For years, IDocs have been used as interfaces for internal and cross-enterprise communication. But does the SAP standard meet the demands and requirements for your business? With this book, learn how you can change standard IDocs and even develop your own IDocs for special customer information. With expert knowledge and hands-on advice, this complete reference help you hit the ground running.

Interfaces from A to Z
Explore the procedures for adapting and developing IDocs using a complete, practice-oriented approach.

Standard and Special Knowledge
Get an in-depth look at standard technologies that apply to all IDoc types (such as filtering and reduction), but also specific features such as the workflow connection.

Expert Advice for Practical Use
Discover important functions for daily use, such as the testing or serialization of IDocs.

SAP NetWeaver Process Integration
Master the use of IDocs within SAP NetWeaver PI with an entire chapter dedicated to the topic.

Everything at a Glance
Learn about all of the aspects of IDoc development at a glance — accompanied by real world tips and tricks as well as numerous coding examples and screenshots.

Highlights 

• ALE and EDI
• Test Tools
• Confirmation and Serialization
• IDoc Generation
• Shared Master Data Tool
• Message Control
• Changes to IDocs
• Filtering Using Filter Objects
• Version Change
• General Exits and Custom Segments
• Error Workflow
• IDocs in SAP NetWeaver PI
• Partner Roles

• Header Mapping

About the Author

Sabine Maisel has been an SAP consultant since 1996. Her work focuses on interface technologies, XI/PI, ABAP development, and warehouse management. She is also an SAP trainer for all interface technologies.

Table of Contents 

... Preface ... 11 

1 ... Introduction ... 15 

1.1 ... What Is ALE ... 15 

1.2 ... BAPIs and IDocs — An Introduction ... 18 

1.2.1 ... BAPIs ... 18 

1.2.2 ... IDocs ... 19 

1.3 ... Differentiation of ALE and EDI ... 25 

1.4 ... Summary ... 27 

2 ... Generating IDocs ... 29 

2.1 ... Standard Methods for the IDoc Generation ... 29 

2.1.1 ... Shared Master Data Tool ... 29 

2.1.2 ... Message Control ... 43 

2.1.3 ... Special Functions ... 46 

2.2 ... Use of Logical Systems in the Message Control ... 49 

2.3 ... Summary ... 50 

3 ... Test Tools ... 51 

3.1 ... Individual IDocs ... 52 

3.2 ... Testing Processing of Multiple IDocs ... 57 

3.2.1 ... Message Control ... 57 

3.2.2 ... Sending Ready-for-Dispatch IDocs ... 58 

3.2.3 ... Files ... 59 

3.3 ... Processing Status Files ... 61 

3.4 ... Summary ... 66 

4 ... Changes to IDocs ... 67 

4.1 ... Customizing ... 67 

4.1.1 ... Filtering Using Filter Objects ... 67 

4.1.2 ... Custom Filter Objects ... 73 

4.1.3 ... Filtering Segments ... 76 

4.1.4 ... Reducing IDocs Through Views ... 77 

4.1.5 ... Rules ... 80 

4.1.6 ... Version Conversion ... 84 

4.1.7 ... Special Conversions in SAP ERP Financials ... 85 

4.2 ... Adapting Existing IDoc Types ... 89 

4.2.1 ... Different Exit Types on the Basis of the Material Master Example ... 90 

4.2.2 ... General Exits ... 119 

4.2.3 ... Custom Segments ... 122 

4.2.4 ... Special Requirements for Master Data ... 134 

4.3 ... Custom Function Modules for File Generation in File Ports ... 138 

4.4 ... Custom IDocs ... 141 

4.4.1 ... Creating Custom IDoc Types and Message Types ... 143 

4.4.2 ... Generating an IDoc ... 153 

4.4.3 ... Updating an IDoc ... 161 

4.4.4 ... Generating IDoc Function Modules ... 172 

4.4.5 ... Error Workflow for Custom IDocs ... 175 

4.4.6 ... Useful Function Modules ... 184 

4.5 ... Summary ... 186 

5 ... Confirmations ... 187 

5.1 ... "ALEAUD" IDocs ... 187 

5.2 ... "STATUS" IDocs ... 190 

5.3 ... Summary ... 192 

6 ... Serializing IDocs ... 193 

6.1 ... Serialization Using Groups ... 193 

6.2 ... Serialization Using Timestamps ... 198 

6.3 ... Serialization Using Business Objects ... 200 

6.4 ... Serialization Using qRFC ... 205 

6.5 ... Summary ... 209 

7 ... Administration ... 211 

7.1 ... IDoc Links ... 211 

7.2 ... Regular Jobs ... 216 

7.3 ... Transaction Code Overview ... 217 

7.4 ... Archiving ... 224 

7.5 ... Status Conversion ... 230 

7.6 ... Summary ... 242 

8 ... IDocs in Conjunction with SAP NetWeaver Process Integration ... 243 

8.1 ... Conversion of Logical Systems to Business Systems ... 243 

8.2 ... Conversion of IDoc Partner Roles ... 244 

8.3 ... Header Mapping ... 245 

8.4 ... Handling the Control Record in SAP NetWeaver PI ... 246 

8.5 ... Updating IDocs Directly in SAP NetWeaver PI ... 248 

8.6 ... Summary ... 248

... The Author ... 249 

... Index ... 251