Change pointer

[Former Member]

Hi Folks,

What is the difference between <b> Change Pointers </b> and <b> Change documents? </b> Can anyone explain when we have to use to change pointers and change documents for ALE?

Thanks in Advance

Ravi

[Former Member]

If you want to distribute master data changes with the SMD tool (Shared Master Data), changes to the master data objects are flagged for distribution by change pointers ( Master Data Distribution).

The SMD tool is connected to the change document interface. If the master data changes are to be distributed, the application writes a change document. The contents of this are passed to the SMD tool. The tool writes change pointers, reads the application data and creates the master IDoc.

change document:

http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw2004s/helpdata/en/2a/fa015b493111d182b70000e829fbfe/content.htm

change pointer

http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw2004s/helpdata/en/ab/27bde462848440ba70cf8eb348c86f/frameset.htm

Message was edited by:

Pankaj Singh

[Former Member]

Ravi,

CDHDR AND CDPOS tables are used to track the changes in documents for e.g. purchase order history.

For more info, refer below links:

http://searchsap.techtarget.com/loginMembersOnly/1,289498,sid21_gci1202078,00.html?NextURL=http%3A//...

==================

A Change Document is an object that contains a log of all the changes that were made on a specific business object (like a product or a business partner), so you will always be able to identify what was changed, when it was changed and who changed it.

Change pointers instead are used in a different context that is the distribution of master data changes to different system. When in the source system an object (material) is changed (e.g. change of the description) if change pointers are activated, the material is flagged as "changed" and using change pointers the material update will be sent to all the system that are configured to my sinchronized with master data. This is not for tracing like change document but for master data distribution

You can find more details on help.sap.com:

- Change Documents

- Change Pointers

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[Former Member]

Hi Ravi,

ALE provides powerful capabilities to capture changes occurring to master data using Change pointers. These R/3 objects mark changes to SAP master data. ALE configuration facilitates the relation between Change Document objects and change pointers. This feature can be used to keep two or more systems synchronized with respect to master data.

Thanks and regards

Vipin Das

[Former Member]

hi ravi,

change pointer is a technique based on the change documents which keep in track the changes made to the key documents in sap like sales order, material master etc.

CDHDR - change document header.

CDPOS - change document item.

change pointer is based on the change document.

hope u might b clear.

Regards...

Arun.

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