and established rules. The use of the data dictionaries permits the human readable metadata of EDI to be incorporated into an XML document expressing the underlying data of an EDI document.

Abstract: A file is separated into three sections: a root, one or more fragments, and a fragment index. The root, which is uncompressed, maintains relationship information regarding fragments within the file. The fragments contain the actual data and are compressed, and the index, which is uncompressed, provides a list of all the fragments and, for example, an identification of any attributes associated with those fragments. Using this nomenclature, selective compression and decompression documents is possible.