topic Re: Difference betrween BAPI and RFC in Application Development and Automation Discussions

Difference betrween BAPI and RFC

Former Member — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 10:44:16 GMT

Hi All

Can anyone tell me the difference between BAPI and RFC.

I am unable to find it out ,except one,ie BAPI is based on object oriented concept .

please justify your answers with real scenerios.

Re: Difference betrween BAPI and RFC

Former Member — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 10:48:39 GMT

Hi,

RFC and BAPIs are remote enabled function modules. They are practicly the same. A BAPI is one step further as it usually is a self contained business function, such as "Create Purchase Order", or "Change Sales Document". BAPIs interface is very well defined and documented. BAPIs can be found in the BAPI browser via transaction BAPI. RFCs are just remote enabled function modules.

BAPI stands for Business Application Programming Interface. It is a library of functions that are released to the public as an interface into an existing SAP system from an external system.

Regards

Kiran Sure

Re: Difference betrween BAPI and RFC

Former Member — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 10:51:23 GMT

Hi,

BAPI's are the remote enabled Function modules which are defined in the Business Object Repository (BOR) as the methods of the business objects.

I can say BAPI is the subset of RFC. RFC connects to the other system via BAPI and vice versa.

BAPI stands for Business Application Programming Interface. It is a library of functions that are released to the public as an interface into an existing SAP system from an external system.

Regards

Sudheer

Re: Difference betrween BAPI and RFC

Former Member — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 11:23:06 GMT

Remote Function Call:

RFC is an SAP interface protocol. Based on CPI-C, it considerably simplifies the programming of communication processes between systems.

RFCs enable you to call and execute predefined functions in a remote system - or even in the same system.

RFCs manage the communication process, parameter transfer and error handling.

http://help.sap.com/saphelp_47x200/helpdata/en/22/042860488911d189490000e829fbbd/frameset.htm.

BAPI

BAPI stands for Business API(Application Program Interface).

A BAPI is remotely enabled function module

ie it can be invoked from remote programs like standalone JAVA programs, web interface etc..

You can make your function module remotely enabled in attributes of Function module but

A BAPI are standard SAP function modules provided by SAP for remote access.

Also they are part of Businees Objest Repository(BOR).

BAPI are RFC enabled function modules. the difference between RFc and BAPI are business objects.

You create business objects and those are then registered in your BOR (Business Object Repository)

which can be accessed outside the SAP system by using some other applications (Non-SAP) such as VB or JAVA.

In this case u only specify the business object and its method from external system

in BAPI there is no direct system call. while RFC are direct system call.

Some BAPIs provide basic functions and can be used for most SAP business object types.

These BAPIs should be implemented the same for all business object types.

Standardized BAPIs are easier to use and prevent users having to deal with a number of different BAPIs.

Whenever possible, a standardized BAPI must be used in preference to an individual BAPI.

Difference Between BAPI and RFC

What is the main difference between BAPI and RFC and difference between BAPI and BDC?

BAPI is used only when it is available for the particular transaction like Delivery Sales order. but BDC can be used for any

transaction which have screen and fields.

BAPI is directly updated the database instead BDC run through the screen flow.

So BAPI can't handle all the flow logic checking and enhancement put by programmer to faciliate the user requirement.

Difference between BAPI and BDC:

BAPI is a higher end usage for tranfering the data from SAP to non-SAP and vice-versa. for ex: if we are using VB application,where in that we want to connect to SAP and retireve the data,and then change and update the data in SAP for that purpose we can use that.

Apart from that, we can also use it for Uploading/Downloading the data from SAP to Non-SAP like BDC, provided we have an existing BAPI for that.

BAPI function modules will also do all the checks required for data integrity like Transactions for BDC.

There is one more advantage using BAPI instead of BDC. When we go for upgradation, there might be pozzibility to change the screen elements for transactions depending on the requirement. In that case,our BDC pgm may or may not work (depending on the screen changes they have made). Unless and until we prepare new BDC we cant use the old BDC pgm. But in BAPI, SAP promises that they are going to keep the old BAPI and for new functionality they will provide an upgraded BAPI. Until we write a new BAPI pgm, we can use the exisitng BAPI pgm.

BAPI are RFC enabled function modules. the difference between RFc and BAPI are business objects. You create business objects and those are then registered in your BOR (Business Object Repository) which can be accessed outside the SAP system by using some other applications (Non-SAP) such as VB or JAVA.

