CA. PEDANT ISO 900):2008 CERTIFIE> ALE - Application Link Enabling is a mechanism by which SAP systems communicate with each other and with non-SAP EDI subsystems. Thus it helps integration of distributed systems. It supports fail-safe delivery which implies that sender system does not have to worry about message not reaching the source due to unavoidable situations. ALE can be used for migration and maintenance of master data as well as for exchanging transactional data. » The messages that are exchanged are in the form of IDOCS or Intermediate Documents. IDOCS act like a container or envelope for the application data. An IDOC is created as a result of execution of an Outbound ALE. In an Inbound ALE an IDOC serves as an input to create application document. In the SAP system IDOCS are stored in the database tables. They can be used for SAP to SAP and SAP to non-SAP process communication as long as the participating processes can understand the syntax and semantics of the data. Complete documentation on IDOC is obtained by using transaction WE6O.Every IDOC has exactly one control record along with a number of data records and status records. Control record has the details of sender/receiver and other control information, Data records contain the actual business data to be exchanged while the status records are attached to IDOC throughout the process as the IDOC moves from one step to other. Now, let us understand the ALE Configuration by means of an example scenario below: ‘The Scenario SAP ALE Scenario Data from custom tables (created in customer namespace) is to be formatted into an IDOC and sent from one SAP R/3 system to another using ALE service. We need to have two instances of SAP R/3 systems or we can simulate this on two clients of the same SAP R/3 system.Create three tables as shown below. DDIC Tables for IDOC Creating Custom IDOC type and Message type Alll the objects created should be present on both source as well as target system(s), 1. Create segments ~ Transaction WE31 Create a segment ZRZSEG1 Add all fields of table ZCUSTOMERS to it Save the segment Release it using the menu path Edit > Set Release Similarly create two more seaments given below Seg. ZRZSEG2 ~ to hold all fields of table ZSOHEADERS Seg. ZRZSEG3 — to hold all fields of table ZSOITEMS2. Create Basic IDOC type ~ Transaction WE30 Create a Basie type ZRZORDER Add the created segments in the hierarchy shown Maintain attributes for each of the segments Save the object and go back Release the object using the menu path Edit > Set Release 3, Create/Assign Message type — Transactions WE81/WES82 Go to WE81 Create a new Message type ZRZSO_MT Save the object Go to WE82 and create new entry Assign the message type ZRZSO_MT to the basic type ZRZORDER Also specify the Release Version Save the objectOutbound Settings Define Logical Systems and Assign Client to Logical System — Transaction SALE SALE Go to Define Logical System (See the figure) Define a new logical system to identify the local system and save it Now, go to Assign Client to Logical System (See the figure) Add anew entry Specify the client, previously created logical system and other attributes Save the entry Define a new logical system to identify the partner system and save it Maintain RFC Destinations ~ Transaction SM59 Create anew RFC destination for R/3 type connection. Specify the target host on Technical settings tab Provide the Logon credentials on the Logon/Seeurity tab, Save the settings ‘To verify the settings, Click on Test connection or Remote logonDefine Ports ~ Transaction WE21 We need to define a tRFC port for the partner system Click on Transactional RFC node Create a new port Provide a description Specify the name of the target RFC destination Save the object Maintain Distribution Model — Transaction BD64 Click on Change Create a new model view Provide a Short text and Technical name to the model view Add message type Specify sender and receiver systems Also, specify the message type that we created previously Save the Distribution modelGenerate/Create Partner Profile — Transactions BD82/WE20 WE20 To generate Partner profiles automatically you may use BDS2 or go to BD64 and use the menu path Environment -> Generate partner profiles Otherwise, you may use transaction WE20 to create a partner profile On selection screen, specify the mode! view, target system and execute The result log will be displayed on the next screen To verify the partner profile go to WE20 Check the partner profile for the target system Distribute Model View ~ Transaction BD64 Select the Model View Go to menu path Edit > Model View > Distribute Result log will be displayed on the next screen Outbound IDOC Generation Program Create an executable program ZRZ_ORDERIDOC in SE38. Below, I have described the program logic: Fetch the data from the Die tables ZCUSTOMERS, ZSOHEADERS and ZSOITEMS as per the selection criteria Fill the control record structure of type EDIDCSpecify message type, Basic IDOC type, RFC Port, Partner number and Partner type of the receiver Fill the data records Define structures like the IDOC segments Fill the structures with fetched data Pass the segment name and the above structure to the appropriate fields of EDIDD type structure Append the EDIDD structure to the EDIDD type internal table ‘Now, call the fimetion module MASTER IDOC_DISTRIBUTE and pass the IDOC control record structure and data record table Commit work if retum code is zero Function module retums a table of type EDIDC to provide the