Thanks - there's certainly no need to explicitly use XML. You do have to define a schema for the flat-file data, and that is essentially defined in SmartsIntegrator as an XML schema (with delimiter and related settings, defining how the physical file data maps onto the hierarchical XML structure), but you can easily set up a scenario that receives a flat-file, maps it and outputs another flat-file without actually dealing with any XML. Let me know if I can help you get started with this - if you can send me a sample of your flat-file data I'll be happy to knock something up.
Ben.
Ben Jackson
SmartsIntegrator Technical Support