Immediate flat file or .CSV file transformation to XML
One of the core skills of AdvanceFirst Technologies since it's inception in 2003 has been the wealth of mapping and transformation skills contained within the business. Data transformation and mapping is also a core component of the 'Advance Business Collaborator' (ABC) software suite of products.
The need for AFX...
With electronic trading in its multiple formats now being firmly back on the agenda, many of our clients are being asked to trade with partners utilising a multitude of methodologies (FTP, SFTP, AS1/2, and via EDI VANs) standards (Tradacoms, Edifact, ANSI X12 etc) and file formats (flat files, .CSV, HTML, Binary, XML etc).
The pressures on an IT department to be able to respond to trading partner requests are increasing rapidly. As a result, many of our clients worldwide now call on AdvanceFirst to provide them with the mapping, transformation and integration skills they lack within their organisation to help them respond quickly to customer or supplier requests.
One of the core principles of the Advance Business Collaborator suite is that it is able to transform all incoming or outgoing files into XML, a format from which it can produce either readable / printable XSL style sheets customized to specific client requirements, or transformed more easily into another specific file type or data format. This was a key factor in the need to develop the AFX utility.
What is AFX?
One of the most common requests from our clients involved the need to produce XML formats from a flat file or .CSV file. Each time AdvanceFirst had to do this, some significant programming was required to accept the flat file or .CSV file and produce the equivalent XML version. This was a very time consuming exercise.
In order to considerably shorten this process AdvanceFirst have now written the AFX utility which can automatically transfer flat files or .CSV files into XML with no human intervention.
In many cases we have used XML as the interim format for clients who ultimately wish to produce EDI documents. Producing EDI formats from an XML file is a very simple procedure, much simpler than attempting to produce an EDI format directly from a .CSV or flat file. AFX short cuts this whole process considerably. This is exactly the same if a client wishes to produce any other final file format such as HTML. The whole transformation process is shortened considerably.
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'The AFX utility has cut down the time needed to produce an XML file from a flat file or .CSV file by over 75%. We are now incorporating the AFX utility directly into the latest version of ABC. It has helped us to be far more responsive to our clients mapping needs'
Mark Lancaster (Technical Director,AdvanceFirst Technologies).
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If you have a need to transfer .CSV or flat files into XML files then look no further than the AFX Transformation Utility from AdvanceFirst Technologies.
