UBL-CR-090: Do not attach a file inside the tender or lot reference

What it means

The tender or lot reference (BT-17) is written in cac:OriginatorDocumentReference, and EN 16931 uses only its identifier (cbc:ID). This rule checks that there is no cac:Attachment inside it, which would be a file or a link to a file tied to that reference.

Why it matters

This is a warning, so the file is still accepted. The standard has one place for attached documents, the supporting documents section (BG-24), and the recipient's software reads attachments from there only. A file hidden in the tender reference is usually ignored, so the recipient may never see it.

How to fix it

If the recipient needs the document, add it as a supporting document in your invoicing software, which writes it in the place the standard expects. In the XML that is cac:AdditionalDocumentReference with the file in cac:Attachment. Then remove cac:Attachment from cac:OriginatorDocumentReference and keep the reference number.

The rule as published

A UBL invoice should not include the OriginatorDocumentReference Attachment

Where this rule applies