Integrate

Configure Process Template Loops for a BAPI Template

>Review the steps in the process.

A process based on BAPI templates will post data bi-directionally. Data is uploaded to be posted into SAP, and downloaded into tables that Integrate automatically creates.  Since processes based on BAPI templates often have return values, download registrations are often required for BAPI templates. 

NOTE: BAPI template types can use transaction stringing to pass return values to other templates assigned to a process. Refer to Post Data Using Transaction Stringing for more information.

Once the BAPI template has been created and added to a process, the process template loops and database objects must be configured.

Perform these tasks manually or use the optional Auto Generate Database Objects feature to perform them automatically.

  • Populate the VIEW NAME with the view containing the data to upload during the post
  • Populate the PRIMARY KEY COLUMN NAME with the column in the VIEW NAME that uniquely identifies a record being uploaded

NOTE: The primary key column must be an auto-incrementing Identity column in the database.

  • Populate the DOWNLOAD TABLE NAME with the table that will receive the return values from the BAPI/RFC execution
  • Populate the DOWNLOAD PRIMARY KEY column with the auto incrementing identity column in the database that serves as the primary key of the Download table
  • Populate the Field Mappings with the fields from the VIEW NAME for upload loop and Download Table for download loops where data should be read from/written to respectively

NOTE: Refer to Configure BAPI Field Mappings for more information.

  • Configure the relationships for the all of the loops

NOTE: Refer to Configure BAPI Relationships for more information.

Integrate adds a process template loop for each loop in the BAPI Definition. The loop contains the fields in the definition.

NOTE: If a process template contains a loop with more than 655 columns (which may occur when working with a BAPI/RFC template type), select only a few columns to add data to the table corresponding to the loop when working in SQL. SQL will generate an error if a user attempts to open a table with more than 655 columns.

To configure process template loops:

  1. Click Categories in the Navigation pane.
  2. Click the Processes icon for a category.
  3. Click the Templates icon for a process

  4. Click the Loops icon for a process template.

    View the field descriptions for the Process Template Loop page.

    NOTE: The number of loops displays on the Loop icon. 

If creating database objects manually, create the views and tables in the database before adding the process that will use the BAPI/RFC template. When adding the process, select the view in the View Name list box on the General tab of the Process page’s Vertical View. This view name will display for all loops on the Process Template Loop page.

If using the optional Auto Generate Database Objects feature, before auto generating the database objects, the VIEW NAME, PRIMARY KEY COLUMN NAME, DOWNLOAD TABLE and DOWNLOAD PRIMARY KEY columns are blank.  One loop exists for each BAPI/RFC definition.

NOTE: The LOOP NAME for the first loop is blank and the DOWNLOAD TABLE and DOWNLOAD PRIMARY KEY columns are blank. These columns will remain blank for the primary loop even after the Auto Generate Database Objects feature is used.

NOTE: The LOOP NAME for each loop should match the loop names on the BAPI/RFC Definitions page.

To use the optional Auto Generate Database Objects feature:

  1. Click Auto Generate Database Objects on the Page toolbar; a confirmation message displays.

    NOTE: Auto Generate Database Objects will create tables in the data source mapped to the process to serve as data staging for upload and return value targets. It will also create Upload views based on the data staging tables. The created objects will be auto registered to the Process Template Loops. Auto Generating Database Objects will drop and re-create all objects that were previously automatically generated.

  2. Click Ok.

NOTE: The Auto Generate Database Objects feature: 

  • Creates tables and views in the database for all process template loops for a process, including download tables that contain the unique identifier Posting ID. It names the tables tt[Process Name][Template Name][Loop Name]_Upload and tt[Process Name][Template Name][Loop Name]_Download.

    NOTE: Database objects may need to be tweaked to align with specific data elements in the postings.

    NOTE: If a loop does not have download fields, Integrate will not create a tt[Process Name][Template Name][Loop Name]_Download in the database for this loop.

  • Populates the VIEW NAME for each process template with tx[Process Name] [Template Name] [Loop Name]Int

  • Sets the PRIMARY KEY COLUMN NAME to ID.

    NOTE: The primary key column must be an auto-incrementing Identity column in the database. 

  • Automatically maps the fields for the process template loop. The TEMPLATE FIELD UNIQUE NAME and the MAPPING VALUE column will have the same value on the Process Template Loop Fields Mappings page.

    NOTE: Refer to Configure BAPI Field Mappings for more information.

  • Configures relationships for process template loops

    NOTE: Refer to Configure BAPI Relationships for more information.

  • Sets the DOWNLOAD PRIMARY KEY column to ID

  • Populates the DOWNLOAD TABLE column with tt[Process Name] [Template Name] [Loop Name]_Download

    NOTE: If creating database objects manually, use the DOWNLOAD TABLE and DOWNLOAD PRIMARY KEY fields to configure the destination tables for the output from SAP.  The DOWNLOAD TABLE column contains the name of the table to which data will be written and the DOWNLOAD PRIMARY KEY is the Primary Key Column on that table. Neither of these columns is populated for the first loop.

    NOTE: The DOWNLOAD PRIMARY KEY column must be set up in the database to be auto-incrementing Identity column