Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When I create HL7 message files for my router profile to send, how many messages can I put into each file.

A: As many as you like, the router profile will handle files of any size. There are a couple of caveats to this.

If you're writing many messages to a single file, we strongly recommend that you either write the file into a temporary folder and then MOVE it to the HL7 message folder when it's done. OR write the file to a temporary file in the message folder with a different file extension than the one in your router profile and then RENAME it to a file name with the correct extension.

2.	If your HL7 message files contain TCP/IP enveloping (start-of-message and end-of-message) characters then they MUST match the characters defined by the EasyHL7 vendor definition selected in your router profile.

Q: When I start my listener profile, it receives an error indicating that it cannot bind to the port.

A: Is there another listener profile running which has the same port # (or if you've enabled the system monitor the same monitor port #)? Are any of your ports being blocked by the the Windows Firewall or a 3rd party security program (i.e. McAfee or Nortons)?

Q: I can PING the target IP address, but my router fails to connect when trying to send HL7 messages.

A: Is there an HL7 Listening application listening on the IP address and port number specified in your router profile? Is the connection being blocked by a software or hardware firewall? If the listener application is older, you might have a connection timeout issue check the timeout value in the router profile.

Q: I can start my Listener Profile, but my trading partner's HL7 router (sender) cannot establish a connection to me.

A: Did you give your trading partner your correct TCP/IP address AND HL7 Listening port number as entered in your listener profile? Is the connection being blocked by a software or hardware firewall?

Q: I can start my Listener Profile, and my trading partner's HL7 router (sender) is connecting and trying to send HL7 messages but no files appear in the HL7 Message Folder.

A: This problem will usually only occur if you and your trading partner are not using the same TCP/IP enveloping characters (start of message and end of message). Verify that their HL7 messages have the same start-of-message and end-of-message characters you have defined in your listener profile. HINT: Don't necessarily take anyone's word at face value that they are HL7 compliant, you may need to use a HEX editor to look at some of their sample message files yourself.

A: If your HL7 data files contain start-of-message and end-of-message characters (if they don't the router profile will add them for you) they MUST match the values entered in your router profile.