ENGDAT is an EDI message used to describe the contents of engineering data files.
It contains information required to interpret and use the engineering data, but does not contain the engineering data itself.
The engineering files are sent as separate files from the EDI message, but usually within the same communications session.
The ENGDAT message contains a reference to and a description of each engineering file being sent.
An ENGDAT package is the set of data files to be sent using an ENGDAT message i.e. the EDI message itself and all engineering data files linked to the message.
ENGPART is a means of exchanging parameters that are relevant to the exchange of ENGDAT files, thus providing a partner profile description.
The ENGPART file is a machine-readable flat file in which data element codes, descriptions and values are separated by delimiters.
The ENGPART parameter file is normally transferred with an ENGDAT message, in the form of an ENGDAT package.
Its main purpose is to avoid oral and written communication of the partner profile information.