Soap vs. FTP for file transfer

[Elizabeth Fairchild]

I need to transfer pdf files from one application (written in C/C++) to another application (written in Java). I have the option of using SOAP or FTP....what is the best method for file transfer? the pro's and con's of each?

Thanks
-EF

[Lasse Koskela]

SOAP:
+ It goes through port 80 (assuming HTTP transport) so you can probably sneak past any existing firewalls on the way
- It's most probably overkill to use SOAP for "just" transferring files
- You need to include a web services engine into your application

FTP:
+ Dead simple
+ It's the standard protocol for transfering files
+ You can get away with very little coding
- FTP is not sexy these days (I had to come up with something for the cons...)

[William Brogden]

Here is another con for FTP
The only control you have over what the receiving party does with it is through the file location and name.
With SOAP you have a whole XML message to communicate with.
A hybrid of FTP to send the file efficiently followed by a SOAP message to say what to do with it would combine the best features.
Bill