Difference between EDI & XI

[Former Member]

Hi All,

I dont have much idea on EDI. I have been working in XI for the last couple of months and developed some interfaces. I heard EDI can be used for data transfer between 2 SAP and even Non SAP systems. What are the differnces between EDI & XI? Also the advantages of using XI over EDI.

P.S Any pdfs, weblogs or links on this would be helpful.

Thanks & Regards,

Jai Shankar.

[Shabarish_Nair · Accepted solution]

EDI is a standard to transfer messages (something like Rosettanet standards) have a look at this link to learn more http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_Data_Interchange

XI supports EDI transfer too but guess you need to install a diff adapter (most common is the seeburger adapter)

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi Shabarish,

I am still confused. If EDI is used to exchange messages why do I need a XI server?

<i>XI supports EDI transfer</i>

Do you mean IDOCs? If so we have IDOC adapters in XI. I am lost somewhere. Kindly help.

Thanks & Regards,

Jai Shankar.

[Shabarish_Nair · Accepted solution]

EDI is a messaging standard to transfer data. So in simple terms it is a message format. Now XI supports such EDI data types too ... but u need a 3rd party adapter. XI acts as a middleware to transfer the data that comes in a EDI format.

[bhavesh_kantilal · Accepted solution]

Adding to what Shabz has told... from Prasad's Article,

<i>SAP relies on a system of partners to provide adapters for other

applications and certain industry EDI standards

<b>SEEBURGER AG</b>

EDI Adapters: Technical Adapters for EDIINT AS2, Generic EDI, OFTP, VAN Access, Payment

EDI Adapters: Industry Specific Adapters (incl. mappings) for Aerospace & Defense, Automotive, Chemical, Consumer Products, High-Tech, Paper,Pharmaceuticals, Retail Industry

Mappings between IDoc and EDIFACT business documents (purchase order,

order confirmation, invoice etc.)

n JCA Resource Adapters that run within SAP XI Adapter Engine.

<b> iWay Software</b>

UCCnet Adapter

More to come (Peoplesoft-, Siebel-, Oracle, UCCnet-, Transora- and AS2-

adapters already certified for SAP XI 3.0) …

No separate runtime required: adapters run on top of SAP XI Adapter

Framework</i>

Regards,

Bhavesh

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi Shabz and Bhavesh,

From your replies I beleive EDI is a standard message format. Earlier EDI used subsytems(Genrand not sure), one at sender and one at receiver end to interpret the data coming through EDI.

Now with XI, we dont require any subsystems, with 3rd party adapters like seaburger XI can process the EDI messages directly.

Pls correct me if I was wrong.

Thanks & Regards,

Jai Shankar.

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi Jai,

SAP Conversion Agent by Itemfield is a data conversion system that enables you to create interfaces between any data formats and XML-based systems. The Conversion Agent can convert unstructured, semi-structured, and structured formats to XML, and the other way around.

Have a look at these links:

/people/william.li/blog/2006/03/17/how-to-get-started-using-conversion-agent-from-itemfield

/people/paul.medaille/blog/2005/11/17/more-on-the-sap-conversion-agent-by-itemfield

http://www.stylusstudio.com/edi/XML_to_X12.html

https://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/servlet/prt/portal/prtroot/docs/library/uuid/b0b355ae-0501-0010-3b83-8f2...

Seeburger EDI Adapter provides an EDI solution on internet via HTTP or AS2 to replace the expensive VAN. It provides some pre-built mappings for IDOC to ANSI X12(810,850,855,856 etc.,) and Idoc to EDIFACT(ORDERS,DESADV,INVOIC etc.,) and has the ability to build your own. These pre-defined mappings transform the IDOC-XML to EDI-XML format.

These transformed EDI-XML messages are then converted to EDI specific format using the Seeburger's BIC(Business Integration Converter)adapter. In addition, Seeburger provides adapters like AS2,FTP(EDI specific) and so on to route these EDI messages to external EDI Partners.

For more i would suggest you to go through these links:

http://www.seeburger.it/fileadmin/it/pdf/2005_04_sapphire_Ferrero_transcript.pdf

http://www.seeburger.com/fileadmin/com/pdf/Butler_Group_SEEBURGER_Technology_Audit.pdf

http://www.seeburger.com/fileadmin/com/pdf/AS2_General_Overview.pdf

Seeburger EDI Adapter leverages SAP XI's Adapter Framework. This Adapter is used to perform conversion between EDI and XML format. It also provides some canned EDI layouts and the ability to build your own. It is used to transfer the EDI message via HTTP or AS2 protocols.

The most direct way of using the Seeburger adapters is to configure the BIC as a module. There is a software component from seeburger called bicmapper which will allow you to do the following:

1. define or import the inbound message metadefinition in various formats ( edifact, xml,...)

2. using a mapping create an xml variant as the output metadefinition or edifact in the other direction.

3. create a one to one mapping between input en output.

4. export the metadata in xsd or sda format for import in XI.

5. generate an SDA which can be deployed in XI and used as a module.

Please go through the following links which clearly explains what you want and it also helps you in understanding the same in depth:

http://www.seeburger.com

http://www.seeburger.it/fileadmin/it/pdf/2005_04_sapphire_Ferrero_transcript.pdf

http://www.seeburger.com/fileadmin/com/pdf/Butler_Group_SEEBURGER_Technology_Audit.pdf

http://www.sap.com/france/company/events/2006/02-01-Automotive-Seeburger.pdf

http://h41123.www4.hp.com/presentations/ISUG/XISeeBurger.ppt

http://www.sap.com/asia/company/events/nwtechdays/presentation/australia-slides/Pre-Built_Integratio...

