1. INTRODUCTION TO ALE DEVELOPMENT Developing a new custom ALE scenario comprises 5 steps:
Design and develop the custom IDoc with its segments and a new message type
Configure the ALE environment with the new IDoc and message type (customer model, partner profiles and linking IDoc to message type)
Develop the outbound process which does the following:
Populates the custom IDoc with control info and functional data
Sends the IDoc to the ALE layer for distribution
Updates status and handles errors
Configure the ALE inbound side (partner profiles with inbound process code)
Develop the inbound process which does the following:
Reads the IDoc into a BDC table; selects other data that is required
Runs transaction using call transaction or BDC session
Updates status and handles errors
Below is a pictorial representation of the flow of a complete ALE scenario from the sending system to the receiving system. Figure 1: ALE Scenario model1.1. ALE Example For the purposes of this example we will develop a small ALE scenario. This scenario is described below. The receiver of an internal service must be able to reverse (cancel) the invoice receipt which will then cancel the applicable billing document automatically on the service providers system. Figure 2: Example Purchasing & Selling scenario We will develop a custom IDoc to carry the billing number from the Service Receivers system to the Service Providers system. We will populate the IDoc in a user exit on the sending side and we will process the transaction on the receiving side using a custom function module and a BDC transaction call. No rule conversion, segment filtering or version conversion will be implemented in the model as described in Figure 1. Requirements
Working ALE environment - See ALE Basis Configuration Guide;
ALE scenario design together with the business requirement;
Development access; and
ALE configuration access.
NOTES:
All IMG references to transactions are located in the transaction SALE which is the ALE portion of the IMG
This is one way of developing a scenario where no message control exists. If message control exist (EG. On purchase orders) then NAST can be used to call an outbound function module that would create the required IDocs.
2. OUTBOUND PROCESSING 2.1. Create IDoc type (WE30) Client independent The IDoc type refers to the IDoc structure that you will require for your development. In our case the IDoc type is called ZINVRV01. This IDoc type will have 1 segment called Z1INVRV with 2 fields, LIFNR & XBLNR, in this segment. If you require many segments or nested segments then they are also created using the same procedure. We will create the IDoc of the following structure: Figure 3: IDoc type ZINVRV01 To create the IDoc type, follow these next few steps:
Type in ZINVRV01 and click on Basic IDoc type, click the Create icon
Click on Create new (we are creating an IDoc from scratch but you may want to copy another IDoc if it is similar to your requirements) and enter a description, and press enter
Click on ZINVRV01 and then on the Create icon
Enter Z1INVRV as the segment type (must start with Z1), check mandatory if the segment must exist (in this case check it), enter 1 in minimum number and 1 as maximum number. (Make the maximum number 9999999999 if there are going to be many of these segments in each IDoc. IE. When line items are passed via IDocs), click on Segment editor
Enter a description for your segment type and create
Enter a description for your segment, enter each field required in your IDoc, in our case type LIFNR across for Field name, DE structure and DE documentation, repeat for XBLNR and press enter to validate.
Save and generate, press back
To release the segment choose Goto, Release from the menu
Check the box on the line of your new segment
Save, back and enter
Your IDoc type structure should be displayed with your new segment
Save and back
To release the IDoc type choose Extras, Release type from the menu and Yes
Your IDoc is now ready for use. If you need to add fields or segments to your IDoc type, you will need to cancel the release of the IDoc type as well as the segment release using a similar procedure followed above (except now you uncheck the release box for the segment and you choose cancel release for the IDoc type). 2.2. Create message type (WE81) Client independent To create a new message type, follow these next few steps:
Enter transaction WE81 (ALE -> Extensions -> IDoc types -> Maintain message type for intermed. Structure -> Create logical message type)
Choose Create logical message type by double clicking on it
Click on change icon to enter change mode
Click on New entries to add a new type
Enter the required message type, in our case it is ZINVRV and an appropriate description
Save and exit. Your message type has now been created. The next step will be to link it to the IDoc.
