Architecting EDI with SAP IDocs

Emmanuel Hadzipetros is an ABAP developer and IDoc and EDI specialist who has been fascinated with data flows and systems integration throughout his 15 years of SAP project experience. As a consultant and independent contractor in four countries and three continents he served a large number of small, mid-size, and Fortune 500 clients in a variety of industries. Emmanuel prides himself on a practical approach to building and integrating systems. Throughout his career he's worked with a wide range of tools to integrate SAP with internal and legacy systems and external trading partners including flat file FTP transfers, ALE, XI/PI, and third-party EDI integration systems.Emmanuel has been happily playing with the IDoc interface for more than 10 years and believes that it's one of SAP's hidden jewels.

Prologue
ACT I: Hollywood, DVDs, and the After-Life of Movies
Hollywood's B-Movie Queen Does SAP and EDI
SAP and EDI: Getting to Know Each Other
A Brief History of Fame: Our Imaginary Dream Factory
Defining Some Basic Ground Rules
Summary
The Blueprint: Discovery and Documentation
A Business Process Overview
Legacy Systems, Data Flows, and Interfaces
Legacy EDI Data Flows
Summary
Designing the New SAP EDI Architecture
The To-Be Systems and Interfaces Emerge
Laying the Foundations for EDI: Master Data
The Typical Lifecycle of an Order from Gordy
Interfaces in the Order-to-Cash Cycle
Considering the Project Plan
Summary
ACT II: Taming Chaos with Standards--EDI in an SAP Environment
EDI: The Ugly Stepsister of E-Commerce
A Brief History of e-Commerce
The Anatomy of an EDIFACT Interchange
The Anatomy of an X12 Interchange
Enveloping and De-enveloping: The X12 in Action
Summary
Real-World Business Process Integration with EDI
The Basic EDI Interface
Trading Partner Management
The Impact of VMI Collaboration through EDI
The Role of Acme's EDI RIM
Reporting EDI Status to SAP
Putting All the Pieces Together
Archiving and Deleting IDocs in SAP
Summary
EDI Architecture in SAP: IDoc Basics
Intelligent Messages: The Anatomy of an IDoc
IDoc Architecture and the Data Dictionary
One-Time EDI Configuration for IDocs in SAP
Summary
Configuring IDocs in SAP for EDI Exchange
Inbound Configuration is About Posting IDocs
Outbound Configuration Generates IDocs
Summary
Custom IDocs and IDoc Extensions
IDoc Development and Configuration Tools
Building a Custom IDoc: Inbound Inventory Report
Extending an IDoc: Outbound PO with BOMs
Summary
ACT III: Realizing the Dream--Building Acme's SAP EDI System
Generating the PO for Replication Services
Technical Overview of the Interface
Functional Specifications
Generating the ORDERS PO with Message Control
Technical Specifications
Mapping Specifications
EDI Configuration in SAP
Summary
The Inbound Goods Receipt
Technical Overview of Interface
Functional Specifications
End-to-End Process Flow
Technical Specifications
Mapping Specifications
EDI Configuration in SAP
Summary
Processing the Incoming Supplier Invoice
Technical Overview of Interface
Functional Specifications
End-to-End Process Flow
Technical Specifications
Mapping Specifications
EDI Configuration in SAP
Summary
The Inbound Customer Purchase Order
Technical Overview of Interface
Functional Specifications
End-to-End Process Flow
Technical Specifications
Mapping Specifications
SDQ Processing Program Logic
Duplicate Checking Enhancement
EDI Configuration in SAP
Summary
Building the Outbound Order Confirmation
Technical Overview
Functional Specifications
Generating the ORDRSP with Message Control
Technical Specifications
Mapping Specifications
EDI Configuration in SAP
Summary
Sending a Shipping Order to the Supplier
Technical Overview of Interface
Functional Specifications
Generating a SHPORD IDoc with Message Control
Technical Specifications
Mapping Specifications
EDI Configuration in SAP
Summary
The Inbound Shipping Confirmation
Technical Overview of the Interface
Functional Specifications
End-to-End Process Flow
Technical Specifications
Mapping Specifications
EDI Configuration in SAP
Summary
The Advanced Shipping Notice to the Customer
Technical Overview of Interface
Functional Specifications
Generating an ASN IDoc with Message Control
Technical Specifications
Mapping Specifications
EDI Configuration in SAP
Summary
Generating the Outbound Customer Invoice
Technical Overview of Interface
Functional Specifications
Generating an INVOIC IDoc with Message Control
Technical Specifications
Mapping Specifications
EDI Configuration in SAP
Summary
Processing the Inbound Payment Advice
Technical Overview of the Interface
Functional Specifications
End-to-End Process Flow
Technical Specifications
Mapping Specifications
EDI Configuration in SAP
Summary
ACT IV: Finishing Touches
Extending the Interface: Custom IDoc Tools
EDI to IDoc Trading Partner Conversion
Mass Upload of Partner Profiles to SAP
Mass Transfer of IDocs between Systems
Sending IDoc Status to an External System
Adding Qualifiers to IDoc XML Schema
Summary
Testing the EDI System in SAP
IDoc Test Tools
Interface Testing Strategy
Unit Testing
String Testing
Interface Testing
Integration Testing
Stress Testing
Summary
Troubleshooting and Recovery
Identifying Issues
Monitoring and Recovery Tools
Recovering from Key Failure Points
Summary
Epilogue
The Author
Index