Fix BR-54: Item attribute without name or value

BR-54 in your own invoice? Upload the file and find every error in seconds.

What does BR-54 mean?

The rule checks every item attribute (BG-32) of an invoice line. In CII an attribute sits in the element ram:ApplicableProductCharacteristic. Each attribute must carry a name (BT-160, ram:Description) and a value (BT-161, ram:Value). An attribute such as "Colour: Black" is only complete when both parts are there. If one is missing, the recipient cannot process the attribute.

Common causes of BR-54

ram:Value is missing, only the attribute name (ram:Description) is set.
ram:Description is missing, there is only a value without a label.
The element ram:ApplicableProductCharacteristic was created empty.
Name and value were written into a single field by mistake.

How to fix BR-54

Find the faulty spot in the XML. Open the XML of the invoice and go to field BT-160 along this XPath://rsm:CrossIndustryInvoice/rsm:SupplyChainTradeTransaction/ram:IncludedSupplyChainTradeLineItem/ram:SpecifiedTradeProduct/ram:ApplicableProductCharacteristic
Apply the fix. Add both children to the element ram:ApplicableProductCharacteristic: ram:Description with the attribute name (e.g. "Colour") and ram:Value with the value (e.g. "Black"). Both are free text.
Validate again. Save the file and validate it again to check that BR-54 is no longer reported.

Concrete fix

Add both children to the element ram:ApplicableProductCharacteristic: ram:Description with the attribute name (e.g. "Colour") and ram:Value with the value (e.g. "Black"). Both are free text.

XPath

//rsm:CrossIndustryInvoice/rsm:SupplyChainTradeTransaction/ram:IncludedSupplyChainTradeLineItem/ram:SpecifiedTradeProduct/ram:ApplicableProductCharacteristic

Before / after: the XML example

This is the spot in question before and after the fix (Cross Industry Invoice, ZUGFeRD/Factur-X).

Wrong

<ram:SpecifiedTradeProduct>
  <ram:Name>Bürostuhl Modell B1</ram:Name>
  <ram:ApplicableProductCharacteristic>
    <ram:Description>Farbe</ram:Description>
  </ram:ApplicableProductCharacteristic>
</ram:SpecifiedTradeProduct>

Correct

<ram:SpecifiedTradeProduct>
  <ram:Name>Bürostuhl Modell B1</ram:Name>
  <ram:ApplicableProductCharacteristic>
    <ram:Description>Farbe</ram:Description>
    <ram:Value>Schwarz</ram:Value>
  </ram:ApplicableProductCharacteristic>
</ram:SpecifiedTradeProduct>

Frequent questions about BR-54

What is the difference between BT-160 and BT-161?

BT-160 is the name of the attribute (ram:Description), for example "Colour". BT-161 is the matching value (ram:Value), for example "Black". The two belong together.

Can I give several attributes per line?

Yes. Repeat ram:ApplicableProductCharacteristic for each attribute. Every repetition needs ram:Description and ram:Value again.

Are item attributes mandatory?

No. If you give no attribute, the rule does not apply. But as soon as you create one, name and value must be present.

Related error codes

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