What is the difference between ALE & EDI

[Former Member]

What is the difference between ALE & EDI ? [in case of its configuration.]

[Former Member]

Hi,

1)EDI

Electronic Data Interchange

Cross-company exchange of electronic data (for example business documents) between domestic and international business partners who use a variety of hardware, software, and communication services. The data involved is formatted according to predefined standards. In addition to this, SAP ALE technology is available for data exchange within a company.

Refer

http://www.erpgenie.com/sapedi/index.htm

2) ALE

A means of creating and operating distributed applications.

Application Link Enabling (ALE) guarantees a distributed, but integrated, R/3 installation. This involves business-controlled message exchange using consistent data across loosely linked SAP applications.

Applications are integrated using synchronous and asynchronous communication - not by using a central database.

ALE consists of the following layers:

Application services

Distribution services

Communication services

Refer

http://www.sappoint.com/abap/ale.pdf

http://www.sappoint.com/abap/ale2.pdf

EDI - is a method of transferring electronic data between two systems( SAP or non SAP). for this there is some universally identified formats provided by the ANSI( Americian National Standards International) or EDIFACT ( EDI for Accounts Commence and Transfort)

ALE - is also a method of trenfering data between two systems, provided by the SAP.

Check this link

Regards,

Priyanka.

[Former Member]

hi,

chk out this

ALE Configuration 1

1 ALE Introduction – Transaction SALE

2 The 3 ALE methods

2.1 Push

2.1.1 First create logical system (In SPRO / SALE)

2.1.2 Assign Client to Logical System (In SPRO)

2.1.3 Create RFC Destination – SM59

2.1.4 Create Distribution Model – BD64

2.1.5 Send Material – BD10 9

2.1.6 Check IDOC sent – WE02

2.2 Pull

2.2.1 Create Model View – BD64

2.2.2 Login to 810

2.2.3 Get Material – BD11

2.2.4 Check IDOCs – WE02

2.2.5 Check Material – MM02

2.3 Change Pointer

2.3.1 Activate change pointers for message type – BD50

2.3.2 Activate Change Pointers – BD61

2.3.3 Execute RBDMIdoc – SE38

2.3.4 Check IDOCs – WE02

2.3.5 Check Material – MM02

EDI configuration

1) have to configure EDI subsytem

2) Configure basic edi components

3) Configure Partner Profiles

4) " Message Control

The main difference is that you have to configure the subsytem in case of EDI where as this is not the case of ALE.

EDI uses memory buffer while ALE uses file port.

<b>Reward useful points</b>

Regards

SIva

[Former Member]

very beautiful explanation sir

[Former Member]

Hi,

ALE is technology for SAP mainly use to transfer data between SAP systems.

EDI is the independent technology use to transfer data between two systems, they can be SAP systems or non SAP systems.

<b>The basic difference with ALE and EDI</b> is ALE used for internal communications and EDI is meant for external communications.

Since ALE uses an IDOC format to exchange data between systems, both participating systems should understand the IDOC format.

In other words ALE normally used to distribute the master data (Ex: Material Master, Vendor Master) with in a company when you are maintain the distributed environment.

For example data transfer between a SAP R/3 and SAP APO where the data transfer is implemented using ALE technology.

EDI is for exchanging transaction data (Purchase order, Delivery) between two different business partners.EDI is all about the standards (Ex: ANSI X12, EDIFACT) you have to follow when you are transferring business documents.

Technically speaking, ALE transfers the data using memory buffers whereas EDI uses file port to transfer the data.

With EDI technology you always need a translator to convert the IDOC to X12 (Outbound), X12 to IDOC (Inbound).But with ALE you don’t need a translator.

<b>Check this link.</b>

Reward if it helps you.

<b>Regards,

Jackie..</b>

[Former Member]

hi nilima,

ALE means Aplication linking and enabiling which can help you to transfer data across SAP systems,

EDI means Eltronic data interchange which can help you to tranfer data from SAP TO Non-SAP and Vice versa.

regards,

seshu.