Which is the better format for message handling - flat files or SOAP?

[Former Member]

We have the possibility to specify from our EDI partner how to send messages into XI. We can ask them to send the messages in as SOAP or flat files.

Is there a definite preference for one format over the other? Can somebody advise with reasons?

BR,

Tony.

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi,

Flat files are better than SOAP when it comes to perfomances(no of msgs) as SOAP is heavly tagged and therefore huge or bulky SOAP files can create lot of overhead.

Regards,

Ashwin M

Reward for helpful answers:-)

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi,

Sorry I meant that our flat files will also be in XML format also, so would there be much difference?

BR,

Tony.

[prateek · Accepted solution]

Internal flow of messages in XI is always in XML, be it file adapter or SOAP adapter. SOAP adapter while processing adds extra SOAP header to its messages which makes the XI more loaded as compared to the payload of the file adapter

At the receiver end, it is possible that the sender wants the response (or it may ask for it in future). In that case, it is better to use SOAP adapter as filee adapter do not allows synchronous processing without the use of BPM.

Regards,

Prateek

[Former Member]

>>We have the possibility to specify from our EDI partner how to send messages into XI. We can ask them to send the messages in as SOAP or flat files.

I would strongly suggest you go with SOAP rather than File.

Reason : In case of file, the EDI partner will send a file to a machine in your network where FTP server is running and you make your XI server poll the particular folder every 10 min or so. But in case of SOAP, the <b>communication is real time</b>. Your EDI partner can invoke either the SOAP adapter directly or send a SOAP msg directly to Integration Server.

Just my ideas.

Regards,

Jai Shankar