ALE IDOCS

ALE :

ALE is a technology which is used to communicate between the servers available at different geographical locations.
To send the data and receive the data from one server to another server, we need a dedicated network which is called as ALE(Application Link Enabling). Application means customer Master Appl, Material Master Appl, Sales Order Appl. Link means a network or connection . Enabling means Enable the link.

Types of data transfers

Basically we have two types of data transfers

1.Outbound data transfer. 2.Inbound data transfer. Outbound data transfer: Whenever we send the data from a system to another system,It is called as outbound data transfer i.e, data moving out of SAP is called as outbound data transfer. Inbound data transfer: Whenever we receive the data from a system is called Inbound data transfer i.e, data coming into SAP server is called Inbound data transfer.

Communication between SAP to SAP:

ALE is a technology which is used to communicate between SAP to SAP server. The data transfer is always in the form of a document called as IDOC(Intermediate Document). Communication between SAP to Non-SAP: EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) is the technology which is used to communicate between SAP server to Non-SAP server. Since IDOC is an SAP tool . The Non-SAP system cannot understand the format of IDOCs.

So ,we use the Middleware technologies like TIBCO (or) XI to communicate between SAP to Non-SAP.
The data transfer is always through a type of a document called as IDOC.(Post Cover)

Since IDOC is an SAP tool , only SAP system can understand IDOCs.
Non-SAP system cannot understand the IDOCs . So we use the middleware technologies like TIBCO or XI to communicate between SAP to Non-SAP. The IDOC is converted into XML and it is given to TIBCO or XI. The middleware technologies will again convert the data into a format which can be understood by the receiver system.

IDOCS

IDOC: - It is an intermediate document which contains the data. Technically IDOC is a group of segments. Each segment is group of fields. Segments are like structures. All the standard SAP segments will start with letter E1. All the custom segments must start with the letter Z1. EX: - 1. DEBMAS: 01, 02, 03,04,05 is an ex for customer IDOC. 2. CREMAS: 01, 02, 03is an example for vendor IDOC.

3. MATMAS: 01, 02, 03 is an example for material IDOC.

Where (05 is the latest version)

Example for segment:DEBMAS is an IDOC E1KNA1(Cust.Master Seg) kunnr, name1, land1 are fields. E1KNB1(Cust.Companycode)kunnr, bukrs are the fields. E1KNBK(customer bank details)kunnr, Banks are the fields. WE31 is the transaction code for segment definition. WE30 is the transaction code for IDOC type.

Runtime components of IDOC

Runtime components of IDOC:Whenever an IDOC is transmitted at runtime, there are 3 components which are added automatically to the IDOC.

Control record.
Data record. Status record.

Steps to create an IDOC

Steps to create an IDOC:Step1: First create the required segment in WE31 with some fields. Step2: Create an IDOC in WE30 by inserting all the above segments. Step1: Steps to create a segment. Go to WE31. Give the segment type as Z1KNA1. Click on the button create. Give short description.

Give the list of the fields as below.

Click on save and back. Click on edit from menu barset release.

The segment definition is completed and it is released also Released status indicates that the segment definition is completed and it can be used to transfer the data.

Similarly create one more segment by the name Z1KNBK

with the list of the below fields. Field name Kunnr Banks Bankl Save it and release it. Data element kunnr banks bankl

Step2: Create IDOC from T-CODE WE30. Go to WE30 and give IDOC name as ZDEBMAS05 Click on the button create. Give description and press enter. Click on the button create segment

A pop-up is raised. Give the segment name as Z1KNA1. Give the minimum and maximum no. as 1, because customer master will have single record. Select the check box if we want to make the segment as mandatory segment.

Press enter

Now, Put the cursor on Z1KNA1, click on the button create. A pop-up is raised. Select the first radio button and press enter.

Give the segment type Z1KNBK. Give the minimum no. as 1, maximum no. as 99999 because each customer will have more than 1 bank account. Press enter.

Finally, the hierarchy should look as below.

