Data Transfer Using SAP XI

Purpose

You can realize cross-system business processes using the SAP Exchange Infrastructure (SAP XI). Within the overall architecture of SAP NetWeaver, SAP XI performs the tasks of process integration.

The integration of SAP XI and SAP BW allows you to use SAP XI to send data from various sources to the delta queue of SAP BW.

The integration of SAP XI and SAP BW offers the following advantages:

· Central maintenance of message flow between logical systems of your system landscape.

· Options for transformation of message content between sender and recipient

Mappings help you to adapt values and structures of your message to the recipient. In this way, you can transfer different types of files to a SAP BW system using interface mapping. However, in any case, it is necessary to transform the data into a format that corresponds to the interface of the function module that is generated in SAP BW and used for data transfer. The function module contains a table parameter with a flat structure. This means that the data have to be transformed so that they fit to a flat structure in SAP BW.

· Using proxy communication with SAP BW

Proxies are executable interfaces generated in the application systems for communication with the SAP XI Integration Server. We recommend the use of proxies for communication with SAP BW because they guarantee Full Quality of Service (Exactly Once in Order). They also guarantee that the data is delivered only once and in the correct sequence. The SAP XI Integration Server keeps the serialization as it was established by the sender.

Prerequisites

You are familiar with the concept, architecture and functions of SAP XI. You can find more information under SAP Exchange Infrastructure in the NetWeaver documentation.

You have integrated SAP BW and SAP XI. You can find more information on this in the configuration guide of SAP XI on the SAP Service Marketplace at the Internet address service.sap.com/instguides.

Process

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1. Create a XML DataSource in SAP BW based on a file-data source. When you generate the DataSource, an RFC-capable function module is generated for data transfer. You can find more information under XML DataSource and Creating XML DataSources.

2. Activate the data transfer to the delta queue of SAP BW by initializing the delta process. You can find more information under Activating Data Transfer to the Delta Queue.

3. You create an inbound and an outbound message interface in the Integration Repository of SAP XI.

You can find more information under Design of Interfaces and Proxy Generation in the documentation for SAP XI.

If there is already an interface for data exchange in a system, you can import the interface description into the Integration Repository. You can find more information under Connection with Adapters and Imported Interfaces in the documentation for SAP XI.

The interface description in SAP BW is available in the form of the RFC-capable function module for the inbound message interface that was generated for your DataSource. To create the inbound message interface, you can import the function module into the SAP XI Integration Repository. You can find additional information under Import of Idocs and RFCs.

¡ If you are using an existing SAP XI scenario, the outbound message interface is already in the Integration Repository. Then you only need to create the inbound message interface.

¡ If you want to implement a new scenario, create an outbound message interface in addition to the inbound message interface.

4. You implement proxy generation for your inbound message interface in SAP BW.

An ABAP object interface (inbound or server proxy) is generated in SAP BW for the inbound message interface.

You can find more information under ABAP Proxy Generation in the documentation for SAP XI.

We recommend proxy communication with SAP BW because it guarantees Full Quality of Service (Exactly Once in Order).

5. You implement the generated ABAP object interface using an ABAP object class in SAP BW for recipient processing.

You can find more information under ABAP Proxy Objects in the documentation for SAP XI.

The proxy runtime calls this processing automatically after receiving the appropriate message.

The document How to…Integrate BW to XI describes such an implementation. You can find the document on the SAP Service Marketplace at the Internet address service.sap.com/bw ® Services & Implementation ® HOW TO... Guides ® Guide List SAP BW 3.x.

6. If you have newly created the outbound message interface, you implement the data transfer according to your application case.

7. You implement the configurations in the Integration Directory of SAP XI that are relevant for message exchange. At the time of configuration, you set up the cross-system process for a concrete system landscape. The relevant objects are structure, organized and stored in the Integration Directory in the form of configuration objects.

You can find more information about the steps that you perform in SAP XI under Configuration and Design in the SAP XI documentation.

Result

You can now send data to the Integration Server of SAP XI, which transfers this data to SAP BW at runtime using proxy communication . In SAP BW, the data is written to the delta queue. From there, you can collect the data using the usual staging methods for deltas in SAP BW and then post it to the data targets.

The following graphic illustrates how the interface-based processing of messages works: