Babelabout's Blog

Just wanted to say Hello!

2012-01-24T13:01:00.000+01:00

Just a very quick post to say that I am still there! I still want to create a fair and affordable platform/solution upon which to make e-business possible - for any person, from any company, in any industry, of any size, any where in the world.

I know I should spend some time to clean-up this Blog, there are now a lot of broken links :-/ But, I am quite busy for the moment. It's a little bit like I am back to stealth mode ;-)

I am currently working on a cool integration project, learning a lot about the X12 HIPAA message formats... I hope I will be able to tell you more shortly, as well as cleaning up this blog!

Demonstration, the "mendelson" AS2Box

2011-09-13T15:47:00.000+02:00

I have just finished to create a "mendelson" AS2Box that sends *.txt messages to the mendelson AS2 test server.

You can connect to the "mendelson" AS2Box via FTP:
Host: ftp.as2box.net
Username: mendelson
Password: mendelson
Path: /outgoing

Then, you just "put" a *.txt and it will be sent to the mendelson AS2 test server. You can then check that your file is well arrived on the mendelson AS2 test server by pointing your browser to http://as2.mendelson-e-c.com:8080/webas2 with user: guest and password: guest.

The MDN will be copied in /outgoing/archive.

Do not hesitate to contact me if you would have any further questions...

AS2Box: Managed AS2 Service

2011-09-07T18:26:00.000+02:00

AS2Box is probably the simplest Managed AS2 Service in the world!

You have to exchange files/messages using AS2 with your trading partner tomorrow, and you do not know the AS2 (RFC 4130) transport protocol. On the other hand, you have experience transferring files/messages with FTP or HTTP (WebDAV).

Then, AS2Box is the solution to your problem!

An AS2Box is a simple folder structure with an "incoming" and an "outgoing" folders, which you can access via FTP or WebDAV.

We manage the AS2 connectivity with your trading partners.

The messages that your trading partner sent to your AS2Box will be received into your "incoming" folder, while the messages you upload to your "outgoing" folder will be picked up and sent to your trading partner.

>> Go to http://www.as2box.net

Demonstration #2 with Zoho Invoice

2011-07-18T16:42:00.002+02:00

For my next scenario, I plan to use the XML format of Zoho invoice as input, to be translated into EDIFACT INVOIC D.96A again.

Again, any other suggestions are more than welcome ;-)

Babelabout Demonstration #1 is LIVE ;-)

2011-07-12T15:24:00.001+02:00

Please click on http://www.babelabout.com/demo.html and have a try ;-)

Demonstration #1: Send to your customer an EDIFACT INVOIC via AS2, by uploading to Babelabout.net a CSV file with FTP.

Many thanks in advance!

I am about to be back ;-)

2011-07-08T14:53:00.002+02:00

I have not yet gave up with Babelabout!

I am still struggling about how to transform this night-shift activity into a successful business, but at least, a new - not really different - web site will be launch this week-end, with a working demonstration!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2011!

2010-12-24T08:35:00.002+01:00

I wish you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous Happy New Year 2011, including a successful business running a lot of EDI connections ;-)

My XML/EDIFACT Serializer written in XSLT is open!

2010-11-24T17:59:00.000+01:00

The source XSLT code of my XML/EDIFACT Serializer is open at Google Code ;-)

If you want to have try, you can use the test XML/EDIFACT instance available here. It's the result of the parsing of the ORDERS D.97A sample instance from Seagate by parse-EDIFACT.net.

Then, you can process it with your favorite XSLT processor ;-)

By the way, what is your favorite XSLT processor?

One of My Favorite Quote

2010-11-22T09:58:00.002+01:00

Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.

Albert Einstein

For us, programmers, I think it's the first part of this sentence, which is the most challenging. We all know very well how easy it is to create a complex/long/unstructured solution, and on the other hand, how difficult (and time-consuming) it is to create a simple/elegant solution to a given need ;-)

I am currently working on my EDIFACT parser and serializer - sorry for the delay on my Babelabout demonstration (see my previous post) - challenged by Mathias, and I am again realizing how a few extra thinking can save you hundred thousands of lines of code!

