SAP ALE – IDocs

Agenda
1. Introduction to ALE
2. Overview of ALE
3. Introduction to IDoc
4. Process flow for outbound process
5. Process flow for inbound process
6. Configuring the ALE Infrastructure
7. Creating the new IDoc type
8. Configuring the system for new IDoc
9. Case study
10. Questions

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 Agenda
1. Introduction to ALE
2. Over view of ALE
3. Introduction to IDOC
4. Process flow for outbound process
5. Process flow for inbound process
6. Configuring the ALE Infrastructure
7. Creating the new IDOC type
8. Configuring the system for new IDOC
9. Case study

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 Introduction to ALE

• Application linking and enabling (ALE) is SAP’s technology to support

distributed process across several SAP systems.

• A distributed process is one in which part of a business is carried out in

one system and part on another.

• A distributed process may contain SAP and non SAP Systems. It is not
necessarily between only SAP systems.

• ALE can be used to exchange the data between,

 SAP to SAP system
 SAP to Non-SAP system
 Non SAP to SAP System

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 Agenda
1. Introduction to ALE
2. Over view of ALE
3. Introduction to IDOC
4. Process flow for outbound process
5. Process flow for inbound process
6. Configuring the ALE Infrastructure
7. Creating the new IDOC type
8. Configuring the system for new IDOC
9. Case study

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 Over view of ALE

R/3 System ALE

Interface

ALE Translator
Interface

R/3 System Non-SAP

System

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 Agenda
1. Introduction to ALE
2. Over view of ALE
3. Introduction to IDOC
4. Process flow for outbound process
5. Process flow for inbound process
6. Configuring the ALE Infrastructure
7. Creating the new IDOC type
8. Configuring the system for new IDOC
9. Case study

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 Introduction to IDOC
• The term IDOC stands for Intermediate document. It is simply a data
container used to exchange information between any two process. That
can understand the syntax and semantics of the data.
• IDOC’s are made using the segments
• IDOC’s are stored in the data base
• Every IDOC has unique number
• An IDOC is attached to a message type and identified by its message type
• IDOC consists of three types of records
 One control record
 One or many data records
 One or many status records.

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 Introduction to IDOC
• Control Record:
A control record contains all of the control information about an IDOC,
 IDOC number
 Sender and receiver information
 Message type it represents
 Its direction

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 Introduction to IDOC
• Control Record

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 Introduction to IDOC
• Control Record

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 Introduction to IDOC
• Data Record
In an IDOC the data record contains the application data.

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 Introduction to IDOC
• Status Record
Status records are attached to an IDOC throughout the process as the
IDOC achieves different milestones or encounter an error. At every
milestone a status code, date and time are assigned.
The system defines numerous status code,
 0 – 49 are reserved for outbound process
 50 and above are reserved for inbound process

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 Introduction to IDOC
• Status record

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 Introduction to IDOC
• IDOC as seen in transaction WE02

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 Agenda
1. Introduction to ALE
2. Over view of ALE
3. Introduction to IDOC
4. Process flow for outbound process
5. Process flow for inbound process
6. Configuring the ALE Infrastructure
7. Creating the new IDOC type
8. Configuring the system for new IDOC
9. Case study

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 Process flow for outbound process

Application Selection
screen
Selection
Program/Build Application
Layer IDOC data Repository

Function module
Master MASTER_IDOC_
IDOC DISTRIBUTE

Conversion Filtering Version

ALE Service Change
layer

Communication
IDOC

RSEOUT00

Communication
Layer ARFCDATA

RSARFCEX Destination
system
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 Agenda
1. Introduction to ALE
2. Over view of ALE
3. Introduction to IDOC
4. Process flow for outbound process
5. Process flow for inbound process
6. Configuring the ALE Infrastructure
7. Creating the new IDOC type
8. Configuring the system for new IDOC
9. Case study

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 Process flow for inbound process
Application
Repository
Application
Layer Direct input function
module or CALL
transaction

Posting program

RBDAPP01

ALE Service Application IDOCs

layer

Conversion Filtering Version

Change

ID0C_INBOUND_ASYNCHRONOUS

Communicatio Communication
n Layer IDOC from
remote system
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 Agenda
1. Introduction to ALE
2. Over view of ALE
3. Introduction to IDOC
4. Process flow for outbound process
5. Process flow for inbound process
6. Configuring the ALE Infrastructure
7. Creating the new IDOC type
8. Configuring the system for new IDOC
9. Case study

