Getting Started with SAP

This article explains how to get started with the SAP Component.

Overview

The Semarchy xDI SAP Connector can use four types of SAP structures for integration:

  • Tables: Classic database tables storing SAP data.

  • IDocs: Documents.

  • BAPIs/RFCs: Services available to external systems for integration.

  • DataSources: Read-only structured data intended for reporting purposes.

Set Up the SAP Server

You must configure the SAP server to enable the connection from Semarchy xDI.

  • The Semarchy xDI custom ABAP must be deployed in the dedicated ZSTB_PACKAGE package and ZSTB_FUNCTION_GROUP function group.

  • The setup differs depending on the structure you will use for integration:

    • For tables, use ZSTB_RFC_READ_QUERY.

    • To manipulate IDocs, there is no RFC to run, but your must configure the network to enable access.

    • To call a BAPI/RFC, ensure it is remote enabled.

    • To query a DataSource, use ZSTB_RFC_READ_DATA_SOURCE.

Set Up the Designer

After setting up the SAP server, configure Semarchy xDI Designer:

  1. Download the JCO libraries from the SAP website.

  1. Copy and paste these libraries to the c:/windows/system32 and [DESIGNER_INTALLATION_FOLDER]/Contents/Eclipse/runtime/lib directories.

The Designer is now ready for creating SAP metadata.

Create a SAP Metadata

To create a SAP metadata:

  1. Right-click a folder in your project and then select New > Metadata.

  2. In the New Metadata wizard, select SAP and then click Next.

    getting started metadata

  3. Name the metadata and click Next.

  4. Select the module and the third-party libraries required for the component and click Finish.
    The metadata is created and the server wizard opens.

  5. In the server wizard, in the Connection page, enter the connection properties and click Next.

    getting started server wizard connection

  6. In the Reverse page, select the SAP objects that you want to reverse-engineer and click Finish.

The metadata is created.

SAP Objects

The following sections details the SAP objects that can be reverse-engineered and used in Designer.

BAPI/RFC

In a BAPI/RFC metadata:

  • The inputs are under the ImportParameters node

  • The outputs are under the ExportStructures node.

  • Both inputs and outputs have a Tables node.

getting started bapi rfc

Tables

SAP tables are similar to plain database tables.

getting started table

You can extract data from an SAP table in a regular mapping:

getting started read table

You can also integrate data into an SAP table:

getting started write table

IDocs

SAP IDocs are handled similarly to XML files.

getting started idocs

DataSources

An SAP DataSource is an extension of SAP Business Warehouse (BW). It is a set of fields that provide data for a business unit for reporting purposes. Datasources are read-only, structured data.

getting started datasource read

Datasources support a delta mode to only load changes. To use this mode, you must to first run a mapping with the Update Mode load template property set to C. This mode performs a full initial load and resets the counters.

getting started datasource init

After the initial load, you can configure a delta load with the Update Mode set to D.

getting started datasource delta