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X12-856-HL

X12 856 HL is the HL segment in X12 856 (Ship Notice/Manifest, ASN) Transaction Set that structures the shipping hierarchy: Shipment → Order → Pack → Item.

Definition

HL is the backbone of the 856. Levels HL01 (ID), HL02 (parent ID), HL03 (level code: S=Shipment, O=Order, P=Pack, I=Item, T=Tare). The hierarchy lets one model pallets containing cartons containing units.

Origin

Present in 856 since 1985. The HL hierarchy is also used in 837 (Healthcare Claim) and 832 (Price/Sales Catalog), among others.

Use

An ASN for a mixed shipment: HL*1**S~ (Shipment) → HL*2*1*O~ (Order for PO 042) → HL*3*2*P~ (Pack 1, EUR pallet) → HL*4*3*I~ (Item, GTIN xxx 10 units). Each pallet becomes a sub-tree of the shipment.

  • X12 — the parent standard.
  • HL (X12) — segment entry.
  • ASN — Advance Ship Notice.
  • X12 loop — loop structure.

Last updated: May 14, 2026