CONFIGURATION SETTINGS FOR ALE

CONFIGURATION SETTINGS FOR ALV :

1.Define Logical system: In this step we define a logical name for the sending & receiving SAP server systems. The Tcode is SALE. 2.Assign client to the Logical system: Here we maintain a client for the sending & receiving system to transfer the particular client data. The Transaction code is SALE. 3.Maintain RFC Destination:

In this step we maintain a connection between sender system and receiver system which is called as RFC Destination.
The Tcode is SM59.

4.Define Port : Port specifies the medium of transferring the data from one system to another system WE21 is the Tcode for defining a Port. 5.Maintain Outbound Partner Profile: Here we need to maintain the details of the receiver's system. The details are

1.whom to send (Receiver's name)

2.what to send (IDOC name) 3.when to send(Immediately or collect) 4.How to send(Name of the port) 6.Maintain Distribution Model: It contains the list of receivers who receives the data.

MASTER IDOC:

It is an internal table which consists of data to be sent from SX system to RX system.

Suppose we are sending 100 materials from SX to RX , then MASTER IDOC will be generated for each material . i.e. for 100 materials we get 100 MASTER IDOCs. COMMUNICATION IDOC: These are the IDOCs which are derived from MASTER IDOC. A COMMUNICATION IDOC is an IDOC which is generated for each receiver.

OUTBOUND PROGRAM: A program which is used to start the process of data transfer from SX to RX.

With the help of selection screen , MASTER IDOC will be generated and then COMMINICATION IDOCs will be generated and will be sent to Receiver system.
PROCESS CODE (OPEN SQL): Process code is a function module . It is available at receiver side. Processing code is responsible for receiving the data from IDOC and updating the data into data base tables.

MESSAGE TYPE

MESSAGE TYPE:
It specify the type of the application from which IDOCs are being used .The application may be material master or customer master and vendor master etc. WE81 is Tcode for defining a message type. Always IDOC type and Message type should be linked with each other.

WE82 is Tcode used to create a link between message type and IDOC

STEPS FOR IDOC AND MESSAGE TYPES

Define segment Define IDOC Type --------------------------------------WE31 WE30

Define message type

Link Message type and MASTER IDOC:

--------------------

WE81

IDOC type ------------ WE82

It is an internal table which consists of data to be sent from SX system to RX system.

Suppose we are sending 100 materials from SX to RX , then MASTER IDOC will be generated for each material . i.e. for 100 materials we get 100 MASTER IDOCs.

Custom IDOCs

Custom IDocs:

Custom IDocs are generally copied from the standard IDoc by adding OR removing extra segments.
We have two concepts available under custom IDocs.

Extended IDoc Type:

Ex:

IDoc Type = standard IDoc Type + Extra custom segments.

Steps : 1)Create segments with fields in WE31 tcode.

2)Create an Extended IDOC by inserting the above segments.

STEP1: Create a custom segment in WE31 with below segments KUNNR, NAME1,LAND1. SAVE it back click on editset release.

STEP2:

Goto WE30.
Give IDoc name as ZDEBMAS05. Select Extended Idoc radiobutton.

Click on create.

Give linked basic type as DEMAS05.

Press enter.

By default all the standard segments are copied.

Put the cursor on any segment. EX: EIKNAIM. Click on create button. Give the custom segment name Min No=1 Max No=1 Press enter Click on save.

Reduced IDoc Type: It is an IDoc which consists of only the required segments and fields. All the unwanted segments and filters are completely removed. BD53 is the Tcode for reduced IDoc. STEPS: Goto BD53. Give the message type as ZDEBMAS05_R. Click on the Create button. Give the message type reference as DEBMAS.

Press enter. Give short description. Again press enter All the list of the segments will be displayed in different colors. Color: RED ---------- Deselected segments / fields. Color: WHITE-------- Selected segments/ fields. Color: GREEN------- mandatory segments/fields.

Put the cursor on any segment Ex E1KNA11, click on button SELECT.

The color will turn from RED to WHITE which indicates that it is a required segment.

Now double click on the segment, select the checkboxes for the required Fields and click on the select button.

The color will turn from RED to WHITE which indicates that it is a required field.

Press enter and save.