Pass binary data from Flash Island to WD ABAP

[former_member208581]

Hi all,

I try to send binary data (a small picture) from my flash island to it's surrounding Web Dynpro ABAP.

On ABAP side I will use data type XString. What is the proper data type used in Flex3?

Is it ByteArray ?

So my binding definition looks like this:

[Bindable]
public var dataSource:ArrayCollection;
[Bindable]
public var picture:ByteArray;

Awaiting your answers.

Regards,

Axel

[thomas_jung · Accepted solution]

I've never tried sending binary through the Islands interface, but it seems like byte array should map to XSTRING. I know that there is logic in the islands interface to base64 encode the XSTRING for sending throught the text only XML interface of the Islands framework.

However I would recommend against sending large binary objects via the Islands interface. This increases the size of the XML resulting in larger parse times. Also there are more efficient ways of sending and receiving large amounts of binary data via a secondary channel.

For instance in the SDN Mentors Hands-On Workshop example (https://wiki.sdn.sap.com/wiki/display/EmTech/IslandsWDA_MHO), we need to send many images to the Island. We send down a listing of URLs that point to the images being server from the ABAP application server (a decicated ICM node handler in this case, but it could also just be the ICM Cache). Not only does this reduce the size of the XML and the primary HTTP channel, but also allows the images be cached in the browser on the client side. It also means that the images will be loaded asychronously.

You can take a similar approach when sending binary data back to Web Dynpro.

https://wiki.sdn.sap.com/wiki/display/EmTech/IslandsWDA_MUploader

[former_member208581 · Accepted solution]

Hi Thomas,

your concerns regarding the traffic between web dynrpo and the flash island are a good point. Your proposed solution by using a HTTP handler to store pictures temporary is perfect.

Thanks a lot.

Regards,

Axel