What is Sure BDCs?

BDC stands for Batch Data Communication and is also known as Batch Input. It is a technique for mass input of data into SAP by simulating user inputs in screens of existing transactions. Think of it as a Macro for Processing Transactions in SAP

With the advent of BAPIs, BDC is regarded as an “older” technology for performing updates in SAP, however it is still used extensively within LSWM, CATT Scripts and 3rd party tools. In addition to this, if a BAPI is not available for a certain transaction, then BDC Programming is still used as a last resort

Even though 3rd party tools are very useful, they can be restrictive because:• Companies need to purchase the tools or pay license fees in order to use them

• Users need to understand the tools themselves in order to use them

• The underlying Code within these tools is not editable making them restrictive

The key thing that distinguishes Sure BDCs from other data take on tools, is that it dynamically generates a stand alone ABAP program. This advantages of this is the Program is not linked to an add-on and can be modified and executed via SE38 as any other normal ABAP Program

Sure BDCs

What are the Benefits of using Sure BDCs?

• Reduced Development Time: A Code Generator is used to develop an ABAP Program that will perform updates via BDC Programming in a matter of seconds

• Uniform Look and Feel: All Sure BDC Programs will have the same look and feel and offer the same Functionality. This means once a User is familiar with one Program, they will be familiar with all of them

• Customisation: Once the Program is generated, changes can be made, such as adding in your own logic to derive values for fields, eg mapping a field from a file to a mapping table, conditional logic, etc

• BDC Session Management: Sure BDCs makes use of BDC Session Management (SM35) to group sets of updates. Users can manage sessions directly in SM35 or make use of the Sure BDCs Session Management Tool

Sure BDCs

Code Generator: Selection ScreenNew Program Details: Enter in a Program Name and Description

Transaction Logic Source: Either enter a Recording (Created via Transaction SHDB) or a Transaction Code. This will show the Generator what Screens and Fields need to be catered for

Source File Details: Enter in a Structure name that will define the Source File Layout

Mapping Options: Allows you to Customise the Mapping Options

Source Code Options: Determines how the new Program will be created, ie whether it will use the Sure BDCs Code Pool (recommended), or whether the required code will be stored locally in the program itself, so that the program will be a standalone program with no dependencies on Sure BDCs

Sure BDCs

Code Generator: Mapping Screen

Once the Input Parameters have been entered, a simple Mapping Exercise needs to be performed before Generating the new Program. For each field, select one of the following:

• Constant: This field will be populated by a Constant Value

• File: This field will be populated by one of the columns from the Source File

• Parameter: A Parameter will be created in the new program that will allow users to specify a new value with each execution

• Ignore: This field does not need to be updated so it will be ignored, ie SAP Standard logic will populate this field

Sure BDCs

Generated Program: Example of Generated Code

The Comments at the top of the program are fairly detailed and the “Template” of these comments can be adjusted to conform with a client’s specific Commenting / Documentation Standards

Sure BDCs

Generated Program: Form Z_TRANSACTION_PREPARE

This is the most important Form in the Generated Program and the logic in this Form was built up by analysing the Transaction / BDC session that was selected and the Mapping that was done

The Code Generator tries to make the code as easy to read as possible by:

• Inserting a Comment before each Screen which contains the Sequential Screen Number and Screen Description

• Having a clear line break between each screen

Sure BDCs

Generated Program: Form Z_VALIDATE_RECORD

After generating the new Program with the Sure BDCs Generator, the only Custom Coding that will be required will be to add code in the Z_VALIDATE_RECORD. NOTE: This is optional

The purpose of this Form is to perform Custom Validations on the input file, before the Data is actually processed

For example, you might want to ensure that a specific field is always populated before even attempting to call the SAP Transactions

If a Custom Validation fails, then the Validation Messages will be displayed to the User and the Program will not attempt to call the SAP Transaction

Sure BDCs

Generated Program: Selection Screen

Sure BDCs

The Selection Screen of all Sure BDC Programs will look the same

The subsequent Slides will explain the Options on the Selection Screen in more Detail

Generated Program: Selection Screen – File Structure

This section contains information about the Source File Structure, specifically it:

• Shows the Name and Description of the Structure for the Source File

• The “File Structure” Button will navigate to Transaction SE11 so that the User can view the layout of the Structure

Sure BDCs

Generated Program: Selection Screen – File Location

• Allows the user to specify the Location of the Source File

• The “File Contents” Button will display the File Contents so that the user can check that the Data is correct before executing the Program

• The “Data Integrity” Button will execute the Data Integrity check and return back a summary of the Validations

Sure BDCs

Generated Program: Selection Screen – Transaction Details

• Shows details of the Transaction Code that the Program will use to perform the Updates

• The “Test Transaction” button process the Transaction in Foreground using the data in the 1st record of the file without actually saving anything. This will then show the User how the Transaction will be processed

Sure BDCs

Generated Program: Selection Screen – Processing Options

• “Execute Data Validity Check”: Allows the User to decide whether the Data Validity Checks should be executed

• “Automatically Execute Session”: Allows the User to decide whether or not the BDC Session should be executed automatically

• “Session Logs” Button: Will show the user an Interactive Report that summarises all the BDC Sessions for this Program (see next slide)

Sure BDCs

Sure Outputs BDC Session Management Report

This Report will Summarise all the BDC Sessions for a Program generated by Sure BDCs and allow used to Maintain BDC Sessions by displaying, deleting or processing the them

Colours are used to show the Status of the Session:

White: Session has not been Processed yet

Red: Session has been Processed but there were errors

Green: Sessions has been Processed Successfully with no errors

NOTE: These BDC Sessions can also be managed directly via Transaction SM35

Sure BDCs

One of our other products, Sure Landscapes, will be used to for the installation process.

Sure Landscapes will automatically create the following objects on your system in a matter of seconds:

•Development Class: A New Development will be created for Sure BDCs and it will contain all objects required by Sure BDCs

• Transport: A new Transport will be created which will contain all components of Sure BDCs

• Domains, Domain Values

• Data Elements

• Structures

• Database Tables

• Programs, Program Texts, Program Screens

Installation

Sure BDCs

Cost and Support

Sure BDCs

Support Contract Service Contract

Initial Cost: TBC Initial Cost: TBC

Monthly Cost: TBC Monthly Cost: TBC

8 hours of Support per month 40 hours of Support per month

Free Support during a SAP upgrade Free Support during a SAP upgrade

Free Sure BDCs Updates Free Sure BDCs Updates

5 Sure Output Programs per month