File Standard Recommendations b2b

[jhaith]

Quick overview, I work for a company that does customer satisfaction surveying/analysis for clients in the banking industry. I get various file types from bank clients with customer information and these files are a complete nightmare. Clients are sending info in different formats, structures, file types, etc... and it's getting ridiculous to automate the importing into our db's.

I want to create a module that converts all files into one standard format, which will hopefully become a standard that can be used with new/existing clients down the road.

Anyone have some recommendations on good b2b file structure/standard? Should I do something basic like csv w/ schema.ini, plain excel, xml, edi? Any input is Greatly Appreciated =)

-jhaith

 

[chiph]

I've done this -- it's a huge pain because the customers will change formats without telling you.

My advice would be to buy a tool like Data Junction (or one of their competitors). This is a clear-cut case where "buy" is far better than "build".

Chip H.


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If you want to get the best response to a question, please read FAQ222-2244 first

 

[timw]

... or take a look at MapForce at

http://www.altova.com/downloadtrialmapforce.html

Tim