XML and MDM

[Former Member]

Hello MDM Gurus,

Well, I am quite a new to MDM and just getting the info related to MDM on help.sap.com I can see here there is lot of involvment of XML. I want to know from your experience that how XML is used and what extent/where of XML coding is needed in MDM application.

Second query is, does one need to learn XML for working with MDM ?

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi Sata,

XML is one of the format of data transfer between MDM and othere systems.

MDM can import as well as export (syndicate) data to and fro MDM in many different formats.

XML is one of the widely used format as MDM is a tool which needs to integrate with different other systems such as ECC,SRM,CRM,etc in most of these scenarios XI will be involved for data transfer and conversions.

XI mostly converts source files in XML to provide to other systems so thats the reason why XML is so widely used in MDM.

The other areas in MDM where XML are used are:

- Schema transfer in MDM take splcae in the form of XML import export.

- When you are using an ECC table structure like MATMAS etc it is in XML form.

It is not compulsory to know XML throughly to work in MDM but a fair bit of understanding will help

Hope it helped

Kindly reward points if found useful

Thanks

Simona

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi Simona and Nitin,

We have planned to connect only SAP systems with MDM, So shall we need to involve XI for our purpose of connecting MDM with CRM and BW.

Other question is that what are the scenarios where we need to use SAP XI in case of MDM.

Regards.

Sata Babu.

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi Sata Babu,

Regarding CRM integration with MDM, please go through the link:

[;

But integration with BI does not require SAP XI.

Actually SAP XI is not mandatorily needed in MDM-BI integration, but keeping XI is an added advantage as XI is a tool which can be used to monitor the flow of Data and also can be used to find out some hint if some error occurs during the integartion.

Additionaly SAP XI is used to integrate SAP MDM and SAP R3. This is most important scenario where XI is used.

Please go through the link :

[https://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/sdn/weblogs?blog=/pub/wlg/4781] [original link is broken] [original link is broken] [original link is broken];

Hence I would advice you to use XI for integration scenarios.

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi Sata,

As mentioned by nitin you do not need to use XI when you are integrating MDM with BI as BI sends data in the form of Data package which can be converted to XML using ABAP programing or else you can also use XI here to convert the data file in XML to send it to MDM.

While sending data back to BI after Consolidation we need to send it in .csv or .txt format which are both possible within MDM so XI will not be needed.

Therefore on a whole BI-MDM scenario can work without XI in the picture.

The scenario where Xi can be used are as follows:

- When you are integrating SAP R/3 or ECC sytem with MDM you require MDM as MDM does not understand Idocs which is the format in which R/3 sytems sends data.

- Even CRM system will require XI as it is in an R/3 environment.

- Besides this any integration with MDM in which data transfer in not possible with the available formats within MDM and in which Monitoring is required XI will be utilized.

Hope it helped

Kindly reward points if found useful

Thanks

Simona

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi All,

First of all lets analyse what Simona said,

All things are right but:

1. When you are integrating SAP R/3 or ECC sytem with MDM you require MDM as MDM does not understand Idocs which is the format in which R/3 sytems sends data.

2. Even CRM system will require XI as it is in an R/3 environment.

I aggree MDM does not understand Idoc, bdocs and RFCs, reports but R3 can generate xml, excel, text etc files which MDM can eaisly accept. XI still not needed here if this is possible.

But the real need for XI comes where you need conversions, where you need logic to be applied on data coming from R3/Legacy system, you want the whole file should be repeted once again, your source file is in different format and target wants in different format and most important thing is where you want to control data, you want alerts etc etc.. these things are possible using BPM and one more advantage is the scenario will be automated as XI has File/FTP adapter.

So considering these things you make use of XI/PI.

BR,

Alok

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi Alok, Simona, Nitin.

Thanks a lot for reverting back with valuable suggestions. I have another question based in this one. The question is Since CRM system is in picture, so we need to have XI (I assume that we need to have transformations/value addition/data monitor to data whenever it moves around the system), shall we need to have separate server for XI ?

The reason for question is that we are novice to MDM and already ordered Hardware for server, if it need to have separate sever then we need to make additional provision for XI Hardware.

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

You can install more than one servers on one machine, but i would suggest to have a different XI server, so that Monitoring and maintenance for the servers will become easy. One more reason is if say MDM and XI server are on same machine and due to any reason one of 2 servers will crash and you have to restart or shut down the machine, both the servers as well as users will be impacted.

Both servers are independent of each other and can be used in combine as well as in independent scenarion. So best is use different machines with good configuration and if you dont have any choice then do waht suits your requirements.

If still have any query pls ask or

If satisfied, pls reward accordingly.

BR,

Alok

Edited by: Alok Sharma on Apr 10, 2008 4:19 PM

[Former Member]

Hi Sata Babu,

With respect to MDM, XML is a means on integrating systems through file transfer.

MDM understands XML and mainly through XML it integrates with other systems like R3 ( taking XI in between). Hence while importing and Exporting files the format can be XML.

Now learning XML is not required so much, as we will be dealing only in XML files. But there may be sometimes where we face a problem while importing an XML file. That time , if we get an error, we need to de bug by understanding the Tags.

Hence only basic understanding of Tags and the structure will be sufficient.

Hope it helps.

Thanks and Regards

Nitin Jain

[Former Member]

XML is involved in:

1) Importing and exporting xml file to/from MDM.

2) Validation and Assignment coding will be done in xml.

Does one need to learn XML for working with MDM ?

Ans: No, there are so many help and tool for it. But it will be beneficial if you know.

BR,

Alok

Edited by: Alok Sharma on Apr 9, 2008 11:03 AM