topic Re: Write values in SAP screen fields in Application Development and Automation Discussions

Write values in SAP screen fields

Former Member — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:49:04 GMT

Hi,

We have a requirement where we need to populate the values on SAP Screen fields using an external application like c++ or Java running on the presentation server. Is this possible? Please share your thoughts on the approach if possible.

Thanks,

Re: Write values in SAP screen fields

Former Member — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:51:26 GMT

as per my knowlege it is possible but for this more appropiate is to cinsult to EPor XI consultant..

Cheers

Snehi

Re: Write values in SAP screen fields

former_member226999 — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:02:18 GMT

Yes this is possible using the system routines. Here the test1.bat is a test batch file in the C:\ path.


report ztest1.      
 call function 'WS_EXECUTE'          exporting        
     program        = 'C:\Test1.bat'         
 exceptions             frontend_error = 1      
       no_batch       = 2           
  prog_not_found = 3             illegal_option = 4     
        others         = 5.

Also class CL_GUI_FRONTEND_SERVICES has execute method.

Hope this helps.

Franc

Edited by: Franc on Jul 22, 2008 2:16 PM

Re: Write values in SAP screen fields

Former Member — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:06:06 GMT

Franc - Thanks for the input. Unfortunately we cannot store the details as it contains sensitive information. We need to write it directly on the SAP screen. Is this possible?

Re: Write values in SAP screen fields

Former Member — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:22:38 GMT

Hi there

Create a BAPI -- this will be acessible by your external C++ / Java or whatever program. Ensure your BAPI is RFC enabled.

Pass it parameters -- name of screen field you wish to populate and the values inside your BAPI.

Use FM DYNP_VALUES_UPDATE or possibly FM DYNP_UPDATE_FIELDS.

I haven't done this for a while but one of these Function modules should be able to update the screen fields.

Good thing about BAPI's is that the interface is designed so they can be called by external (i.e non SAP) programs such as C++ etc. In fact that is EXACTLY what a BAPI is designed to do.

You'll need to check the syntax for your external application program depending on whether it's C++ or JAVA but both C++ and JAVA can call a BAPI directly (assuming the network connections are all in place).

Of course another way is to pass standard parameters to your SAP program and in the initialisation stage set the sensitive fields as Non-display or invisible.

Still use the BAPI of course.

Since you won't be able to submit a SAP program directly from the BAPI just create a function module which does the submit as a get around.

Forget techniques like writing to a dataset etc. Apart from the security implications you should now be using the newer supported interfaces like BAPI.

Cheers

jimbo

Re: Write values in SAP screen fields

Former Member — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:44:42 GMT

Sorry Franc but your method won't do for many cases.

If you are using WS_EXECUTE (deprecated by the way) it assumes a) you are using WINDOWS, and b) you are actually logged on to the SAP system at your workstation.

A C ++ or JAVA (or other language) program might be running from a totally separate application such as an old SIEBEL database / or whatever. The database needs to send / retrieve data from the remote SAP system. This is exactly what the BAPI calls are designed to do.

The application calling the BAPI doesn't have to be running on Windows either. The call could come from MySQL running say on a remote Linux server.

(Of course if you ARE logged on then the method will still work but the BAPI call doesn't require you to be logged on to the presentation server. The WS-EXECUTE method means you HAVE to be logged on and of course won't then work in Batch).

Cheers

jimbo

Re: Write values in SAP screen fields

Former Member — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:52:51 GMT

James,

Your inputs are truly valuable for us. But the only issue is we need to populate the fields of SAP screen currently active and displayed on the presentation server without any updates to the database. I believe BAPI may be updating the database directly. Is there a work around to this?

Thanks,