Susan, It's important to distingish between the 2 Data Management issues you're addressing: EDI and FTP which are independent of each other.
EDI has to do with multiple data formats (i.e. Flat-Files, Excel, CSV, etc), versus one single (standard) format. Its like sending letters in local languages for each country instead of everybody writing all their letters in the same language. Of course everybody would need to translate each letter to/from that standard language, but that's much easier than handling multiple languages ! The second issue has to do with delivering the letters, regardless of the language (format) they're written on. Going direct may be cheaper, but then you have to manage the delivery. Intermediaries such as VANs, Service Bureaus, etc. help manage message delivery just like the post office. So if you have a good EDI translator, Why bother sending non-EDI files?-and if you have a good communications server with good management capabilities like tracking, security, non-repudiation, acknowledgements, etc. Why not go direct ? My 5 cents: Do not use FTP nor any other direct connection method unless you have a communications gateway with good management capabilities. It may be expensive, so you'll have to use it with several Trading Partners to justify it. Obviously, for one partner the troubles of going direct aren't worth the exception. By the same token, since you already have an EDI translator, don't bother sending flat-files- ask your non-EDI partners to get one, or better yet get your organization to purchase an inexpensive corporate license of a FTP/EDI runtime pre-configured with you ICs, maps, and FTP parameters, then give a runtime to each of your non-EDI partners. This will be much faster than trying to convince each of them to purchase EDI/FTP software, then walking them though your ICs and specs to get them implemented. And way cheaper than not doing EDI at all (i.e. paper, faxes, flat-files, etc). __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Get Bzzzy! (real tools to help you find a job). Welcome to the Sweet Life. http://us.click.yahoo.com/A77XvD/vlQLAA/TtwFAA/OIFolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> . Please use the following Message Identifiers as your subject prefix: <SALES>, <JOBS>, <LIST>, <TECH>, <MISC>, <EVENT>, <OFF-TOPIC> Access the list online at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EDI-L Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EDI-L/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