details about generated IDOC Display appropriate logInbound IDOC Posting Function Module In the receiving system, create a function module Z_IDOC_INPUT_ZRZSO_MT using SE37. Below, Thave described the logie for the same. Add Include MBDCONWF. This include contains predefined ALE constants. Loop at EDIDC table Check if the message type is ZRZORDER. Otherwise raise WRONG_FUNCTION_CALLED exception Loop at EDIDD table Append data from the segments to appropriate intemal tables For example: append data from ZRZSEG1 segment to the internal table of type ZCUSTOMERS Update the DDie tables from internal tables Depending on the result of the update, fill the IDOC status record (type BDIDOCSTAT) and append it to the corresponding table. Status 53 => Success Status 51 => Error Inbound SettingsDefine Logical Systems — Transaction SALE (Please refer to Outbound Settings) Assign Client to Logical System — Transaction SALE (Please refer to ‘Outbound Settings) ‘Maintain RFC Destinations — Transaction SM59 (Please refer to Outbound Settings) Define Ports — Transaction WE21 (Please refer to Outbound Settings) Generate/Create Partner Profile ~ Transactions BD82/WE20 (Please refer to Outbound Settings) Assign Function Module to Logical message — Transaction WES7 © Create anew entry © Specify name of the Function Module as Z_IDOC_INPUT_ZRZSO_MT 0 Also, specify Type as F, Basic IDOC type as ZREORDER, Message type as. ZRZSO_MT and Direction as 2 (Inbound) © Save the entryDefine Input method for Inbound Fumetion Module — Transaction BDS1 Create a new entry . Provide Function Module name as Z IDOC_INPUT_ZRZSO_MT Specify the Input method as 2 Save the entry Create a Process Code ~ Transaction WE42 Create a new Process Code ZPCRZ Select Processing with ALE Service Choose Processing type as Processing by fimetion module Save the entry On the next screen, select your function module from the list Save the changes ‘Now you will be taken to the next sereen Double-click on Logical message In the Assignment to logical message, specify the message type ZRZSO_MT © Save the changesSend and receive data On the sender system, execute the IDOC Generation Program. Check the status of IDOC using transaction WE02. IDOC Generation Program Check the status of the IDOC in the receiver system using transaction WE02. You can also check the contents of DDic tables to make sure that the records have been created in the receiver system. WE02 Outbound Settings Define Logical Systems and Assign Client to Logical System — Transaction SALE § Go to Define Logical System (See the figure) § Define a new logical system to identify the local system and save it § Now, go to Assign Client to Logical System (See the figure) § Add anew entry § Specify the client, previously created logical system and other attributes § Save the entry§ Define a new logical system to identify the partner system and save it Maintain RFC Destinations — Transaction SM59 § Create a new RFC destination for R/3 type connection, § Specify the target host on Technical settings tab § Provide the Logon credentials on the Logon/Security tab § Save the settings § To verify the settings, Click on Test connection or Remote logon Define Ports — Transaction WE21 § We need to define a {RFC port for the partner system § Click on Transactional RFC node § Create a new port § Provide a description § Specify the name of the target RFC destination § Save the object‘Maintain Distribution Model — Transaction BD64 § Click on Change § Create a new model view § Provide a Short text and Technical name to the model view § Add message type § Specify sender and receiver systems § Also, specify the message type that we created previously § Save the Distribution model Generate/Create Partner Profile — Transactions BD82/WE20 § To generate Partner profiles automatically you may use BD82 or go to BD64 and use the menu path Environment >> Generate partner profiles § Otherwise, you may use transaction WE20 to ereate a partner profile § On selection sereen, specify the model view, target system and execute § The result log will be displayed on the next sereen § To verify the partner profile go to WE20 § Check the partner profile for the target systemDistribute Model View — Transaction BD64 § Select the Model View § Go to menu path Edit > Model View > Distribute § Result log will be displayed on the next screen Outbound IDOC Generation Program Create an executable program ZRZ ORDER IDOC in SE38. Below, I have described the program logic: § Fetch the data from the DDic tables ZCUSTOMERS, ZSOHEADERS and ZSOITEMS as per the selection criteria § Fill the control record structure of type EDIDC § Specify message type. Basic IDOC type, tREC Port, Partner number and Partner type of the receiver § Fill the data records § Define structures like the TDOC segments § Fill the structures with fetched data § Pass the segment name and the above structure to the appropriate fields of EDIDD type structure § Append the EDIDD structure to the EDIDD type intemal table§ Now, call the function module MASTER IDOC_DISTRIBUTE and pass the IDOC control record structure and data record table § Commit work ifretumn code is zero § Function module retuns a table of type EDIDC to provide the details about generated IDOC § Display appropriate log ‘You can download sample code for the above program here. Thus we have completed sender side configuration required for ALE. In the next part we will see how to configure the receiving system to be able to receive and post the inbound IDOC.>Thank You