How to Read an IDOC

Question

Hi Experts,
Can any one explain me about IDOC, and how to read it once it is created.
Regards
Venu

Answer 1

Hi,
IDOCS:
IDocs are SAP’s file format to exchange data with a foreign system.
IDocs are an ASCII file format to exchange data between computers; the format is chosen arbitrarily .
IDocs are similar to segmented files; they are not a description language like ANSI X.12, EDIFACT or XML.
The IDoc contents are processed by function modules, which can be assigned in customizing.
IDocs are structured ASCII files (or a virtual equivalent). They are the file format used by SAP R/3 to exchange data with foreign systems.
IDocs are simple ASCII data streams. When they are stored to a disk file, the IDocs
are simple flat files with lines of text, where the lines are structured into data fields.
The typical structured file has records, each record starting with a leading string that identifies the record type. Their specification is stored in the data dictionary.
IDocs is the acronym for Interchange Document. This indicates a set of (electronic)
information which builds a logical entity. An IDoc is e.g. all the data of a single
customer in your customer master data file, or the IDoc is all the data of a single
invoice.
IDoc data is usually exchanged between systems and partners that are completely
independent. Therefore, the data should be transmitted in a format that can easily be
corrected by the computer operators. It is therefore mandatory to post the data in a
human readable form.
Nowadays, this means that data is coded in ASCII format, including numbers which
are sent as a string of figures 0 to 9. Such data can easily be read with any text editor on any computer, be it a PC, Macintosh, UNIX System, S/390 or any internet
browser.
The information which is exchanged by IDocs is called a message and the IDoc is
the physical representation of such a message. The name “messages” for the
information sent via IDocs is used in the same ways as other EDI standards. .
Everybody who has ever dealt with interface programming, will find IDocs very
much like the hierarchical data files used in traditional data exchange.
International standards like the ODETTE or VDA formats are designed in the same
way as IDocs are.
Other EDI standards like XML, ANSI X.12 or EDIFACT/UN are based on a data
description language. They differ principally from the IDocs concept, because they
use a programming language syntax (e.g. like Postscript or HTML) to embed the DATA.
The IDoc process is a straight forward communication scenario. A communication is
requested, then data is retrieved, wrapped and sent to the destination in a predefined format and envelope.
An R/3 application creates data and updates the database appropriately. An
application can be a transaction, a stand-alone ABAP Report or any tool that can
update a database within R/3.
If the application thinks that data needs to be distributed to a foreign system, it
triggers the IDoc mechanism, usually by leaving a descriptive message record in the
message table NAST.
The application then either directly calls the IDoc engine or a collector job
eventually picks up all due IDoc messages and determines what to do with them.
If the engine believes that data is ready to be sent to a partner system, then it
determines the function module which can collect and wrap the required IDoc data
into an IDoc.
In IDoc customising, you specify the name of the function module to use. This can
either be one which is predefined by R/3 standard or a user-written one.
When the IDoc is created it is stored in an R/3 table and from there it is sent to the foreign system.
If the foreign system requires a special conversion, e.g. to XML, EDIFACT or X.12
then this job needs to be done by an external converter, like the Seeburger ELKE™
system. These converters are not part of R/3.
If you have to decide on a converter solution, we strongly recommend using a plain
PC based solution. Conversion usually requires a lot of fine tuning which stands
and falls with the quality of the provided tools.
DIFFERENCE B/W IDOC AND BDC:
IDOC's are intermediary documents into which the data will be transferred and then this idoc's gets transferred to sap or non-sap system.
ALE is used to create link between 2 systems. So without the linking the data cannot be uploaded or downloaded.
BAPI, LSMW and BDC are used to transfer data b/w systems.
BDC is used to transfer data b/w only sap systems.
LSMW is used to transfer data b/w sap and non-sap systems.
ale Idoc: Idoc is a part of ALE. it is applicable only if the external system and the sending system have the same format. ALE uses Internationally Standardized formats. Also it is facilitating Asynchronous data communication and safest data communication. If you got errors also you can correct it and send it again.
lsmw: It the legacy data transfer. which is used for bulk data transfers. It uses BAPI, IDoc, BDc internally....
bapi: SAP Provided way of data transfer. if the BAPi suits for our business bettere to go for bapi. it too uses internationally standardized data format Business Objects concept.
idocs
1.We will see the status of the IDOC in We02 or We05.
2.In that There are three records.
a.Data record
b.status record.
c.Control record.
3.If u click on data record you can see the data ,which is transfering it.
