How to move SAP BC config automatically to SAP XI?

[Former Member]

Hi!

Did you read the article about SAP Business Connector to SAP XI transition already?:

"https://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/servlet/prt/portal/prtroot/com.sap.km.cm.docs/library/xi/presentation xi and future of sap business connector.pdf"?

There will be no further development of BC after release 4.7. This means that you have to move on to SAP XI or some other EAI product after a while. Quite interesting in fact that almost all of the BC configuration has to be made manually again from scratch in the XI...

I found out that there is a tool available for converting the BC configuration to XI configuration automatically! Take a look at www.sapfox.com or www.bc2xi.com!

Do you know if there is some other tool or product available with similar functionality? Have you any experiences for manually converting BC projects into XI format. Is it a big work, especially if you are not so familiar with XI yet?

-Mike-

[Former Member]

Hi all,

you can now download a Demo version of BC2XI. It only allows you to convert a predefined BC project (being a demo and all), but we will add a few more complex demo scenarios there as well over the upcoming days (without giving away too much of how the more complex stuff gets migrated ).

You can find the link on http://www.bc2xi.com or go directly to the download page at http://www.bc2xi.com/demo

Hope you enjoy!

[MichalKrawczyk]

Hi Kalle,

what does this converter to with standard BC flows like SEQUENCE try - catch (with geterror)

or savepipeline (restorepipeline) ?

>>>scenarios there as well over the upcoming days

when exactly ?

how is this tool priced (per interface)?

Regards,

michal

[Former Member]

Michal,

SEQUENCE with try catch structure is implemented in SAP XI using Block with Exception Branch and Control Tool.

For the rest:

Generally speaking BC features which are replaced by built-in XI features or which are functionally not in line with XI's way of working, are only documented to a level so that they can be reproduced in XI according to how XI is meant to be used or fully dropped if they do not "fit" at all within XI.

We will release another demo containing a BPEL on Wednesday night. If you have already installed the Webstart application you only need to download the other BC project.

The pricing of this tool depends on a number of things (read "contact us"). Generally speaking the cost of the tool will though reflect the time it saves on projects to guarantee a very lucrative Return Of Investment when using it.

We are in process of writing an accurate list regarding supported features.

Regards,

Kalle

[Former Member]

Hi M&M !

Just a few words about BC2XI to give an idea about what it is capable of (and what not).

The tool converts all BC:

Datatypes

Maps

Custom java components

BC services (those which make sense in XI)

BC Flow components

For XI we get Datatypes, XSL & Java mappings, BPEL, testinterfaces and Documentation. Documentation covers how to install the generated components and all other steps that need to be done around them in XI to get the BC project fully migrated.

Of course it would be very bold to claim that all possible situations and combinations would be covered. As stated, you can (miss)treat BC in so many ways that it is almost impossible to cover all possible combinations. Saying that I think we have done a reasonable job to cover most of them.

We have been designing and writing this for a very long time now (first concept was drafted in mid 2003) so we have done a bit of investigation into this area. We would not expect anyone to take our word for it, hence we will soonish release a public demo with some predefined BC projects you can convert and deploy on your own XI to get a feel for what the tool can do.

We estimate that any BC project can be converted in less than 1/2 day (excluding of course testing) using the tool.

Would also be interested to hear about any similar projects on the market.

Regards,

Kalle Pokkinen

kalle.pokkinen(at)lostbearings.com

[MichalKrawczyk]

Hi Mike,

>>>Have you any experiences for manually converting BC projects into XI format.

yes, it a lot of work but if you know both XI and BC

then there shouldn't be any problems BA projects can be converted to XI

>>>I found out that there is a tool available for converting the BC configuration to XI configuration automatically!

but you have to take into consideration how do these

tools work... do they convert flow mappings from BC or

only XSLT mappings and how do they create routing in

directory... if you want to use it try it first with a

fairly complecated project to see if they are so great

in your case ... there are many non standard BC projects

out there as IMO BC is very flexible in creating

routings...

I'd sugggest getting familiar with XI and doing the

migration on your own ... if you want to use XI you have

to get to know it anyway

and IX is not very difficult:)

Regards,

michal