Data Elements

Unique sets of data elements help to distinguish one external inquiry from another external inquiry.

Like an EI, action keys that perform the same function but appear multiple times are counted as only one DET.

Error Messages and confirmation messages can and do occur on either the input side and/or output side. If a user initiates a search and a message is displayed, "please wait searching" is an example of a confirmation message on the input side. The message "all fields must be populated" is another example of an error message on the input side. On the other hand, if the message is "customer not found" is an example of an error message on the output side. That is, the input side contained no problems. The database was searched and the "error" has occurred on the output side of the transaction.