How do you read a file in R/3 using XI2

[Former Member]

I have this scenario...

File on PC -> XI -> R/3 System

I have installed the XI file adapters on the PC to read my file and send it to XI. Do I need to install another file adapter on my R/3 system if I am going to use a RFC to read the file? The documentation is not at all clear.

I am assuming that the file has to be transfered (via XI and the file adapeters)through to my R/3 system and placed in a directory on that system. My RFC then can read the file as it would any other flat file.

Thanks

Patrick

[Former Member]

Hallo Patrick,

reading also your previous posts, it seems to me that you are a bit confused on what XI should do in your scenario.

Assuming the scenario where you have a file from a third party (system/supplier etc.) and the information should be put into R/3.

This interface scenario would basically consist of 3 parts:

1. get the file and put the information to XI

2. within XI "translate" the file so that R/3 will understand it

3. send the data (not the file!) to R/3

to be more specific: communication between XI and R/3 will not be file based, instead you would use either RFC/BAPI or IDOC or an ABAP Proxy.

Assume you want to send a sales order to R/3 that is contained in a file:

1. read your file

2. in XI take the data from the file and map it to the structure of RFC SALESORDERCREATEFROMDAT2

3. call the RFC in R/3 from XI

this means your R/3 system will not do any file processing, instead you can rely on predelivered standard functionality from SAP such as RFC, BAPI, IDOC. Within XI the translation (normally called mapping) between the file and SAP standard needs to be implemented.

But then, if something changes in R/3, you do not need to change the file, only your interface in XI. And if something changes in the file structure, you do not need to change anything in R/3, again it's just the implementation in XI that needs to be modified.

Best Regards

Christine

[Former Member]

Hello Patrick,

Steps -

SLD:

1. Define a third party product & software component in SLD.

2. Define Technical and Business systems with Host and Integration server for the product in SLD.

Integration Repository

3. Import the software component and create a new name space with option of importing RFC from backend R.3 system.

4. Create Data type and message type for the file layout

5. Create outbound interface with message type pointing to data type that depicts File layout

6. Import the RFC that needs to be invoked

7. Map the request message of RFC to File message

8. Map the interfaces File to RFC

Integration Directory

9. Create a business scenario and use configuration assistant to use sender and reciever systems which automactially configures the endpoints through wizard.

Adapter Engine

10. Configure RFC adapter for backend R/3 system and XI server

11. Configure File Inbound adapter for picking up the file. You should be able to specify the folder and layout in File adapter configuration.

12. Start both the adapters.

File will be read by Integration server and will be passed to back end system..

Hope this helps.

Thanks,

Rajan Kidambi