Open source solutions for EDIFACT

[Bhargavakrishna]

Open Source Solutions for EDIFACT

In my previous blog “http://scn.sap.com/community/pi-and-soa-middleware/blog/2014/09/05/third-party-solutions-for-edifact” I discussed about the third party solutions available with professional support for EDIFACT. In this blog I’m going to discuss the open source solutions available for EDIFACT and its known issues. While working on EDI interfaces it’s a common question from client to look for alternatives instead of using SAP B2B Add-on. In my case my client who want to implement the interfaces without investing in SAP B2B Add-on. I’m writing this blog as a result of my R&D on open source solutions for EDIFACT.

The community-driven approach offers developers and companies full access to the source code and the possibility to develop new functionality within the open source community. The source code is released and owned by the open source community, so that no additional license costs occur. Optional professional services and support are offered by software and consulting companies.

Name	Project Scope	Remarks
Open PI Initiative	Comprehensive open source initiative for SAP Net Weaver PI	PI adapter and conversion module for EDIFACT derived from certified cbs PI Industry Solution for EDIFACT

Open source initiative for SAP NW PI [OPI2]

It is offering adapters, conversion modules for SAP NW PI. It includes the following solutions for EDIFACT

• Open PI Adapter for AS2      
• Open PI Adapter for EDIFACT
• Open PI Conversion Module for EDIFACT
• Open PI EDIX conversion module

All these solutions have limited functionality and capabilities to deliver and support for EDI interfaces and data exchange. Now I’m going to discuss each one briefly.

Open PI Adapter for AS2

The Open PI Adapter for AS2 offers communication via Internet based on the AS2 protocol. The solution originates from the AS2 functionality already offered in the Open PI Adapter for EDIFACT.

Features:

• Adapter solution bases on the XI adapter framework
• Secure internet-based communication via AS2 over HTTP(S) (EDIINT)
• Supports encryption (3DES, RC2) and digital signatures (SHA1, MD5)
• Central configuration in PI Integration Directory and monitoring in the Runtime Workbench
• Compatible with releases from XI 3.0 SP17, PI 7.0 SP08, PI 7.1X and PI 7.3X on
• Certificate-based authentication for receiver communication channels.
• Dynamic configuration of connection parameters for receiver communication channels

Open PI Adapter for EDIFACT [Deprecated]

The Open PI Adapter for EDIFACT offers EDI communication via Internet based on the AS2 protocol.

Features:

• Adapter solution bases on the XI adapter framework
• Bidirectional conversion between EDIFACT and EDIFACT XML
• Simple extension for additional EDIFACT releases and subsets (EANCOM, ODETTE ...)
• Secure internet-based communication via AS2 over HTTP(S) (EDIINT)
• Supports encryption (3DES, RC2) and digital signatures (SHA1, MD5)
• Central configuration in PI Integration Directory and monitoring in the Runtime Workbench
• Compatible with releases from XI 3.0 SP17, PI 7.0 SP08 and PI 7.1X         

Open PI conversion module for EDIFACT

The Open PI Initiative has published the Open PI EDIFACT Adapter. The full-blown PI adapter offers EDIFACT conversion as well as transport via AS2 protocol including encryption and https support. The solution bases on the XI Adapter Framework and is fully integrated into the PI Integration Directory and PI Run time Workbench.

Features:

• Bidirectional conversion between EDIFACT and EDIFACT XML
• Simple extension for additional EDIFACT releases and subsets (EANCOM, ODETTE ...)
• Seamless integration in existing SAP PI standard adapters (File, JDBC, JMS...)
• Full integration in XI Adapter Framework
• Compatible with releases from XI 3.0 SP17, PI 7.0 SP08, PI 7.1X and PI 7.3X on

Open PI EDIX Conversion Module

The latest subproject of the Open PI Initiative offers a bidirectional conversion for multiple EDI formats like EDIFACT, ANSI X12 and TRADACOM.

Features:

• Bidirectional conversion between EDIFACT and EDIFACT XML
• Additional support for ANSI X12 and TRADACOM
• Based on EDI XML structures created via GEFEG.FX (allows easy migration to/from other EDI solutions for PI)
• Simple extension for additional EDI releases, subsets and messages without redeployment of the adapter module
• Seamless integration in existing SAP PI standard adapters (File, JDBC, JMS...), based on PI Adapter Framework API compatible with releases from PI 7.1X on

Difference between SAP B2B Add-on and OPI2

Now I’m going to differentiate between SAP B2B Add-on and OPI2, as we know that we cannot expect the tight integration capabilities using third-party open source tools. If you say that in a straight way to the client he will not understand, we should convince them by explaining the integration capabilities, future support and issues of using third-party open source solutions for EDI integration.we should have the valid points to support our statement, so here I’m going to list out the points which I gathered to convince my client.

