Tips to open EDI file

Can't open the EDI file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open EDI files as well as a list of programs that support EDI files.

EDI file extension

File Name Electronic Data Interchange Format
File Category Data Files

The EDI file is supported on 4 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the EDI files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the EDI file on each system platform.

Operating systems
  • 4
  • 1
  • 1
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

What is EDI file?

The file with the extension EDI is the Data Files file type. Data Files consists of 1326 similar files. Electronic Data Interchange Format is most often found on 4 operating systems. The file will work on Linux, Mac OS, Web, Windows systems, unfortunately not on others. The Microsoft Excel application is recommended to open the file. It was released by Microsoft Corporation. This file type can also be opened by 6 other programs. Stylus Studio, EDI Manager, EDI Service, EDI Engine will apply when it is not possible to use Microsoft Excel.

How to open EDI file?

The main problem with Electronic Data Interchange Format is that the EDI file is incorrectly associated with programs. Thus, when you open EDI, the program selection wizard or some other program starts. How to solve such a problem?

The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the EDI file icon you want to open. If the operating system has an appropriate application to support it and there is also an association between the file and the program, the file should be opened.

Step 1. Install Microsoft Excel

The first step is to check if the computer has the Microsoft Excel program installed. The easiest method is to use the system search engine by entering the program name Microsoft Excel in it. If it is not, installation may solve the problem, as most applications create file associations during installation. Below is a list of programs that support the file EDI.

Step 2. Create association of Microsoft Excel with EDI files

However, it may happen that the application itself does not cause the EDI file to open in the Microsoft Excel application, but you can set it manually. This option is available from the level of Properties of a specific file available in the context menu. Information about the file and the program that the file is associated with are available here. Using the "Change" button we can select the desired program. It may happen that in the next window there will be no appropriate program - however, this can be corrected with the "Browse" option where you should manually indicate the program location. However, it is important to check the "Always use the selected program ..." box, this will allow you to permanently associate the EDI file with the Microsoft Excel application.

Step 3. Update Microsoft Excel to the latest version

The fault may also lie with the Microsoft Excel program, it is possible that Electronic Data Interchange Format requires a newer version of the program. In this case, use the Microsoft Corporation website or update the program from the application.

Step 4. Check for the following problems with the EDI file

The problem may also be with the file itself if the above steps don't work. File problems can be divided into the following:

The affected file may be 0 KB or smaller than expected. Usually this applies to EDI files downloaded from the Internet in case the download did not finish properly. The file should be downloaded again, making sure that the process has finished correctly.
The most common cause here is computer viruses. Perform a virus scan using available and up-to-date anti-virus software. Alternatively, you can use the scanners available online. The scan should cover the entire computer, not only the EDI file that we want to open. However, remember that not every infected EDI file can be recovered, so it is important to take care of regular backups.
A typical compatibility error - the program does not support the older version of the EDI file. Help should be sought from the software developer, as they usually recommend using free file converters or installing an older version of the program.
There can be many reasons for this. The repair method must be adapted to the type of file and damage. Sometimes the program itself has options to repair the most popular EDI file corruption. You can restore the file from a backup or use N/A help.
The program can also signal the fact of encryption. The encrypted EDI files can be used by the device on which they were encrypted, on any other device it is required to have the appropriate cryptographic key and decrypt the file before its recovery.
Some operating systems do not allow file operations in certain locations, eg in system directories or directly on the system drive. These directories are write-protected to them and it's very hard to fix this problem. Copying the EDI file to another location will fix the problem.
This problem usually affects more complex files. Some file types can only be opened in one program at a time. Just close unnecessary programs. Sometimes you have to wait for the session to the file EDI to close. Antivirus programs or a backup being made may lock the file for a while without the user's knowledge. If the problem persists, restart the machine.