difference

[Former Member]

Hi

wat is the difference between lsmw and bdc?

[Former Member]

Hi sagar,

BDC is the way to transfer data by writing a batch input program which can use either session or call transaction method.

LSMW used to transfer data without/less code.

What type of data we transfer using LSMW?

LSMW is best suited for transferring master data.

Actually BDC and LSMW are not comparable at all.

for example LSMW itself can use BDC as a way of mass data transfer.

BDC is a mass data transfer technique via screen logic of existing SAP Data entry transactions. It behaves as if you are manually making thousand of entires into sap system as a background job. And that is probably the reason why BAPI's are preffered over BDC's.

On the other hand LSMW is a tool to facilitate DATA migration from other legacy systems ... It contains step by step procedure for data migration.

Like Managing Data Migration Projects , Creating Source Structures , Mapping Source structures wid Target structures , etc etc

LSMW internally might well be using the following techniqes for data transfer..

1. IDOX

2. Direct Input / BDC

4. BAPI's

LSMW is an encapsulated data transfer tool. It can provide the same functionality as BDC infact much more but when coming to techinical perspective most the parameters are encapulated. To listout some of the differences :

LSMW is basicaly designed for a fuctional consultant who do not do much coding but need to explore the fuctionality while BDC is designed for a technical consultant.

LSMW offers different techinque for migrating data: Direct input ,BAPI,Idoc,Batch input recording. While bdc basically uses recording.

LSMW mapping is done by SAP while in BDC we have to do it explicitly .

LSMW is basically for standard SAP application while bdc basically for customized application.

Coding can be done flexibly in BDC when compared to LSMW

Diff. between BDC and LSMW.

"The Data Transfer Workbench (or DX Workbench, transaction SXDA) is an integrated SAP tool that supports data transfer and analysis. It

does not have the built-in features for mapping for source structures to target structures, but it will allow you to integrate Legacy System Migration Workbench (LSMW) objects as processing tasks within a run definition. The DX workbench has many features for creating

test data and performing data migrations - for example, logging of data migration runs.

However, if you need to map or convert data, you should use the LSMW. Or, you can integrate

your LSMW objects as task within a more user-friendly data migration run, in which the LSMW

project steps "Read data", "Convert data," and "Start IDoc processing" are automated

and use the features of both tools. If you donot need logging and automated data migration

runs, you can perform your data migration without the DX Workbench."

“Batch Data Communication (BDC) is the oldest batch interfacing technique that SAP provided since the early versions of R/3. BDC is not a

typical integration tool, in the sense that, it can be only be used for uploading data into R/3 and so it is not bi-directional.

BDC works on the principle of simulating user input for transactional screen, via an ABAP program. Typically the input comes in the form

of a flat file. The ABAP program reads this file and formats the input data screen by screen into an internal table (BDCDATA). The

transaction is then started using this internal table as the input and executed in the background.

In ‘Call Transaction’, the transactions are triggered at the time of processing itself and so the ABAP program must do the error handling.

It can also be used for real-time interfaces and custom error handling & logging features. Whereas in Batch Input Sessions, the ABAP

program creates a session with all the transactional data, and this session can be viewed, scheduled and processed (using

Transaction SM35) at a later time. The latter technique has a built-in error processing mechanism too.

Batch Input (BI) programs still use the classical BDC approach but doesn’t require an ABAP program to be written to format the

BDCDATA. The user has to format the data using predefined structures and store it in a flat file. The BI program then reads this and

invokes the transaction mentioned in the header record of the file.

Direct Input (DI) programs work exactly similar to BI programs. But the only difference is, instead of processing screens they validate

fields and directly load the data into tables using standard function modules. For this reason, DI programs are much faster (RMDATIND - Material Master DI program works at least 5 times faster) than the BDC counterpart and so ideally suited for loading large volume data. DI programs are

not available for all application areas.

<b>

Regards,

Azhar</b>

[Former Member]

Hi Sagar,

Batch Data Communication (BDC) is the oldest batch interfacing technique that SAP provided since the early versions of R/3. BDC is not a

typical integration tool, in the sense that, it can be only be used for uploading data into R/3 and so it is not bi-directional.

BDC works on the principle of simulating user input for transactional screen, via an ABAP program. Typically the input comes in the form

of a flat file. The ABAP program reads this file and formats the input data screen by screen into an internal table (BDCDATA). The

transaction is then started using this internal table as the input and executed in the background.