Details about IDOC:
Data Creation in Idoc
IDocs are text encoded documents with a rigid structure that are used to exchange data between R/3 and a foreign system. Instead of calling a program in the destination system directly, the data is first packed into an IDoc and then sent to the receiving system, where it is analyzed and properly processed. Therefore an IDoc data exchange is always an
asynchronous process. The significant difference between simple RFC-calls and IDoc data exchange is the fact, that every action performed on IDocs are protocolled by R/3 and IDocs can be reprocessed if an error occurred in one of the message steps.
While IDocs have to be understood as a data exchange protocol, EDI and ALE are typical use cases for IDocs. R/3 uses IDocs for both EDI and ALE to deliver data to the receiving system. ALE is basically the scheduling mechanism that defines when and between which partners and what kind of data will be exchanged on a regular or event triggered basis. Such a set-up is called an ALE-scenario.
IDoc is a intermediate document to exchange data between two SAP Systems.
*IDocs are structured ASCII files (or a virtual equivalent).
*Electronic Interchange Document
*They are the file format used by SAP R/3 to exchange data with foreign systems.
*Data Is transmitted in ASCII format, i.e. human readable form
*IDocs exchange messages
*IDocs are used like classical interface files
IDOC types are templates for specific message types depending on what is the business document, you want to exchange.
WE30 - you can create a IDOC type.
An IDOC with data, will have to be triggered by the application that is trying to send out the data.
FOr testing you can use WE19.
How to create idoc?
*WE30 - you can create a IDOC type
For more information in details on the same along with the examples can be viewed on:
http://www.netweaverguru.com/EDI/HTML/IDocBook.htm#_Toc8400404
http://help.sap.com/saphelp_erp2005/helpdata/en/0b/2a6620507d11d18ee90000e8366fc2/frameset.htm
http://www.sappoint.com/presentation.html
http://www.allsaplinks.com/idoc_search.html
http://www.sapgenie.com/sapedi/idoc_abap.htm
http://www.erpgenie.com/sapedi/idoc_abap.htm
To Create Idoc we need to follow these steps:
Create Segment ( WE31)
Create Idoc Type ( WE30 )
Create Message Type ( WE81 )
Assign Idoc Type to Message Type ( WE82 )
Creating a Segment
Go to transaction code WE31
Enter the name for your segment type and click on the Create icon
Type the short text
Enter the variable names and data elements
Save it and go back
Go to Edit -> Set Release
Follow steps to create more number of segments
Create IDOC Type
Go to transaction code WE30
Enter the Object Name, select Basic type and click Create icon
Select the create new option and enter a description for your basic IDOC type and press enter
Select the IDOC Name and click Create icon
The system prompts us to enter a segment type and its attributes
Choose the appropriate values and press Enter
The system transfers the name of the segment type to the IDOC editor.
Follow these steps to add more number of segments to Parent or as Parent-child relation
Save it and go back
Go to Edit -> Set release
Create Message Type
Go to transaction code WE81
Change the details from Display mode to Change mode
After selection, the system will give this message “The table is cross-client (see Help for further info)”. Press Enter
Click New Entries to create new Message Type
Fill details
Save it and go back
Assign Message Type to IDoc Type
Go to transaction code WE82
Change the details from Display mode to Change mode
After selection, the system will give this message “The table is cross-client (see Help for further info)”. Press Enter.
Click New Entries to create new Message Type.
Fill details
Save it and go back
Check these out..
Re: How to create IDOC
Check below link. It will give the step by step procedure for IDOC creation.
http://www.supinfo-projects.com/cn/2005/idocs_en/2/
ALE/ IDOC
http://help.sap.com/saphelp_erp2004/helpdata/en/dc/6b835943d711d1893e0000e8323c4f/content.htm
http://www.sapgenie.com/sapgenie/docs/ale_scenario_development_procedure.doc
http://edocs.bea.com/elink/adapter/r3/userhtm/ale.htm#1008419
http://www.netweaverguru.com/EDI/HTML/IDocBook.htm
http://www.sapgenie.com/sapedi/index.htm
http://www.sappoint.com/abap/ale.pdf
http://www.sappoint.com/abap/ale2.pdf
http://www.sapgenie.com/sapedi/idoc_abap.htm
http://help.sap.com/saphelp_erp2005/helpdata/en/0b/2a60bb507d11d18ee90000e8366fc2/frameset.htm
http://help.sap.com/saphelp_erp2005/helpdata/en/78/217da751ce11d189570000e829fbbd/frameset.htm
http://www.allsaplinks.com/idoc_sample.html
http://www.sappoint.com/abap.html
http://help.sap.com/saphelp_erp2004/helpdata/en/dc/6b835943d711d1893e0000e8323c4f/content.htm
http://www.sapgenie.com/sapgenie/docs/ale_scenario_development_procedure.doc
http://edocs.bea.com/elink/adapter/r3/userhtm/ale.htm#1008419
http://www.netweaverguru.com/EDI/HTML/IDocBook.htm
http://www.sapgenie.com/sapedi/index.htm
http://www.allsaplinks.com/idoc_sample.html
http://www.sapgenie.com/sapgenie/docs/ale_scenario_development_procedure.docs
go trough these links.
