Xi guideline - processing text files

[Knite]

Hi

Is there any xi guideline document that one can use. I need to know the advantages and disadvantages of the following with regards to the source systems' text files:

1. Saving text files (files to be processed by xi) on the source system (OS - Directory)
2. Or setup the source systems to send ther text files to the xi server (OS - on a directory)

Our source system will produce a text file which XI will have to process. we need to know which is the best to do, keep the file in the source system directory or within the XI machine.

If anyone knows the answer to this, please assist.. we need to make a decision with regards to this

Regards

Knite

[Baz]

Personally, I use an file/FTP adapter to move from one server (non sap) to SAP Server, then process from an inbound directory to an archive directory.

I store nothing on XI Server.

This is just our Policy here!

[Knite]

Hi
Thank you for your response. so you are using option 1 (from my question), which is the source systems outputs their files to their local machines and there after you (XI) go and pick the file from there before processing.

I know its company policy, but are there any other reasons why they might have chosen to go this route. Sorry, I maybe sound stupid when I ask this, but I am trying to get enough information regarding each option so to advice my team appropriately. I am very new in XI as you might have picked up.

Thanks again for the response

Kind Regards

Knite

[sapmanie]

I thought XI only processes XML messages? Is there a standard adapter which will allow it to process text (flat) files?

[Baz]

The file/FTP adapter enables you to exchange data with the Integration Server or the PCK by means of a file interface or an FTP server.

The file contents can be sent to the Integration Server unaltered. If the data contains Comma Separated Values (CSV), then it can first be converted into a simple XML message. This XML message is then forwarded to the Integration Server.

Conversely, file content coming from the Integration Server or the PCK can be put unaltered into a file or converted from XML into CSV format.

Text files that are to be processed by the Integration Server or the PCK must be based on the UTF-8 code page. The file/FTP adapter can use every code page that is installed in the Java runtime environment for conversion purposes (for example, for converting foreign sets).