Usage of 2LIS_03_BF DataSource for extraction of MM outside SAP enviroment

Question

Hi All,
We currently use Business Content 2LIS_03_BF Data Source to extract Material Movements data into BW Data Warehouse.
Business plans to extend Data Warehouse landscape and build non-SAP BI environment. One of the assumptions is that we can extract data from R/3 to the non-SAP environment in the same way as we did in case of BW (business expects the same structure and granularity of data). To fulfill that we are trying to “deceive” SAP and extract data outside in the same way as it is done for BW.
We built ABAP program that calls Function Module 'MCEX_BW_LO_API' with corresponding parameters (this module is used when extracting data with 2LIS_03_BF). Our ABAP calls Function Module and inserts data exported by Function Module into custom-built table. Unfortunately we stuck since it looks that no matter what kind of UPDATE MODE we use – system can only extract data from Setup Tables (Update Mode = ‘C’ or ‘I’), or extract nothing (Update Mode = ‘D’).
What we cannot achieve is:
1)     force program to create corresponding delta queue (in RSA7)
2)     extract delta (which is obvious consequence of the point 1)
Here are main parameters that we set when calling Function Module:
I_ISOURCE           = P_SOURCE "'2LIS_03_BF'
I_UPDMODE         = ‘C’ or ‘I’ or ‘D’
We suppose that BW InfoPackage sends some more ‘hidden’ parameters to R/3 when it is run for 2LIS_03_BF initialization (parameters that are not explicitly put in Function Module definition). These ‘hidden’ parameters probably allow creating data queue and subsequently run the whole delta process.
Does anyone tried to make similar approach when extracting data outside SAP environment?
Do you maybe know what parameters/elements we are missing?
Maybe someone tried similar way but found out that it is not possible?
I will be grateful for any advice,
Andrzej Bobula

Answer 1

Hi Andrez,
Welcome to SDN. This is the standard way LO Cockpit works. The data source will be able to extract the load only from setup tables and then the deltas are based on the init based on the setup tables. I have not tried this. I am sure that you can extract data from R/3 into other datawarehouse systems (other than BW).
Instead of this standard LO way of extraction, what I would do is to write an interface program (RFC FM or BAPI) from R/3 which would read the data directly from the database tables and put them in a queue or put it in a common area as a file. The other DW system would pick up this and post them. If you have a middleware between your R/3 and the third part (dw) system, this becomes even simpler as the data transfer will be handled by the middleware. The deltas can be handled programatically based on the date and the time stamp. Think about this solution. Hope it helps.
Thanks and Regards
Subray Hegde