I am currently testing this re-design of my EDIFACT parser and serializer. I will hopefully then take some time writing a post explaining the "architecture shift" and how it saves hundred thousands of lines of code. Then, I will probably finally share the code as open-source ;-)

Babelabout Demonstration #1 (Upcoming...)

2010-11-05T15:21:00.002+01:00

I would like to start developing a series of live demonstrations based on different scenarios. My first scenario would a supplier who is required to send his invoices to a customer as EDIFACT messages with the AS2 transport protocol.

Demonstration #1: Send to your customer an EDIFACT INVOIC via AS2, by uploading to Babelabout.net a CSV file with FTP.

New scenarios should then be added shortly including ORDERS and DESDAV, as well as other EDI flavors, any other suggestions are welcome ;-)

AS2Box: Your Managed AS2 Gateway

2010-10-06T17:13:00.000+02:00

You have to exchange files/messages using AS2 with your trading partner tomorrow, and you do not know the AS2 (RFC 4130) transport protocol. On the other hand, you have experience transferring files/messages with FTP or HTTP (WebDAV).

Then, AS2Box is the solution to your problem!

An AS2Box is a simple folder structure with an "incoming" and an "outgoing" folders, which you can access via FTP or WebDAV.

We manage the AS2 connectivity with your trading partners.

You can directly go to http://www.as2box.net/signup.html and fill the registration/configuration form, or send me an e-mail to babelabout@gmail.com if you have any questions/remarks.

parse-EDIFACT.net, how does it work?

2010-10-01T08:27:00.000+02:00

Thanks to Mathias from Australia, who asked me a few questions about parse-EDIFACT.net, I have started to write some detailed documentation explaining how it is working.

It might be the first step to the complete opening of the source...

Have a look at the Architecture Wiki page and give me some feedback at babelabout@gmail.com, or just comment this post ;-)

parse-EDIFACT.net is looking for alpha testers...

2010-08-20T22:32:00.002+02:00

The http://parse-EDIFACT.net web-function is the first tangible outcome of one of my (old) numerous "dreams", in this case, create my own EDIFACT parser (*) from scratch using XSLT.

(*) By EDIFACT parser, I mean a program/function that transforms my incoming EDIFACT into an (nice) XML representation, allowing the usage of XSLT as mapping/transformation technology.

Recently, I was able to spend some time on this work, and for the first time, I reach to finalise a working prototype ;-)

Despite the fact that I have created the parse-edifact project on Google Project Hosting since the Jan 26, 2009, I am still wondering if I will really open my source code. I am actually waiting for your feed-back... Is there any interest?

Anyway, for now, I am looking for alpha testers to test the on-line version available at http://parse-EDIFACT.net. This current version only works with a limited part of the ORDERS D.97A. I have indeed used the EDI specifications of the company Seagate - publicly available at http://www.seagate.com/www/en-gb/partners/edi - in order to start my development.

Let me know (1) if it works on your browser, (2) if you are interested in a free/open-source EDIFACT parser, (3) with which message you would like me to continue my development, etc.

Many thanks in advance for your help!

You can now support BabelAS2 using PayPal

2010-06-18T13:57:00.007+02:00

If you find our open source project useful, please support us by making a donation. Your funding will help to ensure continued development of BabelAS2.

Many thanks in advance for your help!

AS2, AS2, AS2, AS2 & AS2

2010-03-11T12:00:00.002+01:00

I was dreaming about this big company, impacted by the Auditing Standard 2 (AS2), developing Applicability Statement 2 (AS2) software, with a user interface written in ActionScript 2.0 (AS2) language, used to distribute any kind of data from the video game Assassin's Creed 2 (AS2) to the latest scientific report on the importance of the ASYMMETRIC LEAVES2 (AS2) gene in the leaf venation system.