In Call Transaction, the transactions are triggered at the time of processing itself and so the ABAP program must do the error handling.

It can also be used for real-time interfaces and custom error handling & logging features. Whereas in Batch Input Sessions, the ABAP

program creates a session with all the transactional data, and this session can be viewed, scheduled and processed (using

Transaction SM35) at a later time. The latter technique has a built-in error processing mechanism too.

Batch Input (BI) programs still use the classical BDC approach but doesnt require an ABAP program to be written to format the

BDCDATA. The user has to format the data using predefined structures and store it in a flat file. The BI program then reads this and

invokes the transaction mentioned in the header record of the file.

Direct Input (DI) programs work exactly similar to BI programs. But the only difference is, instead of processing screens they validate

fields and directly load the data into tables using standard function modules. For this reason, DI programs are much faster (RMDATIND - Material Master DI program works at least 5 times faster) than the BDC counterpart and so ideally suited for loading large volume data. DI programs are

not available for all application areas.

LSMW is an encapsulated data transfer tool. It can provide the same functionality as BDC infact much more but when coming to techinical perspective most the parameters are encapulated. To listout some of the differences :

•LSMW is basicaly designed for a fuctional consultant who do not do much coding but need to explore the fuctionality while BDC is designed for a technical consultant.

•LSMW offers different techinque for migrating data: Direct input ,BAPI,Idoc,Batch input recording. While bdc basically uses recording.

•LSMW mapping is done by SAP while in BDC we have to do it explicitly .

•LSMW is basically for standard SAP application while bdc basically for customized application.

•Coding can be done flexibly in BDC when compared to LSMW

Refer below sdn thread

Thanks,

Reward If Helpful.

[Former Member]

hi

BDC:

BDC is a technology used for data transfer.

It is meant for transferring data through SAP transactions itself.

It is for inbound / outbound processing.

When you use BDC for data transfer, the sequence of steps is the same as when you use standard sap transaction screens for data upload.

The only difference is that you can use different options for foreground and background processing.

Batch Data Communication (BDC) is the process of transferring data from one SAP System to another SAP system or from a non-SAP system to SAP System.

BDC is an automatic procedure.

This method is used to transfer large amount of data that is available in electronic medium.

BDC can be used primarily when installing the SAP system and when transferring data from a legacy system (external system).

BDC uses normal transaction codes to transfer data.

Types of BDC :

CLASSICAL BATCH INPUT (Session Method)

CALL TRANSACTION

BATCH INPUT METHOD:

This method is also called as ‘CLASSICAL METHOD’.

Features:

Asynchronous processing.

Synchronous Processing in database update.

Transfer data for more than one transaction.

Batch input processing log will be generated.

During processing, no transaction is started until the previous transaction has been written to the database.

CALL TRANSACTION METHOD :

This is another method to transfer data from the legacy system.

Features:

- Synchronous processing. The system performs a database commit immediately before and after the CALL TRANSACTION USING statement.

- Updating the database can be either synchronous or asynchronous. The program specifies the update type.

- Transfer data for a single transaction.

- Transfers data for a sequence of dialog screens.

- No batch input processing log is generated.

LSMW

LSMW on the other hand is a tool that helps migrate data from a legacy system (non-sap system ) to SAP system.

It is for inbound processing.

It offers you various options to use either batch input, direct input, BAPIs or idocs.

It involves a series of steps to migrate data.

The main advantages of the LSM Workbench:

- Part of R/3 and thus independent of individual platforms

- A variety of technical possibilities of data conversion:

- Data consistency due to standard import techniques:

Batch input

Direct input

BAPIs (Business Application Programming Interfaces)

IDocs (Intermediate Documents)

The import technique to be used in an individual case depends on the business object.

- Generation of the conversion program on the basis of defined rules

- Clear interactive process guide

- Interface for data in spreadsheet format

- Creation of data migration objects on the basis of recorded transactions

- Charge-free for SAP customers and SAP partners

Please check the below link for your kind reference:

thanks,

reawrd if helpful....

[Former Member]

hi

lsmw is generally used by functional person and BDC used by technical person.

But both are used for upload the data or change the data for perticular transaction.

there is no code require in lsmw.In BDC u can upload code is require(se38).

Rewards if helpful.

Thanks.

Prashant.