http://help.sap.com/saphelp_erp2004/helpdata/en/dc/6b835943d711d1893e0000e8323c4f/content.htm
http://www.sapgenie.com/sapgenie/docs/ale_scenario_development_procedure.doc
http://edocs.bea.com/elink/adapter/r3/userhtm/ale.htm#1008419
http://www.netweaverguru.com/EDI/HTML/IDocBook.htm
http://www.sapgenie.com/sapedi/index.htm
http://www.sappoint.com/abap/ale.pdf
http://www.sappoint.com/abap/ale2.pdf
http://www.sapgenie.com/sapedi/idoc_abap.htm
http://help.sap.com/saphelp_erp2005/helpdata/en/0b/2a60bb507d11d18ee90000e8366fc2/frameset.htm
http://help.sap.com/saphelp_erp2005/helpdata/en/78/217da751ce11d189570000e829fbbd/frameset.htm
http://www.allsaplinks.com/idoc_sample.html
http://www.sappoint.com/abap.html
http://help.sap.com/saphelp_erp2004/helpdata/en/dc/6b835943d711d1893e0000e8323c4f/content.htm
http://www.sapgenie.com/sapgenie/docs/ale_scenario_development_procedure.doc
http://edocs.bea.com/elink/adapter/r3/userhtm/ale.htm#1008419
http://www.netweaverguru.com/EDI/HTML/IDocBook.htm
http://www.sapgenie.com/sapedi/index.htm
http://www.allsaplinks.com/idoc_sample.html
http://http://help.sap.com/saphelp_erp2004/helpdata/en/dc/6b835943d711d1893e0000e8323c4f/content.htm
An IDoc is simply a data container that is used to exchange information between any two processes that can understand the syntax and semantics of the data...
1.IDOCs are stored in the database. In the SAP system, IDOCs are stored in database tables.
2.IDOCs are independent of the sending and receiving systems.
3.IDOCs are independent of the direction of data exchange.
The two available process for IDOCs are
Outbound Process
Inbound Process
AND There are basically two types of IDOCs.
Basic IDOCs
Basic IDOC type defines the structure and format of the business document that is to be exchanged between two systems.
Extended IDOCs
Extending the functionality by adding more segments to existing Basic IDOCs.
To Create Idoc we need to follow these steps:
Create Segment ( WE31)
Create Idoc Type ( WE30)
Create Message Type ( WE81)
Assign Idoc Type to Message Type ( WE82)
imp links
http://www.allsaplinks.com/idoc_sample.html
http://www.sapgenie.com/sapedi/idoc_abap.htm
www.sappoint.com
--here u can find the ppts and basic seetings for ALE
http://sappoint.com/presentation.html
www.sapgenie.com
http://www.sapgenie.com/ale/index.htm
WE30 - you can create a IDOC type.
An IDOC with data, will have to be triggered by the application that is trying to send out the data.
Try this..Hope this will help.
SAP ALE & IDOC<<<<
Steps to configuration(Basis) >>
1. Create Logical System (LS) for each applicable ALE-enabled client
2. Link client to Logical System on the respective servers
3. Create background user, to be used by ALE(with authorizaton for ALE postings)
4. Create RFC Destinations(SM59)
5. Ports in Idoc processing(WE21)
6. Generate partner profiles for sending system
The functional configuration(Tcode: SALE)
• Create a Customer Distribution Model (CDM);
• Add appropriate message types and filters to the CDM;
• Generate outbound partner profiles;
• Distribute the CDM to the receiving systems; and
• Generate inbound partner profiles on each of the clients.
