EDI for Scheduling Agreement

[Former Member]

Hello experts,

I'm working on EDI for Scheduling Agreement. The scenario is buyer sends Schedule Lines (DELJIT and DELFOR) in EDI format. Then these EDI files needs to be imported into the Scheduling Agreement as schedule lines. Then according to the availability of the material, a Dispatch Advice needs to be sent to the buyer in the form of an EDI message.

Being a beginner to SAP EDI, i'm facing few problems.  As of now, I do you have following concerns...

1. 1. The EDI files received from buyer are in string format. I'm not able to comprehend it. For format please find the attachment.

Should I directly import it into the SAP system? or Do I have to compulsory convert it into the IDOC format? If yes, do I compulsory need a convertor for it?

1. 2. In either case, please guide me, how should I proceed? I've been struggling with ALE/EDI for couple of months but still did not get any useful information. 

Please, feel free to comment. All suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

[Former Member]

Hi Nikhil,

Well seeing th file format and your exposure to IDoc I will not recommend the method unless the buyer can send you the file in an IDOC / XML format.

You can use the BAPI method

You can put the files in you app server and read the files from there using a program that is a scheduled job

Read the contents and convert to BAPI structure and update.

Create a Z log table for the entries.

For details on which BAPI to use and how to use please refer to below link it contains a document mentioning the same.

http://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/scn/go/portal/prtroot/docs/library/uuid/a02cb00a-bfb4-2c10-98aa-e33e7f64b...

Regards

[Former Member]

Hello Mohammed,

Thanks for your immediate response. The links you shared are very informative.

I went through bapi "BAPI_SAG_CHANGE‟ (Change Scheduling Agreement).

But still I had few more concerns,

1. Is it a thumb rule that Buyer should always send the file in an IDOC / XML format ?

If yes, should I demand it from buyer?

2. Supposed if buyer fails to send  the file in an IDOC / XML format, in that case, do I need to read the text file (Delivery schedules)  format as it is (without any conversion) and pass this data to  bapi structure?

I mean, do I compulsory need to have 3rd party data convertor for IDOC format?

Desperately waiting for your response,

Regards,

NG.

[Former Member]

Hi Nikhil,

It appears you are being sent an EDIFACT message. This is a protocol that is used for EDI. Another is Tradacoms.

You do not want to develop your own program to parse this EDI message into an IDoc.

There are application out there that you can use, but you would still need to manually create the mapping between EDI and IDoc. Examples of these applications are SAP Business Connector, SAP PI, Mercator etc. Do you have any of these applications or any other types of Integration Applications as it is more commonly called.

You should not demand anything from the buyer, else they may not buy from you anymore. Simply ask them what formats they could send the data as. The may only be able to do the existing format (EDIFACT). However, even if they can send XML, this may still need to be mapped to an IDoc format.

It is probably that the buyer will also send similar messages to other customers, so they may not want to have different methods of communication.

For someone who does not know much about EDI, this is not going to be a simple development task.

If you need anymore info let me know.

Thanks

Martin

[Former Member]

Hi Nikhil,

It is not a thumb rule... and since the case is with buyer you cannot demand, you will need to alter your system to adjust and understand whatever he is sending and transform into the required format.

If the buyer agrees to send an IDoc [which is rare if he doesn't have SAP then you can create an Inbound Mapping for the IDoc and write the conversion your self or process inbound DELFOR with process code DELI FM IDOC_INPUT_DELINS_START

Any how a program is needed for the same to understand transform and process the file send by the buyer.

Regards

[ThomasZloch]

Additionally, it is not possible or intended to give step by step consulting to such complex topics in a single SCN discussion. You should ask your employer for proper training if they assign you to such activities. SCN discussions are not a replacement for this.

You could also obtain and work through appropriate books on the topic e.g. from SAPPress.

Thomas