What is a VMD File?

VMD files are a big part of what makes IguanaX an easy environment to handle HL7 and X12 in.

See how this raw HL7 message is not very readable:

MSH|^~\&|MESA_ADT|XYZ_ADMITTING|iFW|ZYX_HOSPITAL|||ADT^A01|103102|P|2.4||||||||
EVN||200007010800||||200007010800
PID|||583295^^^ADT1||DOE^JANE||19610615|M-||2106-3|123 MAIN STREET^^GREENSBORO^NC^27401-1020|GL|(919)379-1212|(919)271-3434~(919)277-3114||S||PATID12345001^2^M10|123456789|9-87654^NC
NK1|1|BATES^RONALD^L|SPO|||||20011105

The entries in the dictionary give the names and descriptions of the fields in the message.

Iguana is able to use this dictionary to make it more intuitive as to what the fields mean.

VMDs in IguanaX have a simple JSON format. To view a VMD as JSON in the Translator, click on the .vmd file edit icon ⋮ , and click Show Source.

"ADTA01":{
  "desc":"Admit/visit notification",
  "type":"message",
  "children":[
   {"type":"MSH",       "desc":"Message Header"                         ,"req":true},
   {"type":"SFT",       "desc":"Software Segment"                       ,"repeats":true},
   {"type":"UAC",       "desc":"User Authentication Credential Segment"},
   {"type":"EVN",       "desc":"Event Type"                             ,"req":true},
   {"type":"PID",       "desc":"Patient Identification"                 ,"req":true},
   {"type":"PD1",       "desc":"Patient Additional Demographic"        },
   {"type":"ARV",       "desc":"Access Restriction"                     ,"repeats":true},
   {"type":"ROL",       "desc":"Role"                                   ,"repeats":true},
   {"type":"NK1",       "desc":"Next of Kin / Associated Parties"       ,"repeats":true},
   {"type":"PV1",       "desc":"Patient Visit"                          ,"req":true},
   {"type":"PV2",       "desc":"Patient Visit - Additional Information"},
   {"type":"ARV",       "desc":"Access Restriction"                     ,"repeats":true},
   {"type":"ROL",       "desc":"Role"                                   ,"repeats":true},
   {"type":"DB1",       "desc":"Disability"                             ,"repeats":true},
   {"type":"OBX",       "desc":"Observation/Result"                     ,"repeats":true},
   {"type":"AL1",       "desc":"Patient Allergy Information"            ,"repeats":true},
   {"type":"DG1",       "desc":"Diagnosis"                              ,"repeats":true},
   {"type":"DRG",       "desc":"Diagnosis Related Group"               },
   {"type":"PROCEDURE", "desc":""                                       ,"repeats":true},
   {"type":"GT1",       "desc":"Guarantor"                              ,"repeats":true},
   {"type":"INSURANCE", "desc":""                                       ,"repeats":true},
   {"type":"ACC",       "desc":"Accident"                              },
   {"type":"UB1",       "desc":"UB82"                                  },
   {"type":"UB2",       "desc":"Uniform Billing Data"                  },
   {"type":"PDA",       "desc":"Patient Death and Autopsy"             }]},

This is the same node in the GUI editor:

This video explains the benefit: