topic Re: DIFF : ALE AND EDI in Application Development and Automation Discussions

DIFF : ALE AND EDI

Former Member — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 05:24:46 GMT

HI,

WHAT IS THE DIFF B/W ALE AND EDI.

THANK YOU

ASHOK KUMAR

Re: DIFF : ALE AND EDI

Former Member — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 05:26:56 GMT

Hi Asohk,

1)EDI

Electronic Data Interchange

Cross-company exchange of electronic data (for example business documents) between domestic and international business partners who use a variety of hardware, software, and communication services. The data involved is formatted according to predefined standards. In addition to this, SAP ALE technology is available for data exchange within a company.

Refer

http://www.erpgenie.com/sapedi/index.htm

2) ALE

A means of creating and operating distributed applications.

Application Link Enabling (ALE) guarantees a distributed, but integrated, R/3 installation. This involves business-controlled message exchange using consistent data across loosely linked SAP applications.

Applications are integrated using synchronous and asynchronous communication - not by using a central database.

ALE consists of the following layers:

Application services

Distribution services

Communication services

Refer

http://www.sappoint.com/abap/ale.pdf

http://www.sappoint.com/abap/ale2.pdf

Thanks,

Reward If Helpful.

Re: DIFF : ALE AND EDI

Former Member — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 05:27:09 GMT

Hi,

ALE - Data transfer between different SAP Systems.

E.g: If a Purchase Order is transfered from one sap system to another sap system it is still considered as PO.

EDI - Data transfer between different Non-SAP Systems.

E.g: If a Purchase Order is transfered from one sap system to another non-sap system it is considered as Sales Order.

Bottom Line, ALE is within the business. EDI is across the business.

Refer

Regards,

Priyanka.

Re: DIFF : ALE AND EDI

Former Member — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 05:27:56 GMT

Hi,

In simple words ...

ALE is technology for SAP mainly use to transfer data between SAP systems.

EDI is the independent technology use to transfer data between two systems, they can be SAP systems or non SAP systems.

The basic difference with ALE and EDI is ALE used for internal communications and EDI is meant for external communications.

Since ALE uses an IDOC format to exchange data between systems, both participating systems should understand the IDOC format.

In other words ALE normally used to distribute the master data (Ex: Material Master, Vendor Master) with in a company when you are maintain the distributed environment.

For example data transfer between a SAP R/3 and SAP APO where the data transfer is implemented using ALE technology.

EDI is for exchanging transaction data (Purchase order, Delivery) between two different business partners.EDI is all about the standards (Ex: ANSI X12, EDIFACT) you have to follow when you are transferring business documents.

Technically speaking, ALE transfers the data using memory buffers whereas EDI uses file port to transfer the data.

With EDI technology you always need a translator to convert the IDOC to X12 (Outbound), X12 to IDOC (Inbound).But with ALE you don’t need a translator.

Regards

Ashu

Re: DIFF : ALE AND EDI

Former Member — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 05:28:36 GMT

Hi,

ALE - Data transfer between different SAP Systems.

EDI - Data transfer between different Non-SAP Systems.

refer the following thread.....

****do reward if usefull

vijay

Re: DIFF : ALE AND EDI

Former Member — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 05:29:39 GMT

Hi,

In simple words ...

ALE is technology for SAP mainly use to transfer data between SAP systems.

EDI is the independent technology use to transfer data between two systems, they can be SAP systems or non SAP systems.

ALE(Application Link Enabling) refers to the losely coupled systems whereas the EDI speaks about the Electronic Document Exchange. We need to enable ALE in order to use the EDI feature. ALE builds the bridge and EDI is the means by which the data moves in and out of the SAP system just like vehicles moving over the bridge. IDOC(Intermediate Documents) are the data containers which will be moving in and out of SAP carrying data.

Thus summarising we need to establish ALE between the systems in order to use EDI between them. In case we need to use EDI between SAP and some other target system then we need a EDI subsystem which understands these IDOCs and converts into the format understood by the target system.

Hope this is useful.

Regards,

Padmam.