The Difference Between Collapse Context

and Remove Context in SAP PI/PO

Node Functions ‘Collapse Context’ and ‘Remove Context’ can be confusing if you are new to PI/PO
space. Although Collapse Context and Remove Context have similarities, there are a few major
differences between them.

What is a Context in PI?

Before we look at the differences between Collapse Context and Remove Context, let’s look at what a
‘Context’ in PI/PO means.

XML messages in PI are handled as Queues. In a queue, Context is the position or the level of a XML
node (element) relative to a parent node. If elements belong to the same parent node, the elements
are in same Context. When the parent node changes, Context Change is inserted to the queue.
Context Changes are shown in dark gray color.

Sensitivity: Internal & Restricted

Message type which represents the student grade detail
XML can have multiple exam grades of multiple students.

Element ‘Grade’ context changes based on immediate parent

node ‘Grades’.

Grade values of each exam are assigned to separate Contexts.

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Context Changes of ‘Grade’ element relative to parent node ‘Grades’

▪ Element ‘Grade’ Context Changes based on higher level

parent node ‘StudentDetail’.

Change the Context of the element to ‘StudentDetail’ level.

Now all grades of each student are in one Context.

Sensitivity: Internal & Restricted

Context Changes of ‘Grade’ element relative to parent node ‘Grades’

Collapse Context vs Remove Context.

Although the two node functions behave differently, both Collapse Context and Remove
Context delete the Context Changes from the input queue.

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1. How Context Values are Copied in Collapse and Remove
Context.
The major difference between these two functions is how they copy input Context values to the
output. While Collapse Context only copies first value of each Context from the input, Remove
Context copies all the values from the input to output.

Collapse Context Remove Context

Only first value of each context is copied to the All values form input context are copied to the
output. output.

2. How SUPPRESS Values Are Interpreted by Collapse

Context and Remove Context When “Keep SUPPRESS
Values” Are Disabled.
Let’s look at how each function acts when “keep SUPPRESS values” property of IF-THEN function is
disabled.

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Keep SUPPRESS values property is disabled in IF-THEN function
Another difference is how these node functions handle SUPPRESS values in queues. While Remove
Context ignores the SUPPRESS values and does not copy them to output, Collapse
Context copies them as null [] values to output.
Collapse Context copies SUPPRESS Values as [].

Sensitivity: Internal & Restricted

Collapse Context copies SUPPRESS values as null [] values to output.
Remove Context ignores SUPPRESS Values.

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Collapse Context function ignores SUPPRESS values

3. How SUPPRESS Values Are Interpreted by Collapse

Context and Remove Context When “Keep SUPPRESS
Values” Is Activated.

Sensitivity: Internal & Restricted

Keep SUPPRESS values of IF function is active

In this situation both functions handle SUPPRESS values the same way. SUPPRESS values are
considered similar to any another value in the same context.

Both functions remove the Context Changes. Collapse Context function copies the first value from
each Context, and Remove Context copies all values of each context to output.

Sensitivity: Internal & Restricted

Collapse Context when “Keep SUPPRESS values” is activated

Sensitivity: Internal & Restricted

Remove Context queue when “Keep SUPPRESS values” is disabled
You can only remove these SUPPRESSED values using a UDF.

If you have any questions about Collapse Context and Remove Context node functions, please, leave
a comment below. I will be happy to help.

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