cXML is a free to use streamlined electronic business protocol created in 1999. Its main difference from the other protocols around is that it has a fewer document types. This makes it easy to implement.

While most other protocols are translations of EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) documents, cXML takes a different approach and attempts to get round many of the problems of EDI.

The documents available in cXML 1.2 are:

• catalogue content and supplier descriptions
• PunchOut (a protocol for interactive sessions)
• Master Agreement
• Purchase Order (create, edit and delete)
• Order Confirmation, Ship Notice
• Invoice
• various additional synchronisation and integration transactions.
  

Downloads, FAQs, licence agreements and release notes for cXML can be found at http://www.cXML.org/