Keyword Search sucks :-/

Let's use Twitter as a Time Tracking Tool

2010-03-09T21:18:00.002+01:00

Starting now, I will try to consistently use my Twitter account as a Time Tracking Tool. Thus, if you want to know what I am doing:

BabelAS2 version 0.04 has been released!

2010-01-26T08:41:00.000+01:00

You can download BabelAS2 version 0.04 at

Google: http://babelas2.googlecode.com/files/BabelAS2.v0.04.zip

SourceForge: http://sourceforge.net/projects/babelas2/files/BabelAS2.v0.04.zip/download

I had to correct a few bugs :-/

Do not forget to send feedback to babelabout@gmail.com, many thanks in advance!

AS2Box.net - Website Updated!

2010-01-22T09:27:00.002+01:00

Clear your cache and go to http://www.as2box.net/, the content of the website have been updated. Go to the Demo page and have a (2nd) try with demo's AS2Box ;-)

Do not hesitate to contact us at babelabout@gmail.com if you have further questions!

AS2Box Lite: Managed AS2 Services for FREE

2010-01-19T08:09:00.003+01:00

With an AS2Box Lite, you can instantly (*) setup AS2 connections with your trading partners - NO SOFTWARE installation is needed.

Have a try with the demo account, send a file to the mendelson AS2 test server:
- If you are using Internet Explorer, go to the post AS2Box.net - Yes, it can simpler!
- If you are using not Internet Explorer, go to the post Demo's AS2Box Sends Messages to mendelson AS2 Test Server

Create your own account, register for an AS2Box Lite, it's FREE.

Please, do not hesitate to e-mail us at babelabout@gmail.com if you have any further questions or remarks!

(*) At this stage, some parts of the account creation have not yet been automated, thus you can have 1 working day delay for your account creation. But, we are working on it! Many thanks in advance for your support and patience.

AS2Box.net - Yes, it can simpler!

2010-01-14T11:30:00.002+01:00

Click on the link http://demo.as2box.info/outgoing/, and connect with user: demo and password: demo.
Unfortunately, this WebDAV integration seems to work only with Microsoft Internet Explorer. If your browser does not support the WebDAV integration, you will be redirected to the Microsoft web site ;-)
Drag-and-drop the file you want to send to the mendelson AS2 test server into the folder.
Then, you can go to http://as2.mendelson-e-c.com:8080/webas2, and connect with user: guest and password: guest, in order to check if your file has arrived.

Of course, I am not very happy about the fact that it only works with Internet Explorer, so I will have to look for an script-based file manager for web user interface, any suggestions are welcome ;-)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2010!

2009-12-23T15:08:00.002+01:00

Dear All,

This year I would like to simply wish you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous Happy New Year 2010.

Sincerely Yours,

The Babelabout Team

I will be back the 4th of January 2010.

Babelabout, BabelAS2 and AS2Box.net

2009-12-21T20:49:00.002+01:00

Following some recent e-mails we have received on our mailbox babelabout@gmail.com, it seems that we need to clarify the relation between Babelabout, BabelAS2 and AS2Box.net. Here is the draft of the new "About Us" page:

Babelabout is not yet a company/business. For the moment, it is just a project, started by an experienced integration specialist, who wants to provide fair and affordable platforms/solutions upon which to make e-business possible - for any person, from any company, in any industry, of any size, any where in the world.

Babelabout is currently developping three different services:

Babelabout (itself!) aims to be a complete on-line Integration Platform, delivering B2B integration, including "traditional" EDI. Even if it is still a project, we already have one happy customer/tester since April 2009; JAN LANGEDIJK Flower bulbs - http://www.langedijk.nl/ - is creating EDI invoices for two big customers (retailers) with Babelabout.
BabelAS2 is an open source VBScript implementation of the EDIINT AS2 (RFC 4130) standard transport protocol. The source code is currently hosted at Project Hosting on Google Code - please find more information at http://code.google.com/p/babelas2/.
AS2Box.net - http://www.as2box.net - is our NO SOFTWARE solution to manage AS2 connections. You can manage your AS2 transfers from your standard Windows Explorer without installing any software!

