IDOC/ALE/BAPI/BADI

Question

Hi,
I want to understand the difference between IDOC/ALE/BAPI/BADI in context to a functional consultant.what is the role of each with an EXAMPLE.I want to basically understand with examples w.r.t SD or MM instead of theory which i could get in forum.
What is the role of a functional SD consultant, in these technology mentioned?
If i have to Test a BAPI or BADI what is that i should test???what is the T codes to be tested ? How to go about it??
Like in case of Order to cash testing, i will check if the sales cycle runs well, using T codes, Va01, vl01n, vf01.
Awaiting reply.
Thanks
LK

Answer 1

Hi Lekshmi,
I want to understand the difference between IDOC/ALE/BAPI/BADI in context to a functional consultant.
what is the role of each with an EXAMPLE.
I want to basically understand with examples w.r.t SD or MM instead of theory which i could get in forum.
What is the role of a functional SD consultant, in these technology mentioned?
Idoc/ALE/BAPI/BADI are basically advanced functionalities available in ABAP. These are treated as seperate module by somebody as "Cross Applications".
If we get in
IDOC is the concept which works for Third party communication from SAP.
Scenarion 1:
For example: I am a Buyer from your Company and i don't have SAP system where you have SAP Practice. I had given you one Order for which i need Confirmation and it needs to understand by my system. In this case IDOC is useful to transfer the confirmation details to my system understandable language. This can be acheived by any other outputs like e-Mail/Printout/Fax. But for these kind of Outputs thers is one limitation. those are in document form means if you take the print out it confirmation can be taken as a print out as a hard copy or soft coy by saving into PDF format. but that data cannot be accessed by my system to convert that data for further my own reporting purpose. if we use IDOCs.
These Idocs are transferred through Middleware and reach third party system (in this example my own system which does not have SAP) and store the details. later i can use that data how ever i can for my internal reporting purpose.
Scenario 2:
ALE: ALE also works like above, but the difference is this works for SAP-SAP communication. if i take the above example.... I have SAP System being a buyer and you have SAP sytem. Order Confirmaiton come from your system to my system.
If i have to Test a BAPI or BADI what is that i should test???what is the T codes to be tested ? How to go about it??
Like in case of Order to cash testing, i will check if the sales cycle runs well, using T codes, Va01, vl01n, vf01.
There is no such tcodes to test the enhancement functionality.
I assume you knows SAP SD.
If i take the example of SD Sales Order.
PO Number field is to explain the enhancement testing.
Your client enhanced the functionality of PO Number for which you are doing the testing for example.
now you get inside of the VA01 transaction and put all the headeer data and PO Number and press enter.
then based on the enhancement functionality system will act.
For example.. you had given AAA111 for Customer 123456.
You have entered Inside of VA01 and entered Sold and Shipto numbers as 123456. then entered PO number as BBB111 and press enter.
As per the enhancement you suppose to enter PO number as AAA111 for customer 123456, but you entered as BBB111.
Based on your enhancements system will through the error saying you entered wrong PO Number.
This is the testing part usually Functional Guy do.
Please let me know if you have any further clarification
Thanks & Regards
Venkat