2.2.1. Link message to IDoc type (WE82 & BD69) Client independent To link the message type to the IDoc type follow these next few steps:
Enter transaction WE82 (ALE -> Extensions -> IDoc types -> Maintain message type for intermed. Structure -> EDI: Message Types and Assignment to IDoc Types)
Click on change icon to enter change mode
Click on New entries to create the link
Enter the message type ZINVRV and the BasicIDoc type as ZINVRV01
Save and exit
Enter transaction BD69 (ALE -> Extensions -> IDoc types -> Maintain message type for intermed. Structure -> Assign message type to IDoc for ALE)
Click on change icon to enter change mode
Click on New entries to create the link
Enter the message type ZINVRV and the BasicIDoc type as ZINVRV01
Save and exit
Your IDoc is now linked to your message type. We still need to link object types and add the message to the model before we can use the message. 2.2.2. Maintain object type for message type (BD59) Client independent The ALE objects are used to create links between IDocs and applications objects, to control the serialisation, to filter messages in the customer model and to use listings. For our own message type and IDoc you must maintain object types for the links. If you want to check the serialisation for the message type, then you must maintain object types for the serialisation. If no serialisation object has been maintained for a given message type, then the serialisation will not be checked for this message type. To add an object type to our message type, follow these next few steps:
Enter transaction BD59 (ALE -> Extensions -> ALE object maintenance -> Maintain object types)
Type in your message type ZINVRV and press enter
Click on New entries
Enter your object type, LIFNR (We need to use the vendor as a filter object), the segment name where LIFNR resides, Z1INVRV, a number 1 for the sequence followed by the actual field name LIFNR
Save and exit.
You have now created an object that well use as a filter object in the customer model to direct the flow of messages to the various logical systems based on the vendors in the filter of the message type ZINVRV. We now need to add our new message type to the distribution model. 2.3. Configuring the Distribution Model This task is performed on your ALE reference client. 2.3.1. Manual Configuration (BD64) Client dependent To manually configure the customer distribution model, read the ALE configuration procedure, and follow these steps:
Perform the Maintain customer distribution model directly function. (ALE -> Distribution customer model -> Maintain customer distribution model directly)
Specify the customer model you want to maintain and the logical system that is to be the sender of the messages OR create a new model. (Create model ALE with logical system ALELS1C400)
Choose the receiving systems to which the sending system must forward message type ZINVRV to.
For each receiving logical system allocate the message type necessary for communication to the receiving systems as per ALE configuration procedure.
Create filter objects (in our case LIFNR as the object type with the associated vendor number, 0000018001 with leading zeros, in the object area) for the message types.
Save the entries.
NOTES: You cannot maintain a message type between the same sender and receiver in more than one customer distribution model. Only the owner is authorised to modify the model. To change the owner of a model, choose the 'Maintain ownership of customer distribution model' function. Make sure that all changes will be distributed to all systems that know the corresponding model. To do so, you can use the correction and transport system. To transport the customer distribution model you should use the Distribute customer model function of the IMG as described below. 2.3.2. Distribute customer model (BD71) Client dependent After the customer model has been created centrally, it must be distributed to the other remote systems. This entails first of all setting up the communication for the distributed systems and then sending the model. 2.3.2.1. Distribute Model (BD71) Client dependent This task is performed on your ALE reference client. To distribute the customer distribution model, read the ALE configuration procedure and follow these steps:
Make the settings for the communication with the other decentral systems, you have not set them yet.
Define the RFC destination for R/3 connections whose names correspond to the name of the corresponding logical system.
Create the output partner profile.
Distribute the customer model
Specify the name of the customer model.
You must specify the target system to which you want to distribute the customer model.
You must repeat this function for every distributed logical system.
NOTES: In later versions of SAP you distribute the Distribution model from the Distribution Model editor using BD64. You perform this task from the menu option within the model you wish to distribute and you can distribute it to as many systems as you wish in one action. 2.3.2.2. Maintain sending system partner profile (WE20) Client dependent With this function, you define the partner profiles for all outbound and inbound messages on the basis of the customer distribution model. After you have defined and distributed the customer model, you will have to maintain the partner profiles locally. To do this read the ALE configuration procedure.
Enter the output mode (background, immediately) and the package size for outbound processing.
Requirements
The customer model must be maintained.
RFC destinations must be maintained.
The customer model must be distributed.
To ensure that the appropriate persons in charge are informed if a processing error occurs, you must make settings in: Error processing Maintain organisational units.