There are also a few ways to use EDI with the ALE system of R3.

inbound EDI to R3

-

---

1.use a 3rd party adapter for the EDI protocol(eg.SEEBURDER) from the EDI system,send the produced XML to the XI ,map the xml message to a matching IDoc using the IDoc adapter.

outbound ALE message from R3 to EDI system

-

---

1. Configure the ALE system to point to the XI the relevant IDoc (SM59,WE21,WE20...)

2.use a file adapter3rd party EDI adapter and map the fields to the target structure.

have a look at this example:

http://www.ean.se/EANCOM%202000/iftmin/example.htm

Details on how to configure can be found on SDN

I hope this helps....

Regards,

Abhy

[Shabarish_Nair · Accepted solution]

I beleive EDI is a standard message format

>>> Yes indeed

with 3rd party adapters like seaburger XI can process the EDI messages directly

>>> Yes, something similar to the RNIF scenarios.

and anything tht sends EDI message is known as a subsystem ... so XI doesnt replace it but helps in transfering tht data from a subsystem to another.

Something i picked from the net --->

EDI Short for Electronic Data Interchange, the transfer of data between different companies using networks, such as VANs or the Internet. As more and more companies get connected to the Internet, EDI is becoming increasingly important as an easy mechanism for companies to buy, sell, and trade information. ANSI has approved a set of EDI standards known as the X12 standards.

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Adding to what Bhavesh Kantilal sums up: an alternative is the EDI/AS2 adapter from AEDAPTIVe. It is a new certified solution similar to iWay and Seeburger.

www.aedaptive.com

Best, Gordon.<a href="http://www.aedaptive.com">http://www.aedaptive.com</a>

[Former Member]

Hi Jai,

to add more...

EDI came into when there was a need to exchange data between companies ,etc..

there comes with perticular standards like anscii12 and so...so that no one will say that u fallow my method...

EDI is a technology.

EDI goes with perticular standards like HIPPA,ANSCII 12..

EDI has got point to point connection.

xi came into picture ...when u are using SAP why not SAP product to exchnage data...

XI is a tool

it has got shipped sap Components like CRM,etc.

it is an SAP tool.

Openess and interoporability.

single point of connection.

multiple database updation.

cheers,

Raghavesh

[Former Member]

Hi Jai,

In simple terms, XI is the SAP Middleware that is used to enable communication between the numerous systems in the customer landscape.

Ref: http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw04/helpdata/en/0f/80243b4a66ae0ce10000000a11402f/content.htm

Whereas EDI (Electronic data interchange) is the way (or technique) by which these two systems can "talk"...as in they will be able to exchange information in a structured manner.

For ex:- you always have a segment called EDI_DC in an IDoc which contains fields which specify who the source and target system are...such kind of information is specific to every IDoc.

EDI -> Its a standard for communication. Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_Data_Interchange

ALE -> Ref: http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw04/helpdata/en/b3/4bf60b4bab1343a03c004d2cb3566d/content.htm

Apart from the above threads go through these urls also which may give you some idea about your query:

https://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/servlet/prt/portal/prtroot/docs/library/uuid/818a20be-0601-0010-e3b8-ac3...

https://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/servlet/prt/portal/prtroot/docs/library/uuid/135b0b94-0701-0010-f6a9-86a...

https://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/servlet/prt/portal/prtroot/docs/library/uuid/6dc02f5d-0601-0010-cd9d-f4f...

https://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/servlet/prt/portal/prtroot/docs/library/uuid/9f72e81d-0b01-0010-149a-81c...

https://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/servlet/prt/portal/prtroot/docs/library/uuid/4f58802d-0a01-0010-e58b-d13...

Apart from this go through this urls which may help you:

https://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/servlet/prt/portal/prtroot/docs/library/uuid/9c08451d-0b01-0010-f19b-f58...

Regards,

Abhy

Message was edited by: Abhy Thomas

[Former Member]

Hi ,

check these also...

/people/bla.suranyi/blog/2006/06/08/sap-xi-supports-edifact

sekhar

[bhavesh_kantilal]

Jai,

<a href="https://www.sdn.sap.comhttp://www.sdn.sap.comhttp://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/servlet/prt/portal/prtroot/docs/library/uuid/6dc02f5d-0601-0010-cd9d-f4ff9a7e8c33">Integrating XI with EDI</a>

<a href="https://www.sdn.sap.comhttp://www.sdn.sap.comhttp://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/servlet/prt/portal/prtroot/docs/library/uuid/135b0b94-0701-0010-f6a9-86a14057544a">Taking Care of Business -- XI and EDI</a>

<a href="https://www.sdn.sap.comhttp://www.sdn.sap.comhttp://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/servlet/prt/portal/prtroot/docs/library/uuid/b0b355ae-0501-0010-3b83-8f2bb566fa47">How to Set up an XI Integration Directory Scenario with Party to Support EDI Partner Processing.pdf</a>

Regards,

Bhavesh

[bhavesh_kantilal]

Jai,

/people/lionel.biennier/blog/2006/07/21/sap-xi-supports-edi-x12

Check if this blog helps.

Regards,

Bhavesh