SAP ALE , EDI and Idoc....

Hello All
This Post is to give some idea about ALE , EDI and Idoc. Before starting the post I would like to clear some of the idea about the above topics. As ALE , EDI and Idoc is not a very small topic which can cover in one post of can explain in one documentation.

The purpose of this document is to give the idea of these 3 which may help you start and may be to understand how these works.

Day by day the business process is getting very complicated which makes bit difficult to design the org structure. In almost all the company's e respective of the size they are connected with one or another SAP or Non SAP system. To connect you SAP to another SAP or Non SAP system you need to make a link on that or "commonly used to interface them". When the work " Interface" comes in to picture then one of the choice is  ALE or EDI for data transferring.

ALE which stands for Application Link Enabling and EDI which stands for Electronic Data Interface.
and Idoc stands for Intermediate Document.

Before standing with the configuration we have to understand what is the use of both of them and why they are different.

ALE is basically used to transfer data between 2 SAP system where as EDI is used to transfer data between SAP and Non SAP system. EDI is commonly recognized in all the language and can used to interface with all most all the platform.

Idoc is a container which just contain the data from one place to another , as this is a container so this is used  in both the places.

Hope till now its being clear that why and where we use ALE and EDI and also what is use of Idoc.

I will not get in depth of the technical part of that which may confuse in this initial stage.

Now I will explain how to configure a Idoc and what all are the steps associate with that.

     Consider we have to exchange data between two different clients.  Following are the configuration steps common for Interchange Documents in both the clients.

   3.1. Create segment

a.   Go to transaction WE31 -> Give your segment name -> Press Create.

b.   Type your field name and data element and press save then segment definition will be created automatically.

         

  3.2 Create Idoc Type

        Go to Transaction WE30

a.    For new IDOC type select the radio button Basic type and press Create button.

           

b.    Then select the IDOC option to create and press Enter. Give segment name, minimum and maximum number for and save it. Check if this is mandatory segment.    

c.     If you want Header and Item create the segment tree according to that, you can view as follows then press Save.    

d.    Then go back and set release the IDOC type for using it further. Idoc type will be created successfully once we release that status. We have to release the segments (in WE31) and IDOC type as well.

  3.3   Create Message Type

Go to transaction WE81 for new message type. Go to change mode and click New Entries for creating our own message type.

  3.4   Associate Message Type with Basic Idoc Type

Go to transaction WE82 for associating the message type with basic IDOC type.

  3.5 Create Logical System

Go to transaction SPRO and press SAP Reference IMG for creating the logical system for source and destination.     

Click the node define logical system from SPRO -> SAP Reference IMG -> SAP customizing Implementation Guide -> SAP xApp Resource and Portfolio Management (SAP xRPM) -> Base system Interfaces -> SAP Human Capital Management Integration -> Common system configuration and SAP HCM ALE setup -> Application link enabling (ALE) -> Basic Settings -> Logical Systems -> Define Logical System   

 Else go to transaction SALE then go to Basic settings-> logical system then Define logical system. We can create the same.

   3.6 Create Logical Connection

a.     Go to transaction SM59 for creating Logical Destination. SM59 -> logical connections -> Create

         b. Then Click Connection test  icon after marking the current user checkbox in logon and security tab.

          

c. Then Destination client will automatically open  

3.7 Create Ports

      Go to transaction WE21 for creating ports. WE21 -> Transactional IR -> Create                                  

4. Steps to be done in Source client

1. Go to transaction SE11 -> create a table with entries.

2. Go to transaction WE31 -> create segments as shown before. Here you have to mention all the fields mentioned in the database table.

3. Go to transaction WE30 -> create basic IDOC type and release the segments and basic type.

4. Go to transaction WE81 -> create message type.

5. Go to transaction WE82 -> assign message type to basic Idoc type.

6. Go to transaction BD64 -> Click on Display/change button           

7.     Click on Edit menu -> model view -> create                  

8. Specify description and technical name and press continue.

                     

9. Select your model view -> click edit -> Add message type

                   

        10. In dialog box specify sender, receiver, and message type and continue. Now the model view looks

             Like

       11. Click on environment menu -> generate partner profile      

          

         12. It will show the following screen. Select your model view and click on execute.      

        13. It will show the partner profile log in next screen.

        14. Click on back button 2 times it will take to distribution model screen.

        15. Click on Edit -> Model view -> Distribute

        16. In displayed dialog box select the partner system and continue.

        17. Then it will show the log of model view distribution.

        18. To check partner profile go to transaction WE20.

        19. Then write the report program in SE38 to create IDOC control records and transfer it to destination   partner system.

        20. Go to Transaction WE02 to check the generated IDOC control records.

5. Steps to be done in Destination client

1.     Go to transaction SE37 to create the function module for updating the table from IDOC segments.

2.     Specify import, export and table parameters.

3.     Go to transaction WE57 for assigning the FM to logical system. Click on Display/ change button.

            4. Specify FM name, function type, basic type(IDOC ), message type and direction then save it.

            5. Go to transaction BD51 to define input method for inbound function module and click on Display      change button

                 

             6. Specify your function module and input type by clicking the new entries.

            7. Go to transaction WE42 and  create process code.

            8. Go to transaction BD64 and generate the partner profile again.

            9. Got o transaction SE 38 and execute the transaction in source system (client100).

10. Check in destination system (client 800). Go to Transaction WE02 and check your table in SE11. (You can get the transferred entries in that table).