2.4. Populate & distribute IDoc using ABAP An IDoc consists of a control record with structure edidc and one or more data records with structure edidd. The control record contains the sender and recipient of the IDoc, as well as information on the type of message. To be able to pass an IDoc to the ALE layer, you must set up a field string with structure edidc and an internal table with structure edidd. They are used to call function module master_idoc_distribute, which performs the save to the database and triggers the dispatch if necessary. 2.4.1. Example code The code displayed below does the following:
populates our IDoc segment Z1INVR with the 2 fields XBLNR and LIFNR, populates the segment name and appends this to an internal table used to store the IDoc data;
populates the control record info with the message type and IDoc type; and
calls the MASTER_IDOC_DISTRIBUTE function module which distributes the IDoc as configured in the customer distribution model.
Figure 4: Outbound processing example code NOTE: For debugging purposes, use transaction WE05 (IDoc overview) to see whether an IDoc was created and to check on it's status. 3. INBOUND PROCESSING3.1. Create Function Module This function module is called when a message type, of type ZINVRV, comes into the receiving system. This needs to be configured and is dealt with later in this section. The function module is passed the IDoc as a parameter. Example parameters Example code The code displayed below does the following:
populates a BDC table with the IDoc info;
calls the transaction via a BDC call; and
updates the IDoc status according to the BDC error status.
Figure 5: Inbound processing example code 3.1.1. Debugging inbound FM Use transaction WE19 to test inbound function module in debugging mode. Also use WE05 to view the IDocs and their statuses. 3.2. Maintain ALE attributes The inbound function module needs to be linked to the message type and the message type needs to be linked to the appropriate inbound process code at the partner profile level before the scenario is enabled. These steps are described below in detail. 3.2.1. Link Message Type to Function Module (WE57) Client independent To link a message (ZINVRV) type to a function module (Z_IDOC_INPUT_ZINVRV) follow these steps:
Enter transaction WE57 (ALE -> Extensions -> Inbound -> Allocate function module to logical message)
Select an entry (EG. IDOC_INPUT_ORDERS) and copy
Type in module name Z_IDOC_INPUT_ZINVRV
Type in basic IDoc type as ZINVRV01
Type in message type as ZINVRV
Type object type as IDOCINVOIC (Invoice document) - Used for workflow
Direction should be set to 2 for inbound
Enter and save
3.2.2. Define FM settings (BD51) Client independent
Enter transaction BD51 (ALE -> Extensions -> Inbound -> Define settings for input modules)
Click on New entries
Type in the name of the new function module Z_IDOC_INPUT_ZINVRV
Enter 0 for mass processing in the output column
Save and Exit
3.2.3. Maintain process codes (WE42) Client dependent A process code needs to be maintained on each client. It then needs to be linked to the message via the partner profiles on each client. This allows the various clients to use a unique function module for the same message type. To maintain the process code follow these steps:
Click on Processing with function module and choose create icon
Click on New Entries
Type in process code ZINR and give it a description and save
Now you are asked to Please maintain codes added in ALE entry methods, enter and choose Z_IDOC_INPUT_FIRVSL and copy it. You should choose a FM similar to your one.
Enter your process code ZINR
Enter your function module Z_IDOC_INPUT_ZINVRV
NOTE: The next 6 steps are used in workflow error handling.
Enter IDPKFIDCMT in object type
Enter MASSINPUTFINISHED in End event
Enter IDOCINVOIC in IDoc object type
Enter INPUTERROROCCURREDFI in IDoc start event
Enter INPUTFINISHEDFI in IDoc End event
Enter IDOCINVOIC in Application object type
You will need to determine the task associated with object IDOCINVOIC, and then assign the appropriate position to it. This position will then receive the application error messages via workflow. To set up the workflow area please consult the Workflow config guide. 3.3. Create inbound partner profile For each message type you need to maintain the inbound partner profiles. 3.3.1. Maintain receiving system partner profile (WE20) Client dependent To maintain inbound partner profiles read the document ALE configuration procedure:
Add the message type ZINVRV with process code ZINR.
Enter the output mode (background, immediately) for inbound processing and NO message code.
Enter the positionS and choose the ALE administrator 50000085. This position will then receive all the technical ALE errors via workflow.
3.4. Test Once the inbound function module has been debugged the scenario should be ready to test in its entirety. If problems occur, read through the relevant areas of this document to check your configuration or code.