Steps to customize a new IDoc >>>
1. Define IDoc Segment (WE31)
2. Convert Segments into an IDoc type (WE30)
3. Create a Message Type (WE81)
4. Create valid Combination of Message & IDoc type(WE82)
5. Define Processing Code(WE41 for OUT / WE42 for IN)
6. Define Partner Profile(WE20)
Important Transaction Codes:
SALE - IMG ALE Configuration root
WE20 - Manually maintain partner profiles
BD64 - Maintain customer distribution model
BD71 - Distribute customer distribution model
SM59 - Create RFC Destinations
BDM5 - Consistency check (Transaction scenarios)
BD82 - Generate Partner Profiles
BD61 - Activate Change Pointers - Globally
BD50 - Activate Change Pointer for Msg Type
BD52 - Activate change pointer per change.doc object
BD59 - Allocation object type -> IDOC type
BD56 - Maintain IDOC Segment Filters
BD53 - Reduction of Message Types
BD21 - Select Change Pointer
BD87 - Status Monitor for ALE Messages
BDM5 - Consistency check (Transaction scenarios)
BD62 - Define rules
BD79 - Maintain rules
BD55 - Defining settings for IDoc conversion
WEDI - ALE IDoc Administration
WE21 - Ports in Idoc processing
WE60 - IDoc documentation
SARA - IDoc archiving (Object type IDOC)
WE47 - IDoc status maintenance
WE07 - IDoc statistics
BALE - ALE Distribution Administration
WE05 - IDoc overview
BD87 - Inbound IDoc reprocessing
BD88 - Outbound IDoc reprocessing
BDM2 - IDoc Trace
BDM7 - IDoc Audit Analysis
BD21 - Create IDocs from change pointers
SM58 - Schedule RFC Failures
Basic config for Distributed data:
BD64: Maintain a Distributed Model
BD82: Generate Partner Profile
BD64: Distribute the distribution Model
Programs
RBDMIDOC – Creating IDoc Type from Change Pointers
RSEOUT00 – Process all selected IDocs (EDI)
RBDAPP01 - Inbound Processing of IDocs Ready for Transfer
RSARFCEX - Execute Calls Not Yet Executed
RBDMOIND - Status Conversion with Successful tRFC Execution
RBDMANIN - Start error handling for non-posted IDocs
RBDSTATE - Send Audit Confirmations
FOr testing you can use WE19.
http://sap-img.com/abap/reads-an-existing-idoc-and-dispays-the-contents-in-a-spreadsheet-format.htm
ALE/ IDOC/ XML
http://www.sapgenie.com/sapgenie/docs/ale_scenario_development_procedure.doc
http://www.thespot4sap.com/Articles/SAP_XML_Business_Integration.asp
http://help.sap.com/saphelp_srm30/helpdata/en/72/0fe1385bed2815e10000000a114084/content.htm
IDOC Convertion
/people/kevin.wilson2/blog/2005/12/07/changing-fields-in-an-idoc-segment
ALE/ IDOC
http://help.sap.com/saphelp_erp2004/helpdata/en/dc/6b835943d711d1893e0000e8323c4f/content.htm
http://www.sapgenie.com/sapgenie/docs/ale_scenario_development_procedure.doc
http://edocs.bea.com/elink/adapter/r3/userhtm/ale.htm#1008419
http://www.netweaverguru.com/EDI/HTML/IDocBook.htm
http://www.sapgenie.com/sapedi/index.htm
http://www.sappoint.com/abap/ale.pdf
http://www.sappoint.com/abap/ale2.pdf
http://www.sapgenie.com/sapedi/idoc_abap.htm
http://help.sap.com/saphelp_erp2005/helpdata/en/0b/2a60bb507d11d18ee90000e8366fc2/frameset.htm
http://help.sap.com/saphelp_erp2005/helpdata/en/78/217da751ce11d189570000e829fbbd/frameset.htm
http://www.allsaplinks.com/idoc_sample.html
http://www.sappoint.com/abap.html
http://help.sap.com/saphelp_erp2004/helpdata/en/dc/6b835943d711d1893e0000e8323c4f/content.htm
http://www.sapgenie.com/sapgenie/docs/ale_scenario_development_procedure.doc
http://edocs.bea.com/elink/adapter/r3/userhtm/ale.htm#1008419
http://www.netweaverguru.com/EDI/HTML/IDocBook.htm
http://www.sapgenie.com/sapedi/index.htm
http://www.allsaplinks.com/idoc_sample.html
IDOC Creation....
http://www.erpgenie.com/sap/sapedi/idoc_abap.htm
You can view the definition of any IDoc data structure directly with transaction WE30.
u cn use function module 'FIELD_POSITION_IN_SEGMENT_GET' to extract data from idocs.
You can view the idoc through we02 or we05. In that there are three types
status records gives the status of that idoc in differenttimes
data records gives the data in that idoc
control records gives the date, time and creater of that idoc.
I think its helps you.
Thanks and Regards,
D.Revathi.