You can get much more information about these three different initiatives on our Babelabout's Blog - http://babelabout.blogspot.com/ - and, if you have any further questions/comments/remarks, do not hesitate to send us an e-mail at babelabout@gmail.com!

Demo's AS2Box Sends Messages to mendelson AS2 Test Server

2009-12-21T11:03:00.004+01:00

You can instantly try AS2Box.net by sending any text file (.txt) to the mendelson AS2 test server following the instructions below:

Click on the start button, and select Programs > Accessories > Windows Exporer.
In the Folders list, select My Network Places.
In the right pane, double-click on Add Network Place.
In the Add Network Place Wizard window, click Next.
Select Choose another network location, and then click Next.
In the Internet or network address field, type http://demo.as2box.info/, and then click Next.
In the Connect to as2box.info dialog box, type demo in the User name field, and demo again in the Password field, and then click OK.
In the Type a name for this network place field, enter the name you want to use to identify this folder, e.g. Demo's AS2Box, and then click Next.
Click Finish.
If prompted, re-enter Demo's AS2Box account User name and Password to access the web folder, and then click OK.
Select the demo.as2box.info/outgoing sub-folder.
Copy the text file (.txt) you want to send to the demo.as2box.info/outgoing sub-folder.
Check that your file is well arrived on the mendelson AS2 test server by pointing your browser to http://as2.mendelson-e-c.com:8080/webas2 with user: guest and password: guest.

Could it be simpler?

Connect to your AS2Box.net Web Folder from your Windows Explorer

2009-12-17T12:51:00.054+01:00

Click on the start button, and select Programs > Accessories > Windows Exporer.
In the Folders list, select My Network Places.
In the right pane, double-click on Add Network Place.
In the Add Network Place Wizard window, click Next.
Select Choose another network location, and then click Next.
In the Internet or network address field, type https://your_user_name.as2box.info/, where your_user_name is the user name for your AS2Box.net account, and then click Next.
Enter your AS2Box.net account User name and Password, and then click OK.
In the Type a name for this network place field, enter the name you want to use to identify this folder, e.g. My AS2Box.net, and then click Next.
Click Finish.
If prompted, enter your AS2Box.net account User name and Password to access the web folder, and then click OK.

Your AS2Box.net folder structure

2009-12-17T11:44:00.018+01:00

Once connected to your AS2Box.net Web Folder, you will have access to the following folder structure:

/root [Read]
  /incoming [Read & Delete]
    /archive [Read]
  /outgoing [Write]
    /archive [Read]

The messages you receive from your trading partner will be written in both /incoming and /incoming/archive. You will be able to move the files from /incoming, but all the files will remain within /incoming/archive.

If you want to send a file to your trading partner, you just need to copy it to /outgoing, it will then be picked up, save within /outgoing/archive and send to your trading partner. The MDN will then appear in /outgoing/archive next to the copy of the sent file.

Could it be simpler?

AS2Box.net is almost ready

2009-12-17T09:50:00.000+01:00

It was quite late yesterday night when I finished the 1st implementation of AS2Box.net. But, it's working. I still need to polish it a bit, and I would be able to create the 1st "real" account - the request I have received yesterday ;-)

I am also planning to setup a "demo" account, so you can immediately, try it, e.g. sending messages to the mendelson AS2 test server.

I got my 1st request on AS2Box.net

2009-12-16T17:10:00.000+01:00

I am happy ;-) Ready to work hard tonight in order to finalize the AS2Box.net platform!

BabelAS2 version 0.03 has been released!

