We just went through the same thing when we moved to a different ERP a year ago. They had this flat-file import routine that they seemed so proud of, and it was going to require modification since it didn't include several critical bits of data we needed to import. It could handle ONE date on an 850 - the order date. I guess they had never worked with a customer who requested a shipping window or set a deadline for cancellation. The approach we took was to translate directly to a set of db tables (not the actual ERP tables - but more of a "queue"). Then a stored procedure processes the data from there and pushes it into the ERP.
Sure, we still have to tweak the sp when a partner sends some new data it doesn't currently handle - but that's infinitely easier than modifying a proprietary import application. Cheaper too, since they would have been charging us to make the change.....every time it happened. They were borderline hostile to the notion of us circumventing their lame EDI functionality. Travis- ----- Original Message ----- From: "Chris Johnson" <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2011 9:56:38 AM Subject: Re: [EDI-L] Flat File vs XML => What about Using your data base? Quoted text is from <[email protected]>, by Skip <[email protected]> >Why or why do so many folks make more work. Any decent translator >marketed in the past 10 years will allow you to map directly into and >out from most commercial data bases in existence today. Use the tables >as they more closely mirror and structurally resemble EDI groupings. > A good question. Our software has the ability to map data to and from multiple key-linked delimited files. The only ERP which ever used this format was Baan, and over a decade ago they introduced the capability to import and export using a structured 'flat' file - an approach which was promptly adopted by everyone we dealt with. So the answer is that people do not like the multiple table approach. To the further question as to why this should be so I have no answer. Regards Chris -- Chris Johnson mobile:+44 (0)7785 302122 Fax: +44 (0)870 0519 818 EDI website http://www.edimatrix.co.uk EDIMatrix Ltd work: 0845 126 0680 or +44 20 8778 1402 Registered in UK no. 2777624 Reg.Office: 34 Sydenham Rd, London SE26 5QF ------------------------------------ ... Please use the following Message Identifiers as your subject prefix: <SALES>, <JOBS>, <LIST>, <TECH>, <MISC>, <EVENT>, <OFF-TOPIC> Job postings are welcome, but for job postings or requests for work: <JOBS> IS REQUIRED in the subject line as a prefix.Yahoo! Groups Links [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ ... Please use the following Message Identifiers as your subject prefix: <SALES>, <JOBS>, <LIST>, <TECH>, <MISC>, <EVENT>, <OFF-TOPIC> Job postings are welcome, but for job postings or requests for work: <JOBS> IS REQUIRED in the subject line as a prefix.Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EDI-L/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EDI-L/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> 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/
