Distribution of full master data objects from change pointers

[MichalKrawczyk]

For many master data objects' distribution SAP provides two level approach:

a) at first you send a whole master data objects

b) send changes (delta info) only using change pointer technology

This approach works for most of the "typical" master data like Materials, Vndors, Customers. Once you send a whole object only the delta information will be distributed. As far as the receiver is an another SAP system everything seems to be fine but in reality most of the third party systems cannot handle delta information and they expect the whole master data object even if only one parameter got changed. What are the options with SAP then?
Let me present a short description of a few possibilities on the basis of a most common master data object - Material.

1. Manual transfer - For sending initial Material Master IDoc you use transaction BD10 (after you configure a distribution model and partner profiles). It would be possible to run the same transaction everytime any material gets changed. The main drawback would be manual action which is required in this scenario. If you'd like to schedule BD10 somehow then all materials would be send each time and in cases there are thousands of hundrets of thousands of materials this is not the most efficient way.

2. User exit transfer - usually there are many user exits for master data maintanance transactions but some of them have a user exit during the save event. Such an exit can be used to invoke transaction for sending master data like BD10 with a specific material numer.

3. Change pointer "trick" - in standard change pointer technology allows sending delta information only so if you change one field in any master data object only this particular field will be distributed as an IDoc. Fortunately there are ways this can be changed even without doing any modifications/repairs to the SAP standard. With the introduction of Implicit Enhancement Options in ABAP Source Codes we can now change the part of code which is responsible for master data distribution to force sending only whole master data objects. One of the places in which an Implicit Enhancement can be added is at the end of a function module - check out help.sap.com  <br />The module that we need to change is - CHANGE_POINTERS_READ and the code which can be added at the very end of this module is shown below:   <br /> </p><table border="0"><tbody><tr><td>FIELD-SYMBOLS <fs_bdcp> TYPE bdcp.<br />checking for correct IDoc message type as we only <br />want to distribute material master data in this way