2009-12-07T22:34:00.009+01:00

Yes! You can download BabelAS2 version 0.03 at

Google: http://babelas2.googlecode.com/files/BabelAS2.v0.03.zip

SourceForge: http://sourceforge.net/projects/babelas2/files/BabelAS2.v0.03.zip/download

This is the first "complete" version, you can send and receive any messages to/from any partners. I am a little bit disappointed by the length of the installation instructions for the IIS part, but if you are familiar with IIS, you should not find any "exotic" instructions ;-)

Do not forget to send feedback to babelabout@gmail.com, many thanks in advance!

I am almost ready...

2009-12-04T09:07:00.000+01:00

Voilà, I have finished my first Wiki page Install, which gives a exhaustive step-by-step procedure for installing and configuring BabelAS2. This procedure is now also within the _Readme.txt file. It looks like everything is ready for the shipment of BabelAS2 version 0.03.

BabelAS2 version 0.03 will be the first "complete" version, it will include everything you need to send and receive any messages to/from any partners. No limitations, no license costs ;-)

The Wiki of Google Code is Great!

2009-12-03T17:23:00.000+01:00

Finally, it might be quicker that expected... I really enjoy using the Wiki of Google Code as authoring tool for my _Readme.txt file. I really hope I will have finished tonight ;-)

I am still working on the "Readme.txt"

2009-12-03T09:04:00.001+01:00

It's quite frustrating to realise that it's the _Readme.txt file that is the most time consuming to write! The Receive.asp is ready and running well on the BabelAS2 Test Server, but I have still not shipped it within BabelAS2 version 0.03 since I have not finished to detail all the steps needed to configure IIS. At the end, I am sure that I will have to describe 100+ steps :-(

AS2Box.net is looking for BETA testers...

2009-11-24T11:03:00.034+01:00

I have been too optimistic, and now, I am depressed... Not a single hit on the sign up page :-/

The idea of AS2Box.net is to provide a WebDAV folder, simply accessible from the Windows Explorer, from which you can send and receive file with the AS2 transport protocol. You just need to:

Sign up at AS2Box.net by providing: (*)
1. Your AS2 identifier, which you can freely choose
2. The URL of your partner
3. The AS2 identifier of your partner
4. The certificate of your partner, containing his public key

(*) Before entering connection information form your trading partner, have a try with a test AS2 server, see http://www.as2box.net/help.html.

Then, you will receive an e-mail, which you can directly forward to your partner, containing:
1. Your AS2 identifier (the one you have chosen)
2. Your URL
3. Your certificate, containing your public key
You will then be able to send files by simply copying them into the folder "http://as2box.net/<Your Account>/Outgoing", the file will be sent to your partner, renamed and moved to "http://as2box.net/<Your Account>/Outgoing/Archive", and the MDNs received will be there as well.
You receive files from your trading partner directly into "http://as2box.net/<Your Account>/Incoming", and the MDNs sent will be there as well.

Many thanks in advance for your help ;-)

Babelabout has launched AS2Box.net

2009-11-20T21:55:00.003+01:00

Babelabout has launched today the BETA version of AS2Box.net, a simple on-line solution for transfering files with AS2. Now, AS2 is simple ;-)

AS2 Restart "mechanism" implemented in a simple prototype!

2009-11-18T16:15:00.004+01:00

As mentioned in my previous post below, the AS2 Restart should not be too complex since the specification http://www.ietf.org/id/draft-harding-as2-restart-00.txt is only 7 pages long ;-)

Indeed, the checkpoint/restart mechanism is not too difficult to implement. I have create a little VBScript prototype within my BabelAS2 open source project, you can find it at http://code.google.com/p/babelas2/source/detail?r=13.
Do not hesitate to send any questions/feedback/comments to babelabout@gmail.com.

For now, I still need to package my Receive.asp script within BabelAS2 version 0.03. I have to explain how to configure IIS :-/ But then, within BabelAS2 version 0.04, I should be able to deliver the probably first implementation of AS2 Restart as sepicifed within http://www.ietf.org/id/draft-harding-as2-restart-00.txt!

