# X12 Qualifier Codes: N1, REF, DTM and Product ID Lookup

> Source: https://netray.co/tools/x12-qualifier-codes-n1-ref-dtm-reference
> Publisher: Netray (netray.co), AI and integration engineering for ERP and manufacturing systems.
> Section: Free Tools

## Short answer

The qualifier codes you actually meet in 850, 856 and 810 maps, with what each one means.

## Category

supply-chain

## Audience

- EDI coordinator
- EDI analyst
- ERP integration developer

## Tool

**Kind:** worksheet

**Mode:** reference

**Columns:**

#### Segment

**Key:** segment

**Type:** text

#### Code

**Key:** code

**Type:** text

#### Meaning

**Key:** meaning

**Type:** text

#### Typical use

**Key:** use

**Type:** text

**Rows:**

**Segment:** N101

**Code:** BT

**Meaning:** Bill-to party

**Use:** Invoice address on 850 and 810

**Segment:** N101

**Code:** ST

**Meaning:** Ship-to party

**Use:** Delivery location on 850, 856, 810

**Segment:** N101

**Code:** SF

**Meaning:** Ship from

**Use:** Origin on 856 and 810

**Segment:** N101

**Code:** BY

**Meaning:** Buying party (purchaser)

**Use:** Buyer identification on 850

**Segment:** N101

**Code:** SE

**Meaning:** Selling party

**Use:** Seller on 810 and 855

**Segment:** N101

**Code:** VN

**Meaning:** Vendor

**Use:** Supplier identity on 850, 810

**Segment:** N101

**Code:** SU

**Meaning:** Supplier or manufacturer

**Use:** Manufacturer on 856 or 810

**Segment:** N101

**Code:** RE

**Meaning:** Party to receive commercial invoice remittance

**Use:** Remit-to on 810

**Segment:** N101

**Code:** OB

**Meaning:** Ordered by

**Use:** Originator on 850

**Segment:** N101

**Code:** MA

**Meaning:** Party for whom item is ultimately intended

**Use:** Mark-for or end user in retail 850

**Segment:** N101

**Code:** BS

**Meaning:** Bill and ship to

**Use:** Single address for both roles

**Segment:** N103

**Code:** 1

**Meaning:** D-U-N-S Number, Dun and Bradstreet

**Use:** Nine digit DUNS in N104

**Segment:** N103

**Code:** 9

**Meaning:** D-U-N-S Number with four character suffix

**Use:** Thirteen character DUNS plus 4

**Segment:** N103

**Code:** 91

**Meaning:** Assigned by seller or seller's agent

**Use:** Customer-specific ship-to code on 850 reply

**Segment:** N103

**Code:** 92

**Meaning:** Assigned by buyer or buyer's agent

**Use:** Vendor number or store number from the buyer

**Segment:** N103

**Code:** UL

**Meaning:** UCC/EAN Location Code (GLN)

**Use:** 13 digit Global Location Number

**Segment:** REF

**Code:** PO

**Meaning:** Purchase order number

**Use:** Link to the original PO on 856, 810

**Segment:** REF

**Code:** IV

**Meaning:** Seller's invoice number

**Use:** Reference in payments and remittance

**Segment:** REF

**Code:** BM

**Meaning:** Bill of lading number

**Use:** Carrier document on 856

**Segment:** REF

**Code:** CR

**Meaning:** Customer reference number

**Use:** Buyer-defined reference

**Segment:** REF

**Code:** CO

**Meaning:** Customer order number

**Use:** Sales order reference

**Segment:** REF

**Code:** DP

**Meaning:** Department number

**Use:** Retail department

**Segment:** REF

**Code:** IA

**Meaning:** Internal vendor number

**Use:** Your vendor number at the buyer

**Segment:** REF

**Code:** VR

**Meaning:** Vendor ID number

**Use:** Buyer-assigned vendor identifier

**Segment:** REF

**Code:** PK

**Meaning:** Packing list number

**Use:** Shipment document on 856

**Segment:** REF

**Code:** CN

**Meaning:** Carrier's reference number (PRO or invoice)

**Use:** Carrier PRO number

**Segment:** REF

**Code:** 2I

**Meaning:** Tracking number

**Use:** Parcel tracking number

**Segment:** REF

**Code:** ZZ

**Meaning:** Mutually defined

**Use:** Partner-specific value defined in the guide

**Segment:** DTM

**Code:** 002

**Meaning:** Delivery requested

**Use:** Requested delivery date on 850

**Segment:** DTM

**Code:** 004

**Meaning:** Purchase order date

**Use:** PO date

**Segment:** DTM

**Code:** 010

**Meaning:** Requested ship date

**Use:** Ship date requested on 850

**Segment:** DTM

**Code:** 011

**Meaning:** Shipped

**Use:** Actual ship date on 856

**Segment:** DTM

**Code:** 017

**Meaning:** Estimated delivery

**Use:** Expected arrival on 856

**Segment:** DTM

**Code:** 036

**Meaning:** Expiration

**Use:** Lot or document expiry

**Segment:** DTM

**Code:** 050

**Meaning:** Received

**Use:** Receipt date

**Segment:** DTM

**Code:** 067

**Meaning:** Current schedule delivery

**Use:** Confirmed delivery on 855

**Segment:** DTM

**Code:** 068

**Meaning:** Current