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file transfer

file transfer

This glossary provides explanations of various keywords to help you understand the concepts necessary for successful data utilization and digital transformation (DX).
This time, let's consider "file transfer" as a means of connecting various systems and people.

What is file transfer?

file transfer refers to a method of integration that uses files as a means of data transfer. It involves linking systems together, or systems together with people, through files.
To effectively utilize IT, means of linking systems and data are indispensable, and file transfer is a powerful method for achieving such linking, with a proven track record of being used in various situations for a long time. file transfer platform that provides the high level of security, reliability, and dependability required for IT systems that support business operations can also be efficiently built by using MFT.

Collaboration is essential for utilizing IT systems

The use of IT in business is becoming increasingly important, and a key point for successful IT use is "preparing a means of integration." It's easy to be aware of the need to develop and implement IT systems or use cloud services, but it's also important to prepare a "platform that can freely integrate these systems, services, and a wide variety of data."

To find out why this is important, please see these articles (such as "EAI" and "iPaaS"). What we will discuss next is "what means or methods should be used to achieve integration," which is what determines the success or failure of IT utilization. Widely used methods include "integration via API," "integration via shared database," and the "integration via files" that we will discuss here. It is important to use these methods appropriately according to the situation and needs.

Why "file"?

Some people might have the impression that file transfer isn't the latest technology or that it's a simple method of integration. For example, databases are commonly used in corporate IT systems and seem like a standard method, cloud services offer integration methods via APIs, and new fields often seem to be dominated by topics related to APIs.

file transfer is indeed a long-established technology, not a recent trend. However, as I will explain, it is a linking method with superior features not found in other methods, and it is definitely one you should keep in mind as an option. You will also come to appreciate just how well-designed the "files (file file transfer)" that we use so casually every day are.

Reimagine your data and files

What kind of data is a file suitable for?

The key to business is the data itself. Data is what it contains, not how it is handled. For example, if you have employee list data, it may be stored as a file or in a database. It can also exist in various forms, such as printed on paper or data flowing over a communication network.

What are the characteristics of "saving to a file" compared to other methods? It is a collection of data that can be managed by giving each block a name, and it is suitable for storing static data rather than data that is frequently changed, and it is suitable for data that is stored rather than data that is constantly being transferred.

Let's compare it to a database

Next, let's think about "what is processed and what can be done." In the case of a database, there is first a "database engine," which (although this is not an accurate expression) stores organized data in a so-called tabular format with pre-determined data types, and is also good at executing rewrite processes while maintaining data integrity. It also has the convenience of making it easy to perform advanced analysis and aggregation processes using SQL and other tools.

What about files? We don't usually think about them because they are so commonplace, but the "file system" that Windows and other systems have is the engine that processes files.

You can assign names to each chunk of data and manage it. There is a mechanism to group files using folders or directories. You can handle different types and sizes of data, such as image data and text data, without distinguishing between them (which can be said to be more tolerant of data diversity than databases), or you can distinguish between the differences and handle them separately.

What kind of operations can a file system perform? To a certain extent, it can perform many operations, such as searching by file name, full-text search of the contents of many files, and appending or rewriting files. However, it does not excel at advanced operations such as SQL operations in a database. The strengths of a file system lie elsewhere.

The superiority of files (file systems)

On the other hand, it is also overwhelming. It has become so widespread and the environment for its use has been developed that you don't even notice its existence unless you pay attention (like air or water).

Everyone knows

Consider a situation where you are handing over data to another party. If the data is in a specific database, you are not sure whether the other party can read the data. Before that, you will often need to explain what it is. On the other hand, if it is a file, you will rarely be able to say, "Hey, we don't understand files."

"File systems" are ubiquitous

File systems have been around since the dawn of mainframes in the early 1960s, and most operating systems provide them as a feature of the operating system itself. This means that the world is filled with environments where files can be used. They can be easily used in almost any environment, including everyday PCs, on-premise environments such as Linux, UNIX, and mainframes, various cloud environments, and smartphones. Incompatibility and inability to use them is almost unheard of.

"File" can be safely transferred to the past and future

If data is stored in a text file such as CSV, which is easy for humans to read, it is possible to handle and read data created 30 years ago. This is in contrast to data created in a proprietary format 30 years ago, which can be a hopeless task to decipher. Files are a safe and reliable method for both reading past data and preserving data for the future as a long-term data asset.

It's rare for a programming language to not support it.

Most programming languages have file I/O functionality as a basic feature. Compared to accessing data in a database or reading data via an API, there are almost no cases where files are not fully supported, or where there are no libraries available and you have to create everything yourself, making it difficult.

Most engineers know how to do it

Even if you invite a first-year engineer, there are probably very few who cannot read and write files at all. Databases are difficult, so even those who don't understand them will be able to open a file.

Can be used by non-engineers (environment that can be processed using only a GUI)

Asking a non-engineer to open a database, look at its contents, or edit data would likely be impossible. On the other hand, you can get them to open a file. The reason for this is that each operating system has a file system that allows you to manipulate files using onlya GUI, and it's widespread and widely used by everyone.

A means of collaboration between humans and automated processes

This feature allows the file system to be used as a means for collaboration between people and applications (a means for IT and people to work together), as files can be used conveniently by both applications and people.

It can be used as a means of transferring data between people and systems, and also as a collaborative system where automated processing assists humans. If the data is stored in a file, humans can take over processing as a temporary measure when the system is down due to a problem.

After introducing an IT system or cloud, there may be a lot of work involved, such as downloading CSV files from one system to another and then re-uploading them. This can be seen as a person assisting the system through the nature of the files.

It also has the ability to process data

Although it may not be good at complex processing, it does have the ability to process and search data itself, and is fully capable of searching and adding data.

Related tools and know-how are in place

The tools and know-how for using file systems are well-established. For example, tools for backup processing are well-established. If you were to store your data in another way, such as a NoSQL database, it can be difficult to back up your data to prevent inconsistencies (such as data before and after an order is mixed together).

Can be linked to various systems via files

For example, when moving data from one database to another, you first write it to a CSV file and then read it back in. It's also common to download a CSV file from a cloud service and then upload it to another cloud service.
This can be thought of as a proxy that secures convenience for other systems by passing through the world of files. By passing through files, you can also connect to many other things.

Challenges in file transfer

I don't think there are many other means of information other than files that are so widespread, and that can be used by anyone, anywhere, anytime, and in such a variety of ways.

On the other hand, there are challenges and points to be aware of when using "file transfer" as a means of collaboration.

Need a way to link files to databases and various systems

It is possible to create an employee management system or a sales analysis system using only files (files as they are). However, compared to using a database, it can be complicated, performance can be poor, and data can easily become corrupted and lost. There are limitations to completing a system using only files.

Therefore, you need a way to integrate files with various systems and other data sources (such as databases) as needed.

A reliable means of connecting to remote systems and different file systems is required.

While file systems are often well-developed for use within their local environment, their functionality for file transfer with other machines or file systems of different operating systems may be insufficient.

As I have already written, it has the potential to be used regardless of the environment, and is very promising as a means of handling it on smartphones, Windows, the cloud, and mainframes, for example, but it does not have the functionality to achieve sufficient integration with file systems or across file system differences.

It is necessary to have a robust file transfer platform that can handle file transfers between diverse environments, effectively absorb differences between those environments, and support business operations.

The challenges and solutions for file transfer already exist.

One advantage of files is that they are already widely available and there are existing solutions for most issues, but there are also already sufficient solutions to the concerns mentioned above.

"Connecting" technologies (EAI and iPaaS)

There are already data integration platform that allow you to freely connect files to a wide variety of other systems and data sources. These are "connecting" technologies such as EAI and iPaaS.

Using only a GUI, you can efficiently integrate with external systems and data, or automate data processing. You can connect files to applications or databases, and return the processing results as needed. You can also automate the processes that occur before and after sending and receiving file transfer, and automate the processing of Excel files that arrive as email attachments.

Related terms: EAI, iPaaS

"MFT" enables file transfer with a wide variety of environments.

A method ("MFT") already exists that can absorb the differences between various environments, including mainframes, Windows, Linux, UNIX, and cloud services (including Japanese character code conversion), and create a robust file transfer platform that can be used as a foundation to support business operations.

Related terms: MFT(Manager File Transfer)

We have already mentioned that file systems have some great features, and adding MFT to them creates a great infrastructure for file systems to work together.

File systems are easy for people to use, and even for engineers, implementing file read/write functionality is not difficult. By adding MFT to the "ability to access files," file processing skills are effectively strengthened as the "ability to connect to a wide variety of systems, including various clouds, mainframes, and systems overseas."

The advantage of enabling file transfer through "file transfer"

file transfer can be achieved through "sharing files" or "transferring files." Many MFTs achieve file transfer through file transfer. This is because it offers advantages such as allowing for a loosely coupled architecture and separating responsibilities related to file processing.

In collaboration methods that use shared resources, the use of those resources is managed by both parties, which can make it difficult to determine which party is responsible when something goes wrong. Also, it can be difficult to change shared parts when modifying the system, which can be an obstacle.

When using file transfer, the source system and the destination system only need to follow the rules for exchanging files in a specific format, and the implementation of the two systems can be separated.In addition, the responsibility relationship before and after file transfer process is also separated, and the "demarcation point of responsibility" (who bears responsibility) in the event of a problem in the linked process becomes simple and clear.

When file transfer goes wrong, it becomes easier to determine what happened and where the problem is.

Related keywords (for further understanding)

  • MFT
    • There are already methods to achieve "file transfer," which can be technically challenging.
      Using MFT, you can create a highly sophisticated file transfer platform.
  • EAI
    • It explains how important and profoundly meaningful it is to be able to connect a wide variety of systems and data.
  • API
  • iPaaS
    • A cloud service that "connects" various clouds with external systems and data simply by operating on a GUI is called iPaaS.
  • Cloud integration
    • Using the cloud in conjunction with external systems and other cloud services. In order to successfully introduce and utilize cloud services, achieving cloud integration is often as important as introducing and utilizing the cloud itself.
  • Excel Link
    • Excel is an essential tool in the use of IT in the real world. By effectively linking Excel with external IT, you can make the most of Excel's strengths while smoothly promoting IT use.

If you are interested in file transfer,

If you're interested, please try out the product that brings file transfer to life.

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The de facto standard for Managed File Transfer (MFT): Latest version

"HULFT WebConnect" enables safe and secure transfer via the Internet

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HULFT file transfer via the Internet is now simple and secure!

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