Introduction BAPI
Introduction BAPI
The components of a parameter name in the BOR are separated by upper and lower case
letters to make them easier to read. Example: CompanyCodeDetail
Values that belong to each other semantically should be grouped together in one
structured parameter, instead of using several scalar parameters.
For ISO-relevant fields (country, language, unit of measure, currency), additional fields
for ISO codes are provided.
Unit of measure fields must accompany all quantity fields and currency identifiers must
accompany currency amount fields.
Standardized BAPIs
Some BAPIs provide basic functions and can be used for most SAP business object types.
These BAPIs should be implemented the same for all business object types.
Standardized BAPIs are easier to use and prevent users having to deal with a number of
different BAPIs. Whenever possible, a standardized BAPI must be used in preference to
an individual BAPI.
The following standardized BAPIs are provided:
Reading instances of SAP business objects
GetList ( ) With the BAPI GetList you can select a range of object key values, for
example, company codes and material numbers. The BAPI GetList() is a class method.
GetDetail() With the BAPI GetDetail() the details of an instance of a business object
type are retrieved and returned to the calling program. The instance is identified via its
key. The BAPI GetDetail() is an instance method.
BAPIs that can create, change or delete instances of a business object type
The following BAPIs of the same object type have to be programmed so that they can be
called several times within one transaction. For example, if, after sales order 1 has been
created, a second sales order 2 is created in the same transaction, the second BAPI call
must not affect the consistency of the sales order 2. After completing the transaction with
a COMMIT WORK, both the orders are saved consistently in the database.
Create( ) and CreateFromData( ) The BAPIs Create() and CreateFromData() create an
instance of an SAP business object type, for example, a purchase order.
These BAPIs are class methods.
Change( ) The BAPI Change() changes an existing instance of an SAP business object
type, for example, a purchase order. The BAPI Change () is an instance method.
Delete( ) and Undelete( ) The BAPI Delete() deletes an instance of an SAP business
object type from the database or sets a deletion flag. The BAPI Undelete() removes a
deletion flag. These BAPIs are instance methods.
Cancel ( ) Unlike the BAPI Delete(), the BAPI Cancel() cancels an instance of a business
object type. The instance to be cancelled remains in the database and an additional
instance is created and this is the one that is actually canceled. The Cancel() BAPI is an
instance method.
Add<subobject> ( ) and Remove<subobject> ( ) The BAPI Add<subobject> adds a
subobject to an existing object instance and the BAPI and Remove<subobject> removes a
subobject from an object instance. These BAPIs are instance methods.
BAPIs for Mass Data Processing
The BAPIs listed above for creating and changing data can also be used for mass
processing. For more information see BAPIs for Mass Data Transfer [Extern]
BAPIs for Replicating Business Object Instances
Replicate( ) and SaveReplica( ) The BAPIs Replicate() and SaveReplica() are
implemented as methods of replicable business object types. They enable specific
instances of an object type to be copied to one or more different systems. These BAPIs
are used mainly to transfer data between distributed systems within the context of
Application Link Enabling (ALE). These BAPIs are class methods.
Other Less Used Standardized BAPIs
Programming GetStatus() BAPIs [Extern]
Programming ExistenceCheck() BAPIs [Extern]
Standardized Parameters
There are some parameters that can be created for various BAPIs because they contain
the same or the equivalent data in all BAPIs. They should be implemented the same in all
BAPIs.
Address parameters Specific reference structures are defined for address parameters in
BAPIs. You should copy these structures to use in your BAPI, especially if the underlying
object type uses the central address management (CAM).
Change Parameters In BAPIs that cause database changes (for example, Change() and
Create() BAPIs) you must be able to distinguish between parameter fields that contain
modified values and parameter fields that have not been modified. This distinction is
made through the use of standardized parameters.
Extension parameters The parameters ExtensionIn and ExtensionOut provides