In this case you only specify the business object and its method from external system in BAPI there is no direct system call. while RFC are direct system call Some BAPIs provide basic functions and can be used for most SAP business object types. These BAPIs should be implemented the same for all business object types. Standardized BAPIs are easier to use and prevent users having to deal with a number of different BAPIs. Whenever possible, a standardized BAPI must be used in preference to an individual BAPI. It is not possible to connect SAP to Non-SAP systems to retrieve data using RFC alone. RFC can acces the SAP from outside only through BAPI and same is for vice versa access.

RFC is the protocol used by SAP for remote communication, that is, for communications between remote (independent) systems. RFC is used for communications between two independent SAP systems, or for communications between an SAP system and a non-SAP system, such as an external application. It can also be used for communications between modules on the same system. Using the RFC interfaces you can extend the functionality of R/3 applications from an external program.

BAPI-step by step

http://www.sapgenie.com/abap/bapi/example.htm

list of all bapis

http://www.planetsap.com/LIST_ALL_BAPIs.htm

for BAPI's

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

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

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

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

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

http://service.sap.com/ale

http://service.sap.com/bapi

http://help.sap.com/printdocu/core/Print46c/en/data/pdf/BCMIDAPII/CABFAAPIINTRO.pdf

http://help.sap.com/printdocu/core/Print46c/en/data/pdf/CABFABAPIREF/CABFABAPIPG.pdf

http://help.sap.com/printdocu/core/Print46c/en/data/pdf/BCFESDE8/BCFESDE8.pdf

http://www.planetsap.com/Bapi_main_page.htm

http://www.topxml.com/sap/sap_idoc_xml.asp

http://www.sapdevelopment.co.uk/

http://www.sapdevelopment.co.uk/java/jco/bapi_jco.pdf

also refer these threads

also chk this

http://www.sap-img.com/abap/interview-question-on-bapi-rfc-abap-objects-tables.htm

regards,

srinivas

*reward for useful answers*

Re: Difference betrween BAPI and RFC

Former Member — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 11:25:31 GMT

Hi Neetu,

Check this URL

http://www.sap-img.com/fu026.htm

http://searchsap.techtarget.com/ateQuestionNResponse/0,289625,sid21_cid558752_tax293481,00.html

Hope its help you.

Regards,

jackie.

null

Re: Difference betrween BAPI and RFC

Former Member — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 11:29:03 GMT

Hi Neetu,

The difference between RFc and BAPI are business objects. You create business objects and those are then registered in your BOR (Business Object Repository) which can be accessed outside the SAP system by using some other applications (Non-SAP) such as VB or JAVA. in this case u only specify the business object and its method from external system in BAPI there is no direct system call. while RFC are direct system call Some BAPIs provide basic functions and can be used for most SAP business object types. These BAPIs should be implemented the same for all business object types. Standardized BAPIs are easier to use and prevent users having to deal with a number of different BAPIs. Whenever possible, a standardized BAPI must be used in preference to an individual BAPI.

RFC is the protocol used to call functions in an R/3 system by a caller external to R/3 or to call programs external to R/3 from an R/3 system. Functions can only be called via RFC, if they are tagged as RFC functions in the SAP development workbench. They are then called RFC function modules. BAPIs are complete sets of (BAPI) function modules that model a business application.

RFC is the protocol used by SAP for remote communication, that is, for communications between remote independent systems.RFC is used for communications between two independent SAP systems, or for communications between an SAP system and a non-SAP system, such as an external application. It can also be used for communications between modules on the same system.Using the RFC interfaces you can extend the functionality of R/3 applications from an external program.

An R/3 system also contains Business Application Programming Interfaces (also called Business APIs, or BAPIs), which provide a programming interface to business objects. BAPIs are a set of methods for working with and manipulating SAP business objects.Internally, BAPIs are implemented as function modules stored in the R/3 Function Builder. Each BAPI has an equivalent internally-named function module. However, you should use the BAPI and not the function module behind it, because the BAPI provides a stable, object-oriented view of R/3 applications and data. The internal function modules or even the fact that the BAPIs are implemented as function modules are not guaranteed to remain the same in future releases of R/3.

BAPI stands for Business Application Programming Interface.

It is a library of functions that are released to the public

as an interface into an existing SAP system from an external

system.

RFC is the protocol used to call functions in an R/3 system

by a caller external to R/3 or to call programs external to

R/3 from an R/3 system.

Functions can only be called via RFC, if they are tagged as

RFC functions in the SAP development workbench. They are

then called RFC function modules. BAPIs are complete sets of

(BAPI) function modules that model a business application.

When you are familiar with web developments: RFC can be

compared to HTTP and BAPIs are CGI applications.

In other words: A BAPI function is a function module that

can be called remotely using the RFC technology.

Reward Points if Useful

Regards

Gokul