schedule ship

**Use:** Confirmed ship date on 855

**Segment:** DTM

**Code:** 097

**Meaning:** Transaction creation

**Use:** Document creation date

**Segment:** PO106

**Code:** BP

**Meaning:** Buyer's part number

**Use:** Customer part number

**Segment:** PO106

**Code:** VP

**Meaning:** Vendor's (seller's) part number

**Use:** Your part number

**Segment:** PO106

**Code:** VN

**Meaning:** Vendor's item number

**Use:** Alternative seller's item identifier

**Segment:** PO106

**Code:** IN

**Meaning:** Buyer's item number

**Use:** Buyer item or SKU

**Segment:** PO106

**Code:** MG

**Meaning:** Manufacturer's part number

**Use:** MPN on the order

**Segment:** PO106

**Code:** SK

**Meaning:** Stock keeping unit

**Use:** SKU

**Segment:** PO106

**Code:** UP

**Meaning:** UCC-12 / UPC consumer package code

**Use:** 12 digit UPC

**Segment:** PO106

**Code:** EN

**Meaning:** EAN/UCC-13

**Use:** 13 digit EAN

**Segment:** PO106

**Code:** UK

**Meaning:** GTIN 14-digit data structure

**Use:** Case or carton GTIN-14

**Notes:** Code values come from the X12 code lists and are widely used, but each partner implementation guide limits the qualifiers it accepts. A qualifier that is valid in X12 can still be rejected by the partner. Check the guide first.

## Content

**Intro:** Qualifiers decide what a value means: the same N104 can be a DUNS number, a GLN or a buyer assigned code, depending on N103. This list covers the qualifiers that come up most in purchase order, ship notice and invoice maps.

**Sections:**

#### How to use this table

**Body:** Search by code or by meaning. Start with the segment column, then look at what the partner guide permits. For addresses, N101 says the role and N103 says how the party is identified. For dates, DTM01 sets what the date represents. For items, the PO106 style pair (qualifier then ID) tells the receiver which catalog the number belongs to, so a 12 digit UPC must be paired with UP, not VP.

#### Mapping from ERP fields

**Body:** In an ERP map you normally translate internal values to these codes. A ship-to customer address becomes N1*ST, the customer part number becomes BP, your own item becomes VP, and the unit price is attached to the same PO1 line. Keep qualifier mappings in a cross reference table instead of hard-coding them in each map, so a partner change only affects one row.

**Bullets:**

- Customer part number maps to BP, own part number to VP.
- Ship-to and bill-to need separate N1 loops.
- GLN uses qualifier UL in N103 (or 14 and GLN depending on the guide).
- Dates always need the DTM qualifier that matches the business meaning.

#### Common mistakes

**Body:** Using VP for both vendor and buyer part numbers is the most common mix-up, followed by sending a 13 digit GLN with the DUNS qualifier 1. Another recurring problem is sending DTM 002 where the partner expects 010: the first is requested delivery, the second is requested ship, and a transit time of several days separates them. The result is the order being late by design.

**Cta:** If your partner qualifier mappings live in many separate maps, Netray can help catalog them and spot conflicts. We can also draft a qualifier cross reference from your existing translator maps.

**Faq:**

#### What is the difference between BP and VP?

**Answer:** BP is the buyer's part number, VP is the vendor's part number. On a purchase order you send both so each side can find the item: BP for the customer's catalog, VP for your own. Mixing them up leads to unmatched lines.

#### Which N103 code is used for a GLN?

**Answer:** UL is the code for UCC/EAN Location Code, which carries a 13 digit GLN. Some guides prefer the qualifier 14 or 1 for DUNS-based identification. Use whichever the partner guide specifies.

#### What does DTM 002 mean versus 010?

**Answer:** 002 is delivery requested and 010 is requested ship. They are different dates separated by transit time. Retail partners often specify which one to use, so check the guide before mapping.

#### Can I use ZZ in REF01?

**Answer:** ZZ means mutually defined, so it is valid only when both sides agree on the meaning in the guide. Without that agreement, use a specific code like PO, IV or CR.

## Search terms

x12 N101 entity identifier codes, x12 REF qualifier list, x12 DTM qualifier codes, PO1 product id qualifier BP VP UP, x12 N103 id code qualifier, edi qualifier codes list, x12 BT ST SF VN codes, edi 850 qualifier reference

---
Talk to an engineer: https://netray.co/contact?intent=erp_ai | Machine catalog: https://netray.co/agent/catalog.json