S.no	SAP PI B2B Add-on	OPI2
1	Provided by SAP	Provided by Open PI2
2	Separate license required for SAP B2B Add-on	Available under dual license with professional support and free version.
3	Continous support from SAP for any technical issues.	If we are using free version we should take the commercial support in case of any technical issues while doing implementation and for problem support.
4	Released on March 30th 2012	Released in 2008
5	Compatible with versions from SAP PI 7.1 EHP1 SP08, SAP PI 7.3 SP05 and SAP PI 7.3 EHP1 SP03 and PI 7.4	Compatible with versions from SAP PI 7.0 SP08, SAP PI 7.1 and SAP PI 7.3
6	Tight integration with SAP NetWeaver Process Integration/Orchestration	Compatible with SAP NW PI, no felxibility and 100% integration
7	In future we can upgrade to higher SAP NW PI versions at any time, we don't need to worry about our EDI interfaces, SAP will take care of version compatibilities and SP releases.	If you are looking for upgrade SAP NW PI in future we should wait till the compatible version release from OPI2.Because we can't move all the scenarios untill and unless OPI2 is supported in the higher version of SAP NW PI.
8	AS2,OFTP,X400 adapters are available	OPI2 AS2 and OPI2 EDIFACT adapters are available
9	SFTP, AS2, OFTP, X400 Communication Protocols Supported	AS2 protocol supported over HTTP(s)
10	Different EDI Formats support (EDIFACT, ANSI X.12, VDA, TRADACOMS,ODETTE,EANCOM Custom Formats)	Supported EDI formats are EDIFACT,EANCOM and ODETTE.
11	Message Level security [S/MIME based encryption and signing, PGP module support and compression]	Encryption and signing available but PGP module not supported.
12	AS2 adapter supports AES128, AES 192, AES 256,3DES, RC2 encyption alogorithms and digital signatures [MD5, RIPEMD (160), SHA1, SHA (224), SHA (256), SHA (384), SHA (512)]	AS2 adapter supports 3DES and RC2 encyption alogorithms and digital signatures [SHA1]
13	AS2 adapter supports Archive Incoming/Outgoing messages on File System.	NA
14	Synch and Asynch acknowledgement support [Message Delivery Notification]	Synch acknowledgement support [Message Delivery Notification]
15	Adapter specific message attributes can be used in the communication channels	NA
16	Quality of service [exactly once, exactly once in order and best effort]	NA
17	Mapping functions and templates are available which are compatible to EDI standards	No mapping functions
18	Mapping Templates for EDIFACT, ANSI X.12, TRADCOMS, VDA and ODETTE	NA
19	Multi Message handling Support	NA
20	Content based routing [Message Identification] and split up messages according to interfaces based on message type and partner.	NA
21	Ready to use ESR Content (XSDs, Mapping Templates, Mapping Functions) it will reduce the development time, if the standard content meet our requirement.	NA
22	Underlying NetWeaver/PI technology framework for monitoring, channel scheduling, message splitting, configurations, administration etc.	Central configuration in PI Integration Directory and monitoring in the Runtime Workbench.
23	Modules for special B2B use cases (Archiving, Automatic Counters etc.)	NA
24	EDI XML Converter for maintaining B2B Content and extensions.	Open PI conversion module for EDIFACT and Open PI EDIX conversion modules are available to convert the incoming data to EDIFACT XML and outgoing EDIFACT XML data are converted into EDIFACT messages.
25	EDI Separator to split in-coming mass messages into one message.	NA
26	Number Range Objects [NRO] module provides the option to insert automatically continuous counters into the outgoing message. These numbers can be created and are oriented towards the defined intervals in the respective objects.	NA

By considering all the above points, SAP B2B Add-on is more advanced than OPI2, i didn't see much progress in terms of new features for the existing content. so it is better to go for SAP B2B Add-on instead of OPI2, because of its tight integrated features and support from SAP.

I hope it will helpful for you guys.. :smile:

Referred and related content

Open PI Initiative (OPI2) - Process Integration - SCN Wiki

http://sourceforge.net/p/opi2/news/

http://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/scn/go/portal/prtroot/docs/library/uuid/70d603dd-e206-2b10-fd83-a1e43d4b2...

OPI2 - The Open PI Initiative