Infor LN Integration Methods Reference
Every LN project reaches the same question: how does data get in and out? This table compares the usual options so you can choose a method before the design workshop.
| Method | Direction | Typical use | Strength | Caution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
ION with BODs | Both | Application to application messaging, for example sales orders, items or partners with other Infor or third-party systems | Standard message format, monitored flow, decoupled systems | Needs ION set up and mapping work; check which documents your LN version supports |
Exchange schemes | Both | File based import and export of LN data, and one-time migration loads | Built into LN, no extra platform needed | Field mapping is manual; error handling needs care for large loads |
ASCII or CSV file transfer | Both | Batch interfaces with legacy systems, banks and partners | Simple, easy to test, works with anything | No built-in acknowledgment; needs file naming, archiving and reprocess rules |
EDI (X12, EDIFACT) | Both | Orders, advance ship notices and invoices with customers and suppliers | Industry standard with trading partners | Partner specific mapping and testing take time |
Web services | Both | Real time lookups and updates from portals and custom apps | Standard protocols and real time response | Check which services are exposed in your version and what load they can take |
Business object interface | Inbound mostly | Programmatic creation or change of LN business objects from other programs | Runs business logic and validation | Needs developer skill and version checking |
Read-only database access | Outbound | Reporting, data warehouse extracts and analytics | Fast to build for read cases | Never write directly; tables are version dependent and enumerates need translation |
Reports and print to file | Outbound | Sending formatted documents to PDF or archive systems | Reuses existing print sessions | Layout changes break downstream parsing |
Message queue or middleware | Both | Connecting LN to an enterprise bus with many systems | Central monitoring and retry | Another platform to run and secure |
Shop floor or MES connector | Both | Production reporting, labor and machine data to and from LN | Near real time production data | Define master data ownership and posting rules first |
Bank file formats | Both | Payments out and bank statements in | Automates reconciliation | Formats vary by bank and country and change over time |
Data lake or analytics extract | Outbound | Feeding BI tools and AI projects with LN data | Keeps heavy queries off the transactional system | Plan incremental loads and data protection from the start |
This is orientation, not a product specification. Exact capabilities depend on your LN version, licensed components and infrastructure, so confirm with your documentation or partner.
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How to use the reference
Search for your use case, such as bank, EDI or analytics, and read across to the strength and caution columns. Use the table as input to a design discussion: pick the simplest method that gives the timing and reliability you need. Export it to Excel or PDF to attach to your integration design or project charter.
Choosing between methods
Three questions settle most choices. How fast must data move: minutes, hours or overnight? Who owns the message format: a standard, a trading partner or your own team? And who monitors failures? Real time needs web services or ION. Trading partner traffic usually means EDI. Bulk and one-off loads fit exchange schemes. Reporting reads belong on a replica or an extract, not on the production tables.
- Real time lookups: web services or ION
- Partner traffic: EDI
- Migration and bulk loads: exchange schemes
- Analytics: extracts or replica, read only
Designing for failure
Every interface will fail sometimes. Decide up front how failures are detected, who is told and how a message is replayed without duplicating data. Give each message a unique reference, log what was sent and received, and agree what happens to messages that cannot be processed. File interfaces need archiving and naming rules; message based interfaces need monitoring of the queue.
Common mistakes
The common faults are writing directly to LN tables, mapping master data without naming an owner, ignoring time zones in date fields, and building a point to point web of file interfaces that nobody can map. Draw the full landscape on one page before building the next interface.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I use ION or file interfaces?
ION suits structured, monitored application to application messaging, while file interfaces suit simple batch exchange with systems that cannot do more. Pick on timing needs, monitoring and the capabilities of the other system.
Can I read LN data directly from the database?
For reporting and extracts, yes, with a read-only account, ideally on a replica. Never write to the tables directly, since that skips business logic and can corrupt data.
Which method is best for data migration?
Exchange schemes or the business object interface are common choices because they run LN logic on the way in. Choose by volume, data quality and how much validation you want applied.
How do I avoid duplicate messages?
Give every message a unique reference, check it before processing, and record what has been processed. Replays then become safe because duplicates are recognized and skipped.
If you are replacing file interfaces or planning an LN data extract for analytics and AI, we can review the design with you.
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