AS2 Restart, let's do it ;-)

2009-11-17T08:42:00.004+01:00

When I read, on the 2009-11-12, the press release from the Drummond Group about AS2 restart, I did not pay much attention. AS2 Restart is a new draft specification started by a group of vendors (Axway, SEEBURGER, Inovis and Cleo Communications that addresses the needs to successfully exchange AS2 messages with very large payloads.

But, after having read the new post New AS2 Restart and the Fall of the Berlin Wall from Steve Keifer, I think I should have a closer look to it ;-)

The current draft specification for AS2 Restart (http://www.ietf.org/id/draft-harding-as2-restart-00.txt),which has been submitted to the IETF EDIINT (AS2) working group, is quite short, 7 pages, let's read it carefully...

BabelAS2 Test Server is available

2009-11-17T02:05:00.000+01:00

I have just finished my "Receive.asp" script - see http://code.google.com/p/babelas2/source/browse/trunk/Receive/Receive.asp - I will package it within BabelAS2 version 0.03, but the configuration of IIS requires some explanations.

I have already installed and configured it on my server - let's name it the BabelAS2 Test Server see details at http://www.babelabout.com/babelas2.html.

It would be great if you could test it with your preferred AS2 client ;-) And, please send us an e-mail at babelabout@gmail.com if you have trouble sending data.

BabelAS2 version 0.02 is available for download

2009-11-11T00:21:00.003+01:00

You can download BabelAS2 version 0.02, which is pre-configured to send messages to the mendelson AS2 test server at

Google: http://babelas2.googlecode.com/files/BabelAS2.v0.02.zip

SourceForge: http://sourceforge.net/projects/babelas2/files/BabelAS2.v0.02.zip/download

The issue #1 - Error occurs in line 135: "'Event.Util' could not be created." - has been fixed.

BabelAS2 works with mendelson AS2 test server

2009-11-09T23:38:00.012+01:00

Yes, I knew mendelson opensource AS2 software for quite some time, but I have only discovered their on-line mendelson AS2 test server last Friday. Finally, a way to "independently" test my code, and guess what, it works! - after the correction of one small bug (see line #35).

Go to http://babelas2.googlecode.com/files/BabelAS2.v0.01.zip to download the version 0.01 of BabelAS2, which is pre-configured to send messages to the mendelson AS2 test server.

To monitor the data entries on the mendelson AS2 test server, just point your browser to http://as2.mendelson-e-c.com:8080/webas2 with user: guest and password: guest

Thanks to the mendelson team!

Open source project BabelAS2 on Google Code

2009-10-21T16:07:00.015+02:00

I think it has all started with the frustration from the licensing cost of my first AS2 software ;-) Looking into my development archive, I have found some work back in October 2004 regarding the idea of making VBScript implementation of AS2, in order to show that it is NOT a complex thing!

The 1st working version of the script (according to my archive) is from February 2005! Until now, I have kept it for my personal use, but today I am in a good mood, and so have made it open source ;-) This has also been a good opportunity for me to discover Subversion, and I like it very much.

The BabelAS2 open-source project is currently available at http://code.google.com/p/babelas2/

I hope by showing that a 137 lines VBScript (with nice formatting) can actually send any message via AS2, it will convince you that I have reached my objective, i.e. it's not a complex matter, and that you should not buy an expensive product to do it! Please, fell free to comment ;-)

I am back!

2009-10-20T15:08:00.002+02:00

I am back!

The EDIaaS demo is LIVE at Babel About!

2008-09-09T01:14:00.008+02:00

The EDIaaS (EDI as a Service) demonstration is LIVE at Babelabout, click here to have a try!

A LIVE demo of Babelabout will be available soon!

2008-09-04T12:13:00.003+02:00

I have almost finished to setup a LIVE demo of the current prototype. I should be able to make it available to everyone tonight ;-)

I have updated the home page

2008-08-29T18:36:00.000+02:00

I have updated the home page today, go to http://babelabout.brinkster.net/ ;-)

Babelabout has been launched in stealth mode

2008-05-22T08:39:00.002+02:00

Babelabout has been launched in stealth mode...