Questions and answers                                                                    EnglishDutchGermanFrenchSpanishItalianPolish 

When should I use eb-Forms?

You should use eb-Forms if you want or need to exchange structured business information with your trading partners, and you:

• do not use a business information system
• have a business information system that contains only part of the data to send or receive
• do not have time, budget or priority to configure an adapter or interface to your business information system

Why should I exchange structured business information at all?

• to save time and money
• for reasons of reliability, security or quality
• because your trading partner or the government asks you to

Can I adapt the look of the forms to my preferences?

Yes. eb-Forms comes with an 'annotation file', an XML file that contains the form presentation definitions. You may change that file with an XML editor, such as XML Spy, or with the friendly WYSIWYG editor that is available in the eb-Forms download section.

When the XML Schema changes to a new version, or for a new partner, do I then need to redefine the look of the form?

No. The annotations are not schema dependent, but dependent on data groups and data elements. The presentation definitions of the old schema are inherited by the new schema.

Can I set the language of the forms?

Yes. Language is one of the annotations.

Can I store and print forms?

Yes. You can print forms just as you print web-pages. Forms are saved as XML messages. You may also print the forms as PDF files to store them as readable business documents.

In my industry we exchange EDI messages. Can I still use eb-Forms?

No. eb-Forms work only with XML messages.

In my industry we exchange XML messages that are not UN/CEFACT compliant. Can I still use eb-Forms?

Possibly you can. For some proprietary XML formats it is possible to adapt the XML Schemas to eb-Forms. Look in the eb-Forms Library. However, you should encourage your industry to migrate to UN/CEFACT compliant messages.

I have a business information system and I don't want to re-key data. Are eb-Forms useful for me?

Yes. Tools are available to im- and export selected form data into and from your business system. Look in the eb-Forms download section

Can't I just access my partners' system or a portal?

Sure you can, but:

• then for each partner you'll have a different user interface
• you pay portal service fees
• you normally can't save the documents

Do eb-Forms check message integrity?

Yes:

• eb-Forms always check the messages against the XML Schema
• you may add additional integrity rules in your annotations
• you may even check message data against external data, e.g. data in earlier received or sent messages.

How much do eb-Forms cost?

eb-Forms are free. If you however wish to access the eb-Forms Library, Directory or Tools section or wish to participate in the eb-Forms Community forum discussions, we ask for a moderate subscription fee. That enables us to maintain the forum and to enhance the software.

Who developed eb-Forms ?

eb-Forms are developed by flowcanto based on research at the University of Groningen and in co-operation with GS1 Netherlands.

eb-Forms will be available during 2009.

Until then much of this site is under construction.