---
title: "Get a Transaction Message"
method: GET
path: "/transactions/{compositeTransactionId}/message"
tags: ["Transaction"]
---

# Get a Transaction Message

`GET /transactions/{compositeTransactionId}/message`

## Request

- Base URL: `https://api.orderful.com`
- URL: `https://api.orderful.com/transactions/{compositeTransactionId}/message`
- Auth: API key in header `orderful-api-key`
- TypeScript: <https://skmtc.dev/orderful/apis/orderful-api/docs/transactions/:compositeTransactionId/message/get.ts> (a function with typed inputs; its response is checked against the schema)

Redirects to a download URL for the Transaction's message content. Most HTTP clients follow the `302` redirect automatically, so a plain GET returns the content directly.

What downloads depends on how the Transaction is backed: Relationships that trade JSON return the JSON document, while X12 and EDIFACT Relationships return the EDI file. As the sender you read back the content you posted; as the receiver you get the message as it is delivered to you.

The download URL is short-lived — it expires 5 minutes after it is issued. Follow it right away rather than storing it, and request this endpoint again whenever you need a fresh one.

## Path parameters

- `compositeTransactionId` string, uuid, required

## Headers

- `orderful-api-key` string, required
- `orderful-api-version` string, required

## Other responses

- `302`: The message content is at the `Location` URL. That URL is short-lived and single-purpose — follow it right away rather than storing it, and request this endpoint again for a fresh one.
- `400`: The `compositeTransactionId` is not a UUID.
- `403`: Your organization is not authorized to read Transactions.
- `404`: Transaction not found, it belongs to another organization, the Transaction has no message content, or the `orderful-api-version: v4` header is missing.

## Changes

- **2026-11-03** `fe0e82430746`: 1 info
  - endpoint added

[Operation history](https://skmtc.dev/orderful/apis/orderful-api/changes/transactions/:compositeTransactionId/message/get.md)

---

[API](https://skmtc.dev/orderful/apis/orderful-api.md) - [All operations](https://skmtc.dev/orderful/apis/orderful-api/llms.txt) - [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc.dev/orderful/apis/orderful-api/revisions/fe0e82430746?raw)