ALE sync between 2 systems

[Former Member]

Hi all,

I'm working on an ALE connection to send Idoc from

HCM system to FI system mini master to synchronize 2 systems.

However, FI system only needs certain fields for CAT and book keeping purposes. for example names, employee groups, personnel area, actions....

I'm thinking of using message type HRMD_A and basic type HRMD_A06 for this.

My questions are:

1. how does this ALE update mini master on FI system? for example, will it only update when there's a create, change or delete on HR system? or it doesn't matter, it will send everything out every time I do ALE load?

2. and when it updates, how the data will be updated on receiving system? for example if my infotype 0 delimits with new action on HR system (new change), the record for that particular employee on receiving system will have same 2 delimited records in infotype 0 after ALE load?

Assuming all configuration, namings are the same between 2 systems.

Thanks,

[Sougata]

Hi Ben,

You can either use message type HRMD_A or HRMD_ABA then choose the latest Basic Type suitable to your SAP system release. You are right about the configuration - basically the HR config has to be the same in both systems so that employee master data can be replicated then synchronized at a regular interval.

Now to address your questions...

1. I'm assuming you are familiar with the Change Pointer mechanism within the SAP ALE framework. How the ALE update works is at the first time of the update, all HR objects and records are transferred in full to the target system. Then onwards, the system replicates only the 'Delta' i.e. the changes that have happened to the master data from the previous transfer/distribution. The system is able to distinguish "changes" in data and distribute them by the means of the Change Pointer mechanism... so in short, the answer to your first question is, the system will only update when there's a create, change or delete on HR system only if the "full" distribution was successfully completed as a first time replication.

As part of this question, you also asked, how does this ALE update mini master on FI system? That is an interesting question and to understand the technology and how it all works, you'll have to read some documentation. The best place to start will be the program docu on transaction PFAL - just click on the blue 'i' button and read away. The paragraph on "Transfer Mode" (Insert or Update) will give you a basic understanding of how the system evalutes data at the time of distribution on each of this execution modes.

2. Your second question is quite similar to the first in regards to how the data will be updated on the receiving/target system, how the system evalutes and treats the data at the time of distribution etc - again the docu in PFAL is comprehensive and helpful and also reading various Wikis, blogs, saphelp website etc one can gain an understanding of this technology in detail. The PFAL doco also mentions some SAP Notes (FAQ) which are helpful as well.

To answer for the example you've put, the employee will have 2 records (first record delimited) in the receiving system after successful completion of data distribution via Change Pointers (refer transaction BD21 ) assuming all HR configurations are same in both systems.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Sougata.

[Former Member]

Thanks Sougata for a very very helpful answer!