Validating an electronic transaction

1. An automated method of processing an electronic transaction, the method comprising:

receiving, on a computer with a processor, an order to execute a transaction electronically;

identifying, on the computer, a format for the order;

identifying, on the computer, a version of the format;

retrieving, on the computer, a metasyntax with a rule related to the identified format and the identified version, the rule defining one or more acceptable arrangements of one or more elements in the transaction;

relating, on the computer, the order to the metasyntax;

determining, on the computer, whether the order conforms to the metasyntax;

generating, on the computer, a message to a user that the order does not conform to the metasyntax, the message including a description of the error and an indication of how the transaction may be remediated;

transmitting, using the computer, the message to the user that enables the user to enter a revision to the rule to process the order;

receiving, on the computer, the revision to the rule from the user; and

forwarding, on the computer, the order for subsequent processing when the order conforms to the metasyntax.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the metasyntax defines elements treated as a nested group.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the metasyntax defines whether an element is required.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the metasyntax defines multiple copies of an element.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the metasyntax defines a set of elements.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the metasyntax overrides a multiple copies attribute.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the metasyntax instructs a program how to parse and process the order.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising forwarding the metasyntax for subsequent processing when the order conforms to the metasyntax.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the metasyntax defines a conditional element.

10. A computer with a communications interface and a processor comprising:

a first communications interface structured and arranged to receive an order to execute a transaction electronically;

a format processing component structured and arranged to identify a format for the order;

a version processing component structured and arranged to identify a version of the format;

a metasyntax datastore structured and arranged to retrieve a metasyntax with a rule related to the identified format and the identified version, the rule defining one or more acceptable arrangements of one or more elements in the transaction;

a relating processing component structured and arranged to relate the order to the metasyntax;

a conformance processing component structured and arranged to:

determine whether the order conforms to the metasyntax; generate a message to a user that the order does not conform to the metasyntax;

transmit the message to the user that enables the user to enter a revision to the rule to process the order, the message including a description of the error and an indication of how the transaction may be remediated;

receive the revision to the rule from the user; and

a second communications interface structured and arranged to forward the order and the metasyntax for subsequent processing when the order conforms to the metasyntax.

11. The transaction processor of claim 10 wherein the metasyntax defines elements treated as a nested group.

12. The transaction processor of claim 10 wherein the metasyntax defines whether the element is required.

13. The transaction processor of claim 10 wherein the metasyntax defines multiple copies of the element.

14. The transaction processor of claim 10 wherein the metasyntax defines a set of elements.

15. The transaction processor of claim 10 wherein the metasyntax overrides a multiple copies attribute.

16. The transaction processor of claim 10 wherein the metasyntax instructs a program how to parse and process the order.

17. The transaction processor of claim 10 wherein the second communications interface is structured and arranged to forward the metasyntax for subsequent processing when the order conforms to the metasyntax.

18. The transaction processor of claim 10 wherein the a first communications interface, the format processing component, the version processing component, the metasyntax datastore, the relating processing component, the conformance processing component, and the second communications interface are all implemented by a single processor.

19. The transaction processor of claim 10 wherein the metasyntax indicates a conditional element.

20. A transaction processing program on a computer readable medium for controlling a computer, the program comprising:

a first communications code segment structured and arranged to receive an order to execute a transaction electronically;

a format code segment that controls the computer to identify a format for the order;

a version code segment that controls the computer to identify a version of the format;

a metasyntax code segment that causes the computer to retrieve a metasyntax with a rule related to the format and version, the rule defining one or more acceptable arrangements of one or more elements in the transaction;

a relating code segment that causes the computer to relate the order to the metasyntax;

a conformance code segment that:

causes the computer to determine whether the order conforms to the metasyntax;

generate a message to a user that the order does not conform to the metasyntax;

transmit the message to the user that enables the user to enter a revision to the rule to process the order, the message including a description of the error and an indication of how the transaction may be remediated;

receive the revision to the rule from the user; and

a second communications code segment that causes the computer to forward the order and the metasyntax for subsequent processing when the order conforms to the metasyntax.

21. A computer with a communications interface and a processor comprising:

means for receiving an order to execute a transaction electronically;

means for identifying a format for the order;

means for identifying a version of the format;

means for retrieving a metasyntax with a rule related to the format and version, the rule defining one or more acceptable arrangements of one or more elements in the transaction;

means for relating the order to the metasyntax;

means for determining whether the order conforms to the metasyntax;

means for generating a message to a user that the order does not conform to the metasyntax, the message including a description of the error and an indication of how the transaction may be remediated;

means for transmitting the message to the user that enables the user to enter a revision to the rule to process the order;

means for receiving the revision to the rule from the user; and

means for forwarding the order and the metasyntax for subsequent processing when the order conforms to the metasyntax.