IDOC or RFC ?

[Former Member]

hi,

1) What are the pros and cons from maintenance perspective involved in using IDOC or RFC for Purchase Orders?

2) How can i create an IDOC?

3) What is the RFC involved to get the purchase orders?

4) Before i import the RFC into XI should i have to activate it, if so how?

5) What difference does it make to XI to use RFC or IDOC?

Thanks,

Tirumal

[Former Member]

Hi Tirumal,

If you are creating purchase order, there are standard BAPI's available for processing data using both IDoc and RFC.

I guess IDoc is always preferable over RFC in case of processing large data.

Also, the processing is faster as data just directly flows from IE to SAP R/3.

Regards

Vijaya

[Former Member]

Hi-

One of our developers at the client suggests to use RFC than IDOC because IDOC creates lot of tables and has to be cleaned every day and requires a batch job to create the IDOCs. He suggests to use RFC because it doesn't need any maintenance and there wouldn't be any triggering of the RFC.

How does it work in real life scenarios? Will there be a batch job to trigger the IDOCS to XI?

Also, look at the other questions and if possible try to answer them.

Thanks,

Tirumal

[MichalKrawczyk]

hi,

>>>How does it work in real life scenarios? Will there be a batch job to trigger the IDOCS to XI?

yes but you can set IDOC creation from PO

in a few minutes (in standard) and you

have to do a lot a development to send

them with RFC... so not few minutes

+ you can archive idocs and delete them

just like any message in the XI

>>>>2) How can i create an IDOC?

you have to maintain the partner profile and

set the output type and that's all...

5 minutes in standard

3) What is the RFC involved to get the purchase orders?

none you have to fill the RFC yourself...

you can use BAPI for PO creation as a template

but you still have to fill it youself

Regards,

michal

[moorthy]

Hi,

I prefer to use Idocs rather than RFCs.

1) There is always a trace left in IDoc communications

2) If you are using Idoc->XI scenarios, it will communicate by IDOC xml directly

3) If you want to reprocess, you can easily reprocess the Idocs

4) For huge amount of data, it is better

5) Easily importable Idoc Schemas into XI

6) If R/3 is a sender, then If you use Idocs , then no need of configuring the Sender Adapters.

But RFC-

1) There is no trace back.

2) You can not reprocess it

3) Many times , you need to maintain code , because of the wrapper classes.

4) For huge amount of data, may cause of time out exceptions.

There will be batch job to trigger Idocs.

Hope this helps,

Regards,

Moorthy

[Former Member]

Hi SSG,

The Idoc are generally processed in a batch job. Depends on how u want to process them . You can porcess them immediately or in Batch mode.

Yes you can use RFC as there are standard BAPI available. SO all you have to do is import this RFC and start working thats all.

There are different BAPI available for Creating, changing your PO. I guess your functinal consultant will help you on this. I don't remember the name right now.

Only from performance perspective and if u are processing huge data it is better to use IDoc.

Regards

Vijaya

[Former Member]

hi,

looking at your reponse i see that it takes 5 minutes to create a STANDARD idoc but would take more development time to create an RFC.

Lets say if i have to add some customized fields to this IDOC - now its NOT STANDARD.

Will that take lot of development time to add these fields - say i have to add 3 fields to a standard IDOC.

How do i add them to the stadard IDOC?

Thanks,

Tirumal

[MichalKrawczyk]

hi,

>>>>SO all you have to do is import this RFC and start working thats all.

I think he wants to send a PO to XI

so you need to fill it in yourself

(not a 5 minute config as with idocs)

>>>>Will there be a batch job to trigger the IDOCS to XI?

>>>>Only from performance perspective and if u are processing huge data it is better to use IDoc.

if you're sending RFC calls to XI and if the call

is lost in any way (in the R3) then there's no

way to restart it - IDOCs never get lost

just my two cents

Regards,

michal

[MichalKrawczyk]

Hi,

>>>>Will that take lot of development time to add these fields - say i have to add 3 fields to a standard IDOC.

if you know which fields (you know how to make the select select statement)

then a few hours to add 3 field with testing

and documenting I guess

>>>How do i add them to the stadard IDOC?

you need to create z ZIDOC TCODE WE30 and WE31

and fill it in one of the standard user exits

Regards,

michal

[Former Member]

Michal -

Great.

so i see that there is an option to copy the message type ORDERS05 and modify the ZIDOC by adding segments.

Where can we add the fields within the segments?

how can we add the fields to the ZIDOC that are there in the ME23N tcode but not in the ORDERS05?

Is there a standard to name the fields?

Thanks,

tirumal

[MichalKrawczyk]

Hi,

>>>Where can we add the fields within the segments?

header level or item level

>>>>how can we add the fields to the ZIDOC that are there in the ME23N tcode but not in the ORDERS05?

select something from table...

and append to the idoc structure the result

>>>Is there a standard to name the fields?

yes most consulting companies have standard to name IDOC fields if you don't have one just think how would you like to name it

Regards,

michal

-

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<a href="/people/michal.krawczyk2/blog/2005/06/28/xipi-faq-frequently-asked-questions">XI FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions</a>

[Former Member]

Michal -

I tried to add the fields within a particular segment but it doesn't allow me to.

I copied the ORDERS05 into the ZIDOC and trying to make changes to a segment. I am not able to add the field.

Do we need to have authorizations to add fields?

Thanks,

Tirumal

[MichalKrawczyk]

>>>Do we need to have authorizations to add fields?

no

Regards,

michal

[Former Member]

Michal -

Works now.

I am able to create the ZIDOC.

I am able to create the segments.

I am able to create the fields by looking up with ME23N.

Thanks for helping me through.

Tirumal

PS: Have awarded you the points.

[Former Member]

Others -

Moorthy - Your answer was very helpful to in my decision making about the RFC and IDOC.

Vijaya - Thanks for your answers too.

- Tirumal.

[MichalKrawczyk]

>>>>Works now.

glad to hear :]

Regards,

michal