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 Configuring the ALE Infrastructure
• The basic settings for the IDOC interface must be maintained once on
each system involved in distributed process

• Basic settings for IDOCs

1. Maintaining logical system

2. Allocating logical system to the client
3. Setting up an RFC destination
4. The port definition
5. Maintain the distribution model
6. Create a partner profile

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 Configuring the ALE Infrastructure
1. Maintaining logical system – Transaction ‘SALE’

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 Configuring the ALE Infrastructure
1. Maintaining logical system

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 Configuring the ALE Infrastructure
2. Allocating logical system to the client – Transaction ‘SALE’

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 Configuring the ALE Infrastructure
2. Allocating logical system to the client – Transaction ‘SALE

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 Configuring the ALE Infrastructure
3. Setting up an RFC destination – Transaction ‘SM59’

Transaction
SM51 to
Identify the
Target Host
of remote
system

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 Configuring the ALE Infrastructure
4. The Port definition – Transaction ‘WE21’

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 Configuring the ALE Infrastructure
5. Maintaining the distribution model – Transaction ‘BD64’

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 Configuring the ALE Infrastructure
6. Create the partner profile – Transaction ‘WE20’

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 Configuring the ALE Infrastructure
Partner profile : outbound parameters

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 Configuring the ALE Infrastructure
Partner profile : Inbound parameters

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 Agenda
1. Introduction to ALE
2. Over view of ALE
3. Introduction to IDOC
4. Process flow for outbound process
5. Process flow for inbound process
6. Configuring the ALE Infrastructure
7. Creating the new IDOC type
8. Configuring the system for new IDOC
9. Case study

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 Creating the new IDOC type
1. IDOC is created using one or more segments. Each segment will have one
or more fields. Group functionally related fields into segments. Then use
segments to create the IDOC.

2. Release segment type and basic IDOC type

3. Allowed data type for the segments.

CHAR Character strings
CLNT Client
CUKY Currency key, referenced by CURR fields
DATS Date field (YYYYMMDD) stored as char(8)
LANG Language key
NUMC Character fields with only digits
TIMS Time field (HHMMSS) stored as char(6)

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 Creating the new IDOC type
1. Create the segments – Transaction ‘WE31’

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 Creating the new IDOC type
2. Create the basic IDOC type Transaction ‘WE30’ step 1

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 Creating the new IDOC type
2. Create the basic IDOC type Transaction ‘WE30’ step 2

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 Creating the new IDOC type
2. Create the basic IDOC type Transaction ‘WE30’ step 3

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 Creating the new IDOC type
2. Create the basic IDOC type Transaction ‘WE30’ step 4

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 Creating the new IDOC type
2. Create the basic IDOC type Transaction ‘WE30’ step 5

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 Agenda
1. Introduction to ALE
2. Over view of ALE
3. Introduction to IDOC
4. Process flow for outbound process
5. Process flow for inbound process
6. Configuring the ALE Infrastructure
7. Creating the new IDOC type
8. Configuring the system for new IDOC
9. Case study

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 Configuring the system for new IDOC
Configuring the outbound process
 Create the new message type (WE81)
 Link the IDOC type to the message type (WE82)
 Add the message to the ALE distribution model (BD64)
 Create the partner profile (WE20)

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 Configuring the system for new IDOC
Configuring the inbound process
 Create the new message type (WE81)
 Link the IDOC type to the message type (WE82)
 Allocate the function module to the logical message (WE57)
 Define the attributes for the inbound function module (BD51)
 Create new process code (WE42)
 Assign the process code to the function module (WE42)
 Create the partner profile (WE20)

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 Agenda
1. Introduction to ALE
2. Over view of ALE
3. Introduction to IDOC
4. Process flow for outbound process
5. Process flow for inbound process
6. Configuring the ALE Infrastructure
7. Creating the new IDOC type
8. Configuring the system for new IDOC
9. Case study

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 Agenda
1. Introduction to ALE
2. Over view of ALE
3. Introduction to IDOC
4. Process flow for outbound process
5. Process flow for inbound process
6. Configuring the ALE Infrastructure
7. Creating the new IDOC type
8. Configuring the system for new IDOC
9. Case study
10. Questions

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Questions?

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Thank You

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