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EDI Paisan presents your EDI files as an interactive tree structure. This guide covers how to navigate through interchanges, loops, segments, and find what you're looking for efficiently.
Tree View Overview
When you open an EDI file, the viewer displays it as a collapsible tree:
📁 Interchange (ISA...IEA)
└── 📁 Functional Group (GS...GE)
└── 📁 Transaction Set (ST...SE)
└── 📁 Loop 2000A (Billing Provider)
└── 📁 Loop 2010AA (Billing Provider Name)
└── NM1 - Entity Name
└── N3 - Address
└── N4 - City/State/ZIP
└── 📁 Loop 2000B (Subscriber)
└── ...Each level corresponds to EDI's hierarchical structure. Click any node to expand or collapse it.
Understanding the Hierarchy
EDI files follow a strict nesting pattern:
Envelope Levels
| Level | Segments | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Interchange | ISA / IEA | Outermost wrapper, identifies sender/receiver |
| Functional Group | GS / GE | Groups related transaction types |
| Transaction Set | ST / SE | Single transaction (one claim batch, one remittance, etc.) |
Content Levels
Within each transaction set, data is organized into loops:
| Level | Description |
|---|---|
| Loops | Named containers for related segments (e.g., Loop 2000A = Billing Provider) |
| Segments | Individual data records (NM1, CLM, SVC, etc.) |
| Elements | Fields within segments (visible when you select a segment) |
Navigating the Tree
Expand and Collapse
- Click a node to toggle expand/collapse
- Expand arrows (▼) next to nodes have hover buttons to expand/collapse all descendants
- Use the Expand All / Collapse All buttons on individual nodes to control children
Visual Indicators
| Icon | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ▶ | Node is collapsed, has children |
| ▼ | Node is expanded |
| • | Leaf node (segment with no children) |
| ⚠️ | Contains validation warnings |
| ❌ | Contains validation errors |
Navigating Segments
When you click on a segment, the detail panel shows:
- Raw segment — Original EDI text
- Parsed elements — Each field with position, value, and description
- Context — Which loop this segment belongs to
Segment Labels
Segments are displayed with their type and a brief description:
| Display | Meaning |
|---|---|
NM1 - Subscriber Name | NM1 segment, showing the subscriber's name |
CLM - Claim Information | CLM segment with claim details |
SVC - Service Line | SVC segment describing a service |
The description comes from X12 implementation guides for your specific transaction type.
Navigating Loops
Loops group related segments. Common loops you'll encounter:
837 Claims
| Loop | Contains |
|---|---|
| 2000A | Billing Provider Hierarchical Level |
| 2000B | Subscriber Hierarchical Level |
| 2000C | Patient Hierarchical Level (if different from subscriber) |
| 2010AA | Billing Provider Name and Address |
| 2010BB | Pay-to Provider |
| 2300 | Claim Information |
| 2400 | Service Line Information |
835 Remittances
| Loop | Contains |
|---|---|
| 1000A | Payer Identification |
| 1000B | Payee Identification |
| 2000 | Header (check/payment info) |
| 2100 | Claim Payment Information |
| 2110 | Service Payment Information |
271 Eligibility
| Loop | Contains |
|---|---|
| 2000A | Information Source (payer) |
| 2000B | Information Receiver |
| 2000C | Subscriber |
| 2000D | Dependent |
| 2100C | Subscriber Name |
| 2110C | Subscriber Eligibility/Benefit Information |
View Modes
Toggle between views using the toolbar:
Tree View (Default)
Hierarchical structure with expandable nodes. Best for:
- Understanding file organization
- Navigating to specific data
- Following the logical flow
Grid View
Segments displayed in a spreadsheet-style table. Best for:
- Scanning multiple segments quickly
- Familiar Excel-like interface
- Sorting and filtering data
Note: Grid View is available for 837 and 835 files only. For 270/271 eligibility files, use Tree View or Raw View.
Raw View
Segments displayed in file order with byte offsets. Best for:
- Troubleshooting parsing issues
- Seeing exact file formatting
- Comparing with other tools
- Copying raw segment text
Summary Button
For certain file types (like 835 remittances), a Summary button appears in the toolbar. This opens a high-level overview showing totals, payment breakdowns, and key statistics — separate from the main view modes.
Working with Large Files
EDI batch files can contain thousands of claims. Tips for handling large files:
Use Search Instead of Browsing
Rather than scrolling through the tree, use the search bar to find specific segments, values, or patterns.
Collapse Unnecessary Levels
Keep upper levels collapsed to reduce visual clutter. Expand only the sections you're actively examining.
Filter by Transaction
If your file has multiple transactions, use the transaction selector to focus on just one at a time.
Navigation Tips
Finding Specific Claims
- Use the Search bar to find the claim by patient name or ID
- Click the search result to jump directly there
- Expand parent nodes to see your location in the hierarchy
Comparing Sections
- Open the file in two browser tabs
- Navigate each to different sections
- Compare side-by-side
Following the Loop Structure
When investigating an issue:
- Start at the Transaction Set level
- Expand the hierarchical levels (2000A → 2000B → 2000C)
- Find the claim loop (2300)
- Drill into service lines (2400) if needed
Related Documentation
- Loop Hierarchy — EDI structure reference
- Segment Reference — Common segment explanations
- Quick Start Guide